IP Library Granted Patent US 8,824,740
Granted Patent B2
US 8,824,740 · App. 14/139,379 · Granted Sep 2, 2014

Methods and apparatus for detecting a composition of an audience of an information presenting device

Inventors: Arun Ramaswamy (Tampa, FL); Daniel J. Nelson (Tampa, FL); Venugopal Srinivasan (Palm Harbor, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
G06K9/00362H04H60/33H04H60/45H04H60/43H04N7/17309H04N21/258
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,824,740
App. No.
14/139,379
Granted
Sep 2, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting a composition of an audience of an information presenting device are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes maintaining a first count of a number of people detected in an environment based on image data representative of the environment; when the image data is indicative of a change in the number of people detected in the environment, presenting a request for identity information; determining if the people were compliant in providing the identity information based on a difference between the number of people appearing in the image data and a second number of received identity responses; and when the people were non-compliant in providing the identity information, increasing a second count maintained for the environment indicative of unidentified people in the room.

Claims (33)

1. A method, comprising:

maintaining a first count of a number of people detected in an environment based on image data representative of the environment;

when the image data is indicative of a change in the number of people detected in the environment, presenting a request for identity information;

determining, with a processor if the people were compliant in providing the identity information based on a difference between the number of people appearing in the image data and a second number of received identity responses; and

when the people were non-compliant in providing the identity information, increasing, with the processor, a second count maintained for the environment indicative of unidentified people in the environment.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising storing the second count in a memory in association with a time stamp.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein determining if the people were compliant in providing the identity information comprises determining whether the difference between the number of people appearing in the image data and the second number of received identity responses occurs a plurality of successive times.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising increasing the first count by a value of the second count to generate an increased first count, wherein the increased first count is to be used for analyzing subsequent instances of image data.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein presenting the request for identity information comprises generating a visual display in the environment.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein presenting the request for identity information comprises presenting a list of identifiers corresponding to persons of a household.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising associating media identifying information with at least one of the first count or the second count.

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

maintain a first count of a number of people detected in an environment based on image data representative of the environment;

when the image data is indicative of a change in the number of people detected in the environment, present a request for identity information;

determine if the people were compliant in providing the identity information based on a difference between the number of people appearing in the image data and a second number of received identity responses; and

when the people were non-compliant in providing the identity information, increase a second count maintained for the environment indicative of unidentified people in the environment.

9. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to store the second count in a memory in association with a time stamp.

10. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to determine if the people were compliant in providing the identity information by determining whether the difference between the number of people appearing in the image data and the second number of received identity responses is detected a plurality of successive times.

11. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to increase the first count by a value of the second count to generate an increased first count, wherein the increased first count is to be used for analyzing subsequent instances of image data.

12. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to present the request for identity information by generating a visual display in the environment.

13. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 8 , wherein instructions cause the machine to present the request for identity information by presenting a list of identifiers corresponding to persons of a household.

14. A storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to associate media identifying information with at least one of the first count or the second count.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a people counter to maintain a first count of a number of people detected in an environment based on image data representative of the environment;

a change detector to, when the image data is indicative of a change in the number of people detected in the environment, present a request for identity information; and

a compliance detector to:

determine if the people were compliant in providing the identity information based on a difference between the number of people appearing in the image data and a second number of received identity responses; and

when the people were non-compliant in providing the identity information, increase a second count maintained for the environment indicative of unidentified people in the environment, wherein at least one of the people counter, the change detector or the compliance detector is implemented via a logic circuit.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 , further comprising memory to store the second count in association with a time stamp.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 , wherein the compliance detector is to determine if the people were compliant in providing the identity information by determining whether the difference between the number of people appearing in the image data and the second number of received identity responses is detected a plurality of successive times.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 , wherein the people counter is to increase the first count by a value of the second count to generate an increased first count, wherein the increased first count is to be used for analyzing subsequent instances of image data.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 , wherein the compliance detector is to present the request for identity information by presenting a list of identifiers corresponding to persons of a household.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 , further comprising a media detector to associate media identifying information with at least one of the first count or the second count.

Assignments (12)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2014
From: RAMASWAMY, ARUN; NELSON, DANIEL J.; SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 031951/0883 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 13, 2014
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 031997/0235 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 13, 2014
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 031951/0930 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13459908 · Apr 30, 2012
Continuation 12533629 · Jul 31, 2009
Continuation 10538692
Related Publication 20140105462A1 · Apr 17, 2014