IP Library Granted Patent US 9,197,421
Granted Patent B2
US 9,197,421 · App. 13/793,983 · Granted Nov 24, 2015

Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,197,421
App. No.
13/793,983
Granted
Nov 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media are disclosed herein. An example method includes identifying metadata from media. The media is converted into converted media having a streaming format. The converted media is encrypted using an encryption key. A manifest is created in association with the converted media, the manifest identifying a first location of the encrypted media and a second location of a decryption key.

Claims (37)

1. A method of measuring exposure to streaming media, the method comprising:

extracting a watermark from media;

converting the media into converted media having a streaming format;

transmitting, from a service provider server to an audience measurement entity, a request for (1) an encryption key and (2) a decryption key location, the request for the encryption key including the watermark extracted from the media;

storing, at the service provider, (1) the requested encryption key, and (2) the decryption key location, the decryption key location identifying an address of a server of the audience measurement entity;

encrypting, at the service provider server, the converted media using the requested encryption key, the requested encryption key associated with the watermark; and

creating a manifest in association with the converted media, the manifest identifying a location of the encrypted media and the decryption key location.

2. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the manifest to a requesting device.

3. The method as described in claim 2 , further comprising transmitting the encrypted converted media to the requesting device.

4. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the request is a first request, and the media is obtained from a media provider in response to a second request from a requesting device.

5. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the streaming format is a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Live Streaming (HLS) format.

6. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the watermark is an audio watermark.

7. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the watermark is a video watermark.

8. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the request for (1) the encryption key and (2) the decryption key location is transmitted in a single message.

9. An apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media, the apparatus comprising:

a media identifier located at a service provider to generate media-identifying metadata based on a watermark extracted from the media;

an encryption key synchronizer located at the service provider to request an encryption key and a location of a decryption key from an audience measurement entity different from the service provider, the request including the media-identifying metadata;

an encryption key store to store the requested encryption key and the location of the decryption key in association with the media, the location of the decryption key identifying an address of a server of the audience measurement entity;

a media encrypter located at the service provider to encrypt the media using the requested encryption key after receipt of the requested encryption key and the location of the decryption key at that encryption key synchronizer; and

a manifest generator to generate a manifest identifying a location of the encrypted media and the location of the decryption key.

10. The apparatus as described in claim 9 , further comprising a transcoder to transcode the media into a streaming format.

11. The apparatus as described in claim 10 , wherein the streaming format is a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Live Streaming (HLS) format.

12. The apparatus as described in claim 10 , further comprising a media transmitter to transmit the manifest and the encrypted media to a requesting device.

13. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a service provider server to at least:

extract a watermark from media;

convert the media into converted media having a streaming format;

transmit, to an audience measurement entity, a request for (1) an encryption key and (2) a decryption key location, the request for the encryption key including the watermark extracted from the media;

store, at the service provider, (1) the requested encryption key, and (2) the decryption key location, the decryption key location identifying an address of a server of the audience measurement entity;

encrypt the converted media using the requested encryption key, the requested encryption key associated with the watermark; and

create a manifest in association with the encrypted converted media, the manifest identifying a location of the encrypted converted media and the decryption key location.

14. The tangible computer-readable medium as described in claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the service provider server to transmit the manifest to a requesting device.

15. The tangible computer-readable medium as described in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the service provider server to transmit the encrypted converted media to the requesting device.

16. The tangible computer-readable medium as described in claim 13 , wherein the request is a first request, and the media is obtained from a media provider in response to a second request from a requesting device.

17. The tangible computer-readable medium as described in claim 13 , wherein the media comprises live media.

18. The tangible computer-readable medium as described in claim 13 , wherein the media is stored media.

19. The tangible computer-readable medium as described in claim 13 , wherein the streaming format is a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) Live Streaming (HLS) format.

20. The tangible computer-readable medium as described in claim 13 , wherein the watermark is an audio watermark.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
RELEASE (REEL 037172 / FRAME 0415) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 061750/0221 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2015
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY ((US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE FIRST LIEN SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 037172/0415 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2013
From: BESEHANIC, JAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 030980/0586 →