Granted Patent B2

US 12,200,298 · App. 14/020,778 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventor: Robert Alan Orlowski (Centennial, CO)

Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC

H04N21/442H04N21/2408H04N21/252H04N21/25883H04N21/44226H04N21/4667H04N21/6582H04N21/8456

Abstract

Claims (80)

1. A method comprising:

creating, by a computing system, a data structure comprising data records representing discrete time periods associated with video-viewing activity;

receiving, by the computing system and from a plurality of video-asset-viewing devices distributed among a plurality of geographic regions, video-viewing-activity data associated with outputting, via a plurality of video-viewing types, a video asset;

based on the video-viewing-activity data, assigning by the computing system, to one or more data records of the data structure, values indicating at least one of a video-viewing mode or a video-viewing type of the plurality of video-viewing types;

determining, by the computing system, a fixed reference point in the video asset for each of the plurality of video-viewing types;

using the data structure to determine, by the computing system and based on the video-viewing-activity data and for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a time range during which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset, wherein the time range is further determined, for each of the plurality of video-viewing types, based on the fixed reference point in the video asset;

for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices:

determining, by the computing system and based on the fixed reference point, a plurality of time intervals of the time range determined for the video-asset-viewing device;

using the data structure to determine, by the computing system and for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a video-viewing mode via which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset during the time interval;

using the data structure to determine, by the computing system and for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a video-viewing type of the plurality of video-viewing types via which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset during the time interval; and

using the data structure to determine, by the computing system and based on the video-viewing type and the video-viewing mode determined for each of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a subset plurality of time intervals associated with a first video-viewing type and a first video-viewing mode;

determining, by the computing system and based on data records, of the data structure, associated with the subset plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a video-viewing-activity metric indicating a quantity of video-asset-viewing devices that outputted, during one or more intervals of a plurality of intervals of the video asset, the video asset using the first video-viewing type and the first video-viewing mode; and

outputting, by the computing system and to a monitoring system, an output file comprising the determined video-viewing-activity metric.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the data structure to determine the video-viewing type comprises determining whether the video asset was outputted from a linear source, from a digital video recorder (DVR) source proximate to the video-asset-viewing device, or from a video on demand (VOD) source remote from the video-asset-viewing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

grouping, by the computing system, the subset plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices with a group of time intervals; and

determining, by the computing system, that each time interval in a portion of the group corresponds to the one or more intervals of the plurality of intervals of the video asset,

wherein determining the video-viewing-activity metric is based on the portion.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the video-viewing-activity metric comprises determining a quantity of time intervals in the portion.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

based on determining whether the video-viewing mode determined for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices corresponds to the first video-viewing mode, filtering, by the computing system, the plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices;

determining, by the computing system and based on data records, of the data structure, associated with the filtered plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a second video-viewing-activity metric; and

determining a ratio of the video-viewing-activity metric to the second video-viewing-activity metric.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein using the data structure to determine the video-viewing mode comprises determining, for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, one of a playback mode, a fast-forward mode, or a rewind mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the computing system, each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for a first video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices is associated with the first video-viewing mode; and

determining, by the computing system, each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for a second video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices is associated with a second video-viewing mode different from the first video-viewing mode.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

using the data structure to determine, by the computing system and based on the plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a quantity of video-asset-viewing devices that outputted, during the one or more intervals of the plurality of intervals of the video asset, the video asset using the first video-viewing type and a second video-viewing mode.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing system comprises a plurality of computing devices remotely located from the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, and wherein determining the plurality of time intervals comprises determining, by a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices, at least a first portion of the plurality of time intervals determined for a first video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, and determining, by a second computing device of the plurality of computing devices, at least a second portion of the plurality of time intervals determined for the first video-asset-viewing device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for a first video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices is associated with the first video-viewing type; and

each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for a second video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices is associated with a second video-viewing type different from the first video-viewing type.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the time range determined for a first video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices is associated with a first airing of the video asset; and

the time range determined for a second video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices is associated with a second airing of the video asset.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices is associated with a same time duration, and wherein two or more time intervals of the plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices are associated with a continuous period of time.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video-viewing type comprises at least one of linear viewing, digital video recorder (DVR) viewing, or video on demand (VOD) viewing.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein a video-viewing type, of the plurality of video-viewing types, comprises digital video recorder viewing, and wherein the fixed reference point comprises a starting point of the video asset.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein a video-viewing type, of the plurality of video-viewing types, comprises linear viewing, and wherein a starting point of the viewing is different from the fixed reference point.

16. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

create a data structure comprising data records representing discrete time periods associated with video-viewing activity;

receive, from a plurality of video-asset-viewing devices distributed among a plurality of geographic regions, video-viewing-activity data associated with outputting, via a plurality of video-viewing types, a video asset;

based on the video-viewing-activity data, assign, to one or more data records of the data structure, values indicating at least one of a video-viewing mode or a video-viewing type of the plurality of video-viewing types;

determine a fixed reference point in the video asset for each of the plurality of video-viewing types;

use the data structure to determine, based on the video-viewing-activity data and for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a time range during which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset, wherein the time range is further determined, for each of the plurality of video-viewing types, based on the fixed reference point in the video asset;

for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices:

determine, based on the fixed reference point, a plurality of time intervals of the time range determined for the video-asset-viewing device;

use the data structure to determine, for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a video-viewing mode via which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset during the time interval;

use the data structure to determine, for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a video-viewing type of the plurality of video-viewing types via which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset during the time interval; and

use the data structure to determine, based on the video-viewing type and the video-viewing mode determined for each of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a subset plurality of time intervals associated with a first video-viewing type and a first video-viewing mode;

determine, based on data records, of the data structure, associated with the subset plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a video-viewing-activity metric indicating a quantity of video-asset-viewing devices that outputted, during one or more intervals of a plurality of intervals of the video asset, the video asset using the first video-viewing type and the first video-viewing mode; and

output, to a monitoring system, an output file comprising the determined video-viewing-activity metric.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to use the data structure to determine the video-viewing type by determining whether the video asset was outputted from a linear source, from a digital video recorder (DVR) source proximate to the video-asset-viewing device, or from a video on demand (VOD) source remote from the video-asset-viewing device.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to use the data structure to determine the video-viewing mode by determining, for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, one of a playback mode, a fast-forward mode, or a rewind mode.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

use the data structure to determine, based on the plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a quantity of video-asset-viewing devices that outputted, during the one or more intervals of the plurality of intervals of the video asset, the video asset using the first video-viewing type and a second video-viewing mode.

20. A system comprising:

a computing device comprising:

one or more first processors; and

first memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the computing device to:

create a data structure comprising data records representing discrete time periods associated with video-viewing activity;

receive, from a plurality of video-asset-viewing devices distributed among a plurality of geographic regions, video-viewing-activity data associated with outputting, via a plurality of video-viewing types, a video asset;

based on the video-viewing-activity data, assign, to one or more data records of the data structure, values indicating at least one of a video-viewing mode or a video-viewing type of the plurality of video-viewing types;

determine a fixed reference point in the video asset for each of the plurality of video-viewing types;

using the data structure to determine, based on the video-viewing-activity data and for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a time range during which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset, wherein the time range is further determined, for each of the plurality of video-viewing types, based on the fixed reference point in the video asset;

for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices:

determine, based on the fixed reference point, a plurality of time intervals of the time range determined for the video-asset-viewing device;

use the data structure to determine, for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a video-viewing mode via which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset during the time interval;

use the data structure to determine, for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a video-viewing type of the plurality of video-viewing types via which the video-asset-viewing device outputted the video asset during the time interval; and

use the data structure to determine, based on the video-viewing type and the video-viewing mode determined for each of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, a subset plurality of time intervals associated with a first video-viewing type and a first video-viewing mode;

determine, based on data records, of the data structure, associated with the subset plurality of time intervals determined for each video-asset-viewing device of the plurality of video-asset-viewing devices, a video-viewing-activity metric indicating a quantity of video-asset-viewing devices that outputted, during one or more intervals of a plurality of intervals of the video asset, the video asset using the first video-viewing type and the first video-viewing mode; and

output, to a monitoring system, an output file comprising the determined video-viewing-activity metric; and

a second video-asset-viewing device comprising:

one or more second processors; and

second memory storing second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the second video-asset-viewing device to send at least a portion of the video-viewing-activity data.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the first instructions, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the computing device to use the data structure to determine the video-viewing type by determining whether the video asset was outputted from a linear source, from a digital video recorder (DVR) source proximate to the video-asset-viewing device, or from a video on demand (VOD) source remote from the video-asset-viewing device.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the first instructions, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the computing device to use the data structure to determine the video-viewing mode by determining, for each time interval of the plurality of time intervals determined for the video-asset-viewing device, one of a playback mode, a fast-forward mode, or a rewind mode.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (189)