IP Library Granted Patent US 9,350,939
Granted Patent B2
US 9,350,939 · App. 14/633,848 · Granted May 24, 2016

Methods and apparatus to detect content skipping by a consumer of a recorded program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,350,939
App. No.
14/633,848
Granted
May 24, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to detect content skipping by a consumer of a recorded program are disclosed. An example disclosed apparatus includes a segment identifier to identify a first number of times a media segment was fast-forwarded and a second number of times the media segment was rewound; and a recapture identifier to determine whether the media segment was recaptured based on a comparison of the first number of times and the second number of times.

Claims (34)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a segment identifier to identify a first number of times a media segment was fast-forwarded and a second number of times the media segment was rewound; and

a recapture identifier to determine whether the media segment was recaptured based on a comparison of the first number times to the second number of times, wherein at least one of the segment identifier or the recapture identifier is to be implemented with a processor.

2. An apparatus as defined claim 1 , wherein the recaptured media segment is rewound and reviewed at a normal playback rate.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the normal playback rate corresponds to real time playback.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the recapture identifier is to, when the first number of times is less than the second number of times, determine that the media segment was recaptured.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the recapture identifier is to, when the first number of times is greater than the second number of times, determine that the media segment was skipped and not recaptured.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the recapture identifier is to, when the first number of times is equal to the second number of times, determine that the media segment was viewed at a normal playback rate.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the recapture identifier is to, when the first number of times is zero and the second number of times is one, determine that the media segment was twice viewed at a normal playback rate.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the segment identifier is to track the first number of times and the second number of times by populating a data structure, the data structure having a first section to store first identifiers associated with fast-forwarded media segments, data structure having a second section to store second identifiers associated with rewound media segments.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a set-top box.

10. A method, comprising:

determining, with a processor, a first number of times a media segment was fast-forwarded;

determining, with the processor, a second number of times the media segment was rewound; and

determining, with the processor, whether the media segment was recaptured based on a comparison of the first number of times to the second number of time.

11. A method as defined claim 10 , wherein the recaptured media segment is rewound and reviewed at a normal playback rate.

12. A method as defined in claim 11 , wherein the normal playback rate corresponds to real time playback.

13. A method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the determining whether the media segment was recaptured includes, when the first number of times is less than the second number of times, determining that the media segment was recaptured.

14. A method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the determining whether the media segment was recaptured includes, when the first number of times is greater than the second number of times, determining that the media segment was skipped and not recaptured.

15. A method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the determining whether the media segment was recaptured includes, when the first number of times is equal to the second number of times, determining that the media segment was viewed at a normal playback rate.

16. A method as defined in claim 10 , wherein the determining whether the media segment was recaptured includes, when the first number of times is zero and the second number of times is one, determining that the media segment was twice viewed at a normal playback rate.

17. A method as defined in claim 10 , wherein:

the determining of the first number of times includes populating a first section of a data structure with an identifier associated with the media segment when the media segment is fast-forwarded; and

the determining of the second number of times comprises populating a second section of the data structure with the identifier associated with the media segment when the media segment is rewound.

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

populate a first section of a data structure with an identifier associated with a media segment when the media segment is fast-forwarded;

populate a second section of the data structure with the identifier associated with the media segment when the media segment is rewound; and

determine whether the media segment was recaptured based on a comparison of the first section of the data structure to the second section of the data structure.

19. A tangible computer readable storage device as defined in claim 18 , wherein the recaptured media segment is rewound and reviewed at a normal playback rate.

20. A tangible computer readable storage device as defined in claim 19 , wherein the normal playback rate corresponds to real time playback.

21. A tangible computer readable storage device as defined in claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine whether the media segment was recaptured by, when the second section of the data structure includes more instances of the identifier than the first section of the data structure, determining that the media segment was recaptured.

22. A tangible computer readable storage device as defined in claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine whether the media segment was recaptured by, when the first section of the data structure includes more instances of the identifier than the second section of the data structure, determining that the media segment was skipped and not recaptured.

23. A tangible computer readable storage device as defined in claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine whether the media segment was recaptured by, when the first section of the data structure includes a same number of instances of the identifier as the second section of the data structure, determining that the media segment was viewed at a normal playback rate.

24. A tangible computer readable storage device as defined in claim 18 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine whether the media segment was recaptured by, when the first section of the data structure does not include an instance of the identifier and the second section of the data structure includes one instance of the identifier, determining that the media segment was twice viewed at a normal playback rate.

Assignments (9)
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 →