IP Library Granted Patent US 9,538,240
Granted Patent B2
US 9,538,240 · App. 14/139,029 · Granted Jan 3, 2017

Methods and apparatus for detecting space-shifted media associated with a digital recording/playback device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,538,240
App. No.
14/139,029
Granted
Jan 3, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting space-shifted media content associated with a digital recording/playback device are disclosed. An example method for detecting space-shifted media content includes detecting, at a router, a data packet transmitted from a first media device of a home network to a second media device of the home network; and determining, at the router, that media associated with the data packet is space-shifted when the data packet comprises at least one of media data or command data.

Claims (50)

1. A method to identify space-shifted media, the method comprising:

detecting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a data packet transmitted from a first media playback device of a home network to a second media playback device of the home network;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, that media associated with the data packet is space-shifted when the data packet includes at least one of media data or command data; and

updating, by executing an instruction with the processor, viewing data associated with the media to indicate that the second media playback device is a location of consumption of the media.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including:

identifying a source address in the data packet, the source address identifying the first media device,

wherein the determining that the media is space-shifted includes indicating that the media associated with the data packet was space-shifted from the first media playback device to the second media playback device.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including:

identifying a source address in the data packet, the source address identifying the second media playback device, and

wherein the determining that the media is space-shifted includes indicating that the media associated with the data packet was space shifted from the second media playback device to the first media playback device.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including:

identifying a source address of the data packet, the source address identifying the first media playback device; and

identifying a destination address of the data packet, the destination address identifying the second media playback device.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 , further including sending to a data collection facility, an indication that the media was space-shifted from the first media playback device to the second media playback device.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including:

identifying time-shift tricks from the command data, the time-shift tricks including at least one of pausing media, fast-forwarding media, rewinding media, or slow motion viewing of media.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the determining that the media associated with the data packet is space-shifted further includes detecting media distributed on one or more frequencies via analog television signals.

8. A router comprising:

a processor;

a network analyzer to detect a data packet transmitted from a first media playback device of a home network to a second media playback device of the home network; and

a space shift detector to:

determine that media associated with the data packet is space-shifted when the data packet includes at least one of media data or command data; and

update viewing data associated with the media to indicate that the second media playback device is a location of consumption of the media.

9. The router as defined in claim 8 , wherein the space-shift detector is further to:

identify a source address in the data packet, the source address identifying the first media playback device; and

indicate that the media associated with the data packet was space-shifted from the first media playback device to the second media playback device.

10. The router as defined in claim 8 , wherein the space-shift detector is further to:

identify a source address in the data packet, the source address identifying the second media playback device; and

indicate that the media associated with the data packet was space-shifted from the second media playback device to the first media playback device.

11. The router as defined in claim 8 , wherein the network analyzer is to detect the data packet by:

identifying a source address of the data packet, the source address identifying the first media playback device; and

identifying a destination address of the data packet, the destination address identifying the second media playback device.

12. The router as defined in claim 8 , wherein the command data includes data to control playback of the media.

13. The router as defined in claim 8 , wherein the space-shift detector is further to identify time-shift tricks from the command data, the time-shift tricks including at least one of pausing media, fast-forwarding media, rewinding media, or slow motion viewing of media.

14. The router as defined in claim 8 , wherein the space shift detector is to determine that the media associated with the data packet is space-shifted by detecting media distributed via analog television signals.

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

detect a data packet transmitted from a first media playback device of a home network to a second media playback device of the home network;

determine that media associated with the data packet is space-shifted when the data packet includes at least one of media data or command data; and

update viewing data associated with the media to indicate that the second media playback device is a location of consumption of the media.

16. The storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed further cause the machine to:

identify a source address in the data packet, the source address identifying the first media playback device; and

indicate that the media associated with the data packet was space-shifted from the first media playback device to the second media playback device.

17. The storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed further cause the machine to:

identify a source address in the data packet, the source address identifying the second media playback device, and

indicate that the media associated with the data packet was space shifted from the second media playback device to the first media playback device.

18. The storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed further cause the machine to:

identify a source address of the data packet, the source address identifying the first media playback device; and

identify a destination address of the data packet, the destination address identifying the second media playback device.

19. The storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the command data includes data to control playback of the media.

20. The storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to identify time-shift tricks from the command data, the time-shift tricks including at least one of pausing media, fast-forwarding media, rewinding media, or slow motion viewing of media.

Assignments (11)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2016
From: WRIGHT, DAVID HOWELL; CROY, DAVID JAMES; RAMASWAMY, ARUN; MELLO, BRIAN; LAWRENCE, BRADLEY R., III; BESEHANIC, JAN
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 037870/0346 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 2, 2016
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.)
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 037870/0433 →
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 →