IP Library Granted Patent US 9,398,331
Granted Patent B2
US 9,398,331 · App. 14/561,045 · Granted Jul 19, 2016

Power management for audience measurement meters

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,398,331
App. No.
14/561,045
Granted
Jul 19, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Power management methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for audience measurement meters are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include obtaining presentation device state data representing an activation state of a media presentation device that is to present received media and is monitored by an audience measurement meter, the presentation device state data including time information. Such disclosed example methods also include determining whether to fault audience measurement data reported by the audience measurement meter based on the presentation device state data and power outage information determined from the audience measurement data.

Claims (40)

1. A method comprising:

obtaining, by executing an instruction with a processor, presentation device state data representing an activation state history of a media presentation device, the presentation device state data including time information;

obtaining, by executing an instruction with the processor, audience measurement data reported by an audience measurement meter monitoring presentation of media by the media presentation device; and

in response to the audience measurement data indicating the audience measurement meter experienced an outage, determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted based on a comparison of the activation state history of the media presentation device and outage information for the audience measurement meter determined from the audience measurement data.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the determining of whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted includes:

determining that the audience measurement data is to be faulted when a first time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps a second time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active; and

determining that the audience measurement data is not to be faulted when the first time interval does not overlap the second interval.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the determining of whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted includes:

determining that the audience measurement data is to be faulted when a time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps a time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active; and

determining that the audience measurement data is not to be faulted when no time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps another time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the presentation device state data is determined by a device separate from the audience measurement meter that reported the audience measurement data.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outage information indicates an interval of time over which the audience measurement meter experienced a power outage.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the audience measurement meter is a first audience measurement meter, and the outage information indicates an interval of time over which the first audience measurement meter experienced a communication outage with a second audience measurement meter.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

obtain presentation device state data representing an activation state history of a media presentation device, the presentation device state data including time information;

obtain audience measurement data reported by an audience measurement meter that is to monitor presentation of media by the media presentation device; and

in response to the audience measurement data indicating the audience measurement meter experienced an outage, determine whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted based on a comparison of the activation state history of the media presentation device and outage information for the audience measurement meter determined from the audience measurement data.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein to determine whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

determine that the audience measurement data is to be faulted when a first time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps a second time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active; and

determine that the audience measurement data is not to be faulted when the first time interval does not overlap the second interval.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein to determine whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted, the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to:

determine that the audience measurement data is to be faulted when a time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps a time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active; and

determine that the audience measurement data is not to be faulted when no time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps another time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein the presentation device state data is determined by a device separate from the audience measurement meter that reported the audience measurement data.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein the outage information indicates an interval of time over which the audience measurement meter experienced a power outage.

12. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein the audience measurement meter is a first audience measurement meter, and the outage information indicates an interval of time over which the first audience measurement meter experienced a communication outage with a second audience measurement meter.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a data receiver to:

obtain presentation device state data representing an activation state history of a media presentation device, the presentation device state data including time information; and

obtain audience measurement data reported by an audience measurement meter that is to monitor presentation of media by the media presentation device; and

a processor to determine whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted in response to the audience measurement data indicating the audience measurement meter experienced an outage, the processor to determine whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted based on a comparison of the activation state history of the media presentation device and outage information for the audience measurement meter determined from the audience measurement data.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein to determine whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted, the processor is to:

determine that the audience measurement data is to be faulted when a first time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps a second time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active; and

determine that the audience measurement data is not to be faulted when the first time interval does not overlap the second interval.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein to determine whether the audience measurement data is to be faulted, the processor is to:

determine that the audience measurement data is to be faulted when a time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps a time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active; and

determine that the audience measurement data is not to be faulted when no time interval over which the audience measurement data indicates the outage occurred overlaps another time interval over which the presentation device state data indicates the media presentation device was active.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the presentation device state data is determined by a device separate from the audience measurement meter that reported the audience measurement data.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the outage information indicates an interval of time over which the audience measurement meter experienced a power outage.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the audience measurement meter is a first audience measurement meter, and the outage information indicates an interval of time over which the first audience measurement meter experienced a communication outage with a second audience measurement meter.

Assignments (10)
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 Mar 12, 2015
From: CONKLIN, CHARLES CLINTON; VITT, JAMES J.; CHAN, CHEUK WAN; ZHANG, MIN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 035150/0751 →