IP Library Granted Patent US 9,167,298
Granted Patent B2
US 9,167,298 · App. 14/137,076 · Granted Oct 20, 2015

Methods and apparatus for using audience member behavior information to determine compliance with audience measurement system usage requirements

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,167,298
App. No.
14/137,076
Granted
Oct 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture determine compliance with usage guidelines of an audience measurement system. Initially, location information associated with an audience member is obtained. It is then determined whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on the location information. Media monitoring information corresponding to the location information is then tagged as non-compliant if the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines.

Claims (57)

1. An apparatus to determine compliance with usage guidelines of an audience measurement system, comprising:

a location sensor to obtain first location information associated with an audience member; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the location sensor, to:

determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on a time difference between a first timestamp corresponding to the first location information and a second timestamp corresponding to a time at which a change in location of the audience member was previously detected; and

tag media monitoring information corresponding to the first location information as non-compliant in response to determining that the time difference between the first and second timestamps is not less than a threshold.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the location sensor is further to obtain second location information associated with the audience member, and wherein the processor is to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on whether the first location information is different from the second location information.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on a second time difference between the first timestamp and a third timestamp associated with second location information.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines if the second time difference is not less than a second threshold and a difference between the first and second location information is not greater than a third threshold.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further to generate a non-compliance message to be sent to the audience member if the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 , further including a visual interface to display the non-compliance message via a portable meter.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 , further including a communication interface to forward the non-compliance message to a central facility for subsequent communication to the audience member.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further to configure a portable meter to operate in a low power consumption mode if the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the processor is further to configure the portable meter to exit the low power consumption mode based on at least one of a location change event, a motion event, or a timer event.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the location information includes location coordinates.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media monitoring information is information indicative of at least one of a video presentation or an audio presentation.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on whether the audience member is at least one of carrying or wearing a portable meter of the audience measurement system in compliance with the usage guidelines.

13. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

obtain first location information associated with an audience member;

determine whether the audience member is in compliance with usage guidelines based on a time difference between a first timestamp corresponding to the first location information and a second timestamp corresponding to a time at which a change in location of the audience member was previously detected; and

tag media monitoring information corresponding to the first location information as non-compliant in response to determining that the time difference between the first and second timestamps is not less than a threshold.

14. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines by:

obtaining second location information associated with the audience member; and

determining whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on whether the first location information is different from the second location information.

15. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on a second time difference between the first timestamp and a third timestamp associated with second location information.

16. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines if the second time difference is not less than a second threshold and a difference between the first and second location information is not greater than a third threshold.

17. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to generate a non-compliance message to be sent to the audience member if the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines.

18. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to display the non-compliance message via a portable meter.

19. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to forward the non-compliance message to a central facility for subsequent communication to the audience member.

20. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to configure a portable meter to operate in a low power consumption mode if the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines.

21. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 20 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to configure the portable meter to exit the low power consumption mode based on at least one of a location change event, a motion event, or a timer event.

22. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 13 , wherein the location information includes location coordinates.

23. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 13 , wherein the media monitoring information is information indicative of at least one of a video presentation or an audio presentation.

24. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on whether the audience member is at least one of carrying or wearing a portable meter of the audience measurement system in compliance with the usage guidelines.

25. An apparatus to determine compliance with usage guidelines of an audience measurement system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor and including instructions to cause the processor to:

determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on a time difference between a first timestamp associated with a first acoustic event and a second timestamp associated with a second acoustic event;

tag media monitoring information as non-compliant in response to determining that the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines; and

generate a non-compliance message to be communicated to the audience member in response to determining that the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines by comparing the time difference to a non-compliance time threshold.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine that the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines if the time difference is not less than the non-compliance time threshold.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 , wherein the first acoustic event is indicative of an acoustic emission detected via an audio detector.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 , wherein the acoustic emission is at least one of a scraping sound, a tapping sound, or a wind sound.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 , wherein the acoustic emission is at least one of audio associated with a media presentation or speech.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 , wherein the media monitoring information is information indicative of at least one of a video presentation or an audio presentation.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on whether the audience member is at least one of carrying or wearing a portable meter of the audience measurement system in compliance with the usage guidelines.

33. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

determine whether an audience member is in compliance with usage guidelines based on a time difference between a first timestamp associated with a first acoustic event and a second timestamp associated with a second acoustic event;

tag media monitoring information as non-compliant in response to determining that the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines; and

generate a non-compliance message to be communicated to the audience member in response to determining that the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines.

34. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 33 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines by comparing the time difference to a non-compliance time threshold.

35. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 34 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to determine that the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines if the time difference is not less than the non-compliance time threshold.

36. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 33 , wherein the first acoustic event is indicative of an acoustic emission detected via an audio detector.

37. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 36 , wherein the acoustic emission is at least one of a scraping sound, a tapping sound, or a wind sound.

38. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 36 , wherein the acoustic emission is at least one of audio associated with a media presentation or speech.

39. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 33 , wherein the media monitoring information is information indicative of at least one of a video presentation or an audio presentation.

40. A computer-readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 33 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to determine whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on whether the audience member is at least one of carrying or wearing a portable meter of the audience measurement system in compliance with the usage guidelines.

Assignments (13)
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 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIFTH CONVEYING PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 032374 FRAME: 0839. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Recorded Jan 29, 2017
From: LEE, MORRIS; MEARS, PAUL M.; LUFF, ROBERT A.; RAMASWAMY, ARUN; SEAGREN, STANLEY F.; HEADLEY, WESTON P.
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 041547/0153 →
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 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 28, 2015
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 036447/0874 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 28, 2015
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 036504/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2014
From: LEE, MORRIS; MEARS, PAUL M; LUFF, ROBERT A.; RAMASWAMY, ARUN; SEAGRAN, STANLEY F.; HEADLEY, WESTON P.
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 032374/0839 →