IP Library Granted Patent US 8,954,536
Granted Patent B2
US 8,954,536 · App. 13/995,864 · Granted Feb 10, 2015

Methods and apparatus to determine media impressions using distributed demographic information

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,954,536
App. No.
13/995,864
Granted
Feb 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Examples to determine media impressions using distributed demographic information are disclosed. Some disclosed example methods involve sending a request to an impression monitor system in response to detecting a login event at a client device. The login event is associated with an Internet-based service of a first Internet domain different from a second internet domain of the impression monitor system. Such disclosed example methods also involve sending a login reporting message to a database proprietor that provides the Internet-based service. The login reporting message including first and second cookie identifiers. The first cookie identifier is associated with the first Internet domain of the Internet-based service, and the second cookie identifier is associated with the second Internet domain of the impression monitor system.

Claims (27)

1. A method to determine media impressions using distributed demographic information, the method comprising:

associating first cookies of a first domain with respective second cookies of a second domain, the second cookies mapped in association with respective media identifiers in a data structure received from the second domain; and

for each of the second cookies associated with a respective one of the first cookies, associating user demographic information with the second cookie, the user demographic information maintained at the first domain for a user corresponding to the respective first cookie.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising, for each of the second cookies associated with a respective one of the first cookies, associating the respective first cookie with one of the media identifiers corresponding to the second cookie.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media identifiers are encrypted at the second domain before being received at the first domain.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein each first cookie and its associated second cookie identify the same client computer.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising generating an impression report based on the second cookies, the user demographic information, and the media identifiers, the impression report indicative of demographic populations that were exposed to media content identified by the media identifiers.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , further comprising sending the impression report to the second domain without revealing the first cookie identifiers in the impression report.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media identifiers identify at least one of advertisements, television programs, websites, or movies.

8. An apparatus to determine media impressions using distributed demographic information, the apparatus comprising:

a cookie matcher to associate first cookies of a first domain with respective second cookies of a second domain, the second cookies mapped in association with respective media identifiers in a data structure received from the second domain; and

a demographics associator to, for each of the second cookies associated with a respective one of the first cookies, associate user demographic information with the second cookie, the user demographic information maintained at the first domain for a user corresponding to the respective first cookie.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , further comprising, for each of the second cookies associated with a respective one of the first cookies, associating the respective first cookie with one of the media identifiers corresponding to the second cookie.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the media identifiers are encrypted at the second domain before being received at the first domain.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein each first cookie and its associated second cookie identify the same client computer.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , further comprising a report generator to generate an impression report based on the second cookies, the user demographic information, and the media identifiers, the impression report indicative of demographic populations that were exposed to media content identified by the media identifiers.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the report generator is further to send the impression report to the second domain without revealing the first cookie identifiers in the impression report.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the media identifiers identify at least one of advertisements, television programs, websites, or movies.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

associate first cookies of a first domain with respective second cookies of a second domain, the second cookies mapped in association with respective media identifiers in a data structure received from the second domain; and

for each of the second cookies associated with a respective one of the first cookies, associate user demographic information with the second cookie, the user demographic information maintained at the first domain for a user corresponding to the respective first cookie.

16. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to, for each of the second cookies associated with a respective one of the first cookies, associate the respective first cookie with one of the media identifiers corresponding to the second cookie.

17. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the media identifiers are encrypted at the second domain before being received at the first domain.

18. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein each first cookie and its associated second cookie identify the same client computer.

19. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to generate an impression report based on the second cookies, the user demographic information, and the media identifiers, the impression report indicative of demographic populations that were exposed to media content identified by the media identifiers.

20. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to send the impression report to the second domain without revealing the first cookie identifiers in the impression report.

21. A computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the media identifiers identify at least one of advertisements, television programs, websites, or movies.

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 Nov 20, 2013
From: KALUS, MARK; PAPARO, ARI; GERAGHTY, KEVIN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 031641/0847 →