IP Library Granted Patent US 9,331,892
Granted Patent B2
US 9,331,892 · App. 13/837,658 · Granted May 3, 2016

System and method for automatic sub-panel creation and management

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,331,892
App. No.
13/837,658
Granted
May 3, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, apparatuses and methods are disclosed for creating and managing sub-panels. Device data may be received in the system from each of a plurality of user devices, wherein the device data includes device usage data, device configuration data, demographic data and the like. Data collection rules are created or loaded into a central processing apparatus, where the device data is processed in the central processing apparatus to determine if device data related to one or more user devices complies to the data collection rules. Sub-panels may be defined in accordance with the processing, wherein the sub-panel may include one or more devices determined to be compliant with the data collection rules. Modification instructions may be generated in the central processing apparatus for the sub-panel, wherein the modification instructions are configured to be transmitted to at least some of the devices in the sub-panel, and wherein the modification instructions include data enabling each device in the sub panel to modify or enable at least one of (i) data collection operations and (ii) data reporting relating to future device data.

Claims (27)

1. A processor-based method to establish a panel of panelist user devices, comprising:

processing device data obtained from the panel of panelist user devices to determine if the device data related to the panelist user devices complies with data collection rules;

defining the panel of panelist user devices to include a first panelist user device and a second panelist user device determined to be compliant with the data collection rules; and

generating modification instructions to cause the panel of panelist user devices to enable data collection operations, the data collection operations increasing a location retrieval rate of the first panelist user device based on an increasing proximity of the first panelist user device to the second panelist user device.

2. The processor-based method of claim 1 , wherein the device data further includes at least one of network usage data, call data, text data, social media data, MMS data, battery data, phone charging data, web-usage data, audio codes or audio signatures.

3. The processor-based method of claim 1 , wherein the data collection rules include a first parameter and a second parameter for the device data, the first and the second parameters including at least one of a user identification, a time, a panelist user device location, a user status information, or an application usage pattern.

4. The processor-based method of claim 3 , further including generating a second panel of panelist user devices compliant with one of the second parameters of the data collection rules when the panelist user devices are not compliant with the first parameter of the data collection rules, the first and the second panel of panelist user devices collecting a same type of data.

5. The processor-based method of claim 1 , further including processing the device data from the panel and redefining the panel with other panelist user devices when device data from the panel is not compliant with the data collection rules.

6. The processor-based method of claim 1 , wherein the panelist user devices are portable computing devices operating data collection software to communicate wirelessly over a network.

7. A computer system to communicate over a network to portable user devices, comprising:

a processing apparatus, operatively coupled to an input and a storage, wherein the processing apparatus is to:

process device data retrieved from the portable user devices to determine if device data related to the portable user devices complies with data collection rules;

define a panel to include a first portable user device and a second portable user device determined to be compliant with the data collection rules; and

generate modification instructions for the panel to cause the panel of portable user devices to enable data collection operations, the data collection operations increasing a location retrieval rate of the first portable user device based on a threshold distance value between the first portable user device and the second portable user device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the device data includes at least one of network usage data, call data, text data, social media data, MMS data, battery data, phone charging data, web-usage data, audio codes or audio signatures.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the data collection rules include a first parameter and a second parameter for the device data, the first and the second parameters including at least one of a user identification, a time, a portable user device location, a user status information, or an application usage pattern.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processing apparatus is to generate a second panel of portable user devices compliant with one of the second parameters of the data collection rules when the portable user devices are not compliant with the first parameter of the data collection rules, the first and the second panel of portable user devices collecting a same type of data.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processing apparatus is to process device data from the panel and redefine the panel with other portable user devices if it is determined that the device data from the panel is not compliant with the data collection rules.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the portable user devices are portable computing devices operating data collection software and communicate wirelessly over a network.

13. An article of manufacture comprising instructions for operating a panel pursuant to a research operation, that when executed, cause a processor to at least:

process device data obtained from portable user devices to determine if device data related to the portable user devices complies with data collection rules;

define the panel to include a first portable user device and a second portable user device determined to be compliant with the data collection rules;

generate modification instructions in the central processing apparatus to cause the panel of portable user devices to enable data collection operations, the data collection operations increasing a location retrieval rate of the first panelist user device based on a threshold distance value between the first portable user device and the second portable user device.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the device data includes at least one of network usage data, call data, text data, social media data, MMS data, battery data, phone charging data, web-usage data, audio codes or audio signatures.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the data collection rules include a first parameter and a second parameter for the device data, the first and the second parameters including at least one of a user identification, a time, a portable user device location, a user status information, or an application usage pattern.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to generate a second panel of portable user devices compliant with one of the second parameters of the data collection rules when the portable user devices are not compliant with the first parameter of the data collection rules, the first and the second panels of portable user devices collecting a same type of data.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to process device data from the panel and redefine the panel with other portable user devices if it is determined that the device data from the panel is not compliant with the data collection rules.

Assignments (9)
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 →
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 →
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 →