Methods and apparatus to predict end of streaming media using a prediction model

1. A method comprising:

determining, by executing an instruction with a processor, a bandwidth rate associated with streaming media presented on a presentation device in a streaming media application based on information received from a proxy;

calculating a prediction model parameter using characteristics of the bandwidth rate, the characteristics of the bandwidth rate including a mean value of the bandwidth rate, an amplitude of the bandwidth rate, and a standard deviation of the bandwidth rate;

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a prediction model based on the prediction model parameter; and

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, that a time when an output of the prediction model is below a minimum bandwidth threshold is a presentation end time for the streaming media, the presentation end time corresponding to when the streaming media application stops presenting the steaming media on the presentation device.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including determining a type of the streaming media presented in the streaming media application, wherein the generating of the prediction model occurs in response to the bandwidth rate exceeding the minimum bandwidth threshold, the minimum bandwidth threshold based on the type of the streaming media.

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

determining a decay factor for the prediction model based on the type of the streaming media.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the bandwidth rate further includes a timestamp associated with the bandwidth rate.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the bandwidth rate is not received from a media device presenting the streaming media or a streaming media distributor transmitting the streaming media to the media device.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the proxy is intermediate to the streaming media application presenting the streaming media and a streaming media distributor transmitting the streaming media to the streaming media application.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 , wherein the proxy is to:

route the streaming media from the streaming media distributor to the streaming media application;

determine the bandwidth rate; and

transmit the bandwidth rate to an audience measurement entity.

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

transmitting targeted media to the streaming media application at the presentation end time for the streaming media.

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

transmitting a survey to the streaming media application at the presentation end time for the streaming media.

10. A tangible computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to, at least:

determine a bandwidth rate associated with streaming media presented on a presentation device in a streaming media application based on information received from a proxy;

calculate a prediction model parameter using characteristics of the bandwidth rate, the characteristics of the bandwidth rate including a mean value of the bandwidth rate, an amplitude of the bandwidth rate, and a standard deviation of the bandwidth rate;

generate a prediction model based on the prediction model parameter; and

determine that a time when an output of the prediction model is below a minimum bandwidth threshold is a presentation end time for the streaming media, the presentation end time corresponding to when the streaming media application stops presenting the steaming media on the presentation device.

11. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to determine a type of the streaming media presented in the streaming media application, wherein the instructions cause the machine to generate the prediction model in response to the bandwidth rate exceeding the minimum bandwidth threshold, the minimum bandwidth threshold based on the type of the streaming media.

12. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 11 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to:

determine a decay factor for the prediction model based on the type of the streaming media.

13. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the bandwidth rate further includes a timestamp associated with the bandwidth rate.

14. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the bandwidth rate is not received from a media device presenting the streaming media or a streaming media distributor transmitting the streaming media to the media device.

15. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the proxy is intermediate to the streaming media application presenting the streaming media and a streaming media distributor transmitting the streaming media to the streaming media application.

16. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the proxy is to:

route the streaming media from the streaming media distributor to the streaming media application;

determine the bandwidth rate; and

transmit the bandwidth rate to an audience measurement entity.

17. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to transmit targeted media to the streaming media application at the presentation end time for the streaming media.

18. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , further including instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to transmit a survey to the streaming media application at the presentation end time for the streaming media.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a bandwidth recorder to determine a bandwidth rate associated with streaming media presented on a presentation device in a streaming media application based on information received from a proxy;

a parameter generator to calculate a prediction model parameter using characteristics of the bandwidth rate, the characteristics of the bandwidth rate including a mean value of the bandwidth rate, an amplitude of the bandwidth rate, and a standard deviation of the bandwidth rate;

a modeler to generate a prediction model based on the prediction model parameter; and

a forecaster to determine that a time when an output of the prediction model is below a minimum bandwidth threshold is a presentation end time for the streaming media, the presentation end time corresponding to when the streaming media application stops presenting the steaming media on the presentation device, at least one of the bandwidth recorder, the modeler, or the forecaster implemented via a processor coupled to a memory.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , further including:

an identifier to determine a type of the streaming media presented in the streaming media application; and

a threshold generator to set the minimum bandwidth threshold based on the type of the streaming media, wherein the modeler is to generate the prediction model in response to the bandwidth rate exceeding the minimum bandwidth threshold.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 20 , wherein the parameter generator is to determine a decay factor for the prediction model based on the type of the streaming media.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the bandwidth rate is not received from a media device presenting the streaming media or a streaming media distributor transmitting the streaming media to the media device.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the proxy is intermediate to the streaming media application presenting the streaming media and a streaming media distributor transmitting the streaming media to the streaming media application.

24. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the proxy is further to:

route the streaming media from a streaming media distributor to the streaming media application;

determine the bandwidth rate; and

transmit the bandwidth rate to an audience measurement entity.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , further including:

an end of stream handler to transmit targeted media to the streaming media application at the presentation end time for the streaming media.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 25 , wherein the end of stream handler is further to:

transmit targeted media to the streaming media application at the presentation end time for the streaming media.

27. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the minimum bandwidth threshold corresponds to a bandwidth associated with a transmission of information other than the streaming media presented in the streaming media application.

28. The computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the minimum bandwidth threshold corresponds to a bandwidth associated with a transmission of information other than the streaming media presented in the streaming media application.

29. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the minimum bandwidth threshold corresponds to a bandwidth associated with a transmission of information other than the streaming media presented in the streaming media application.