IP Library Granted Patent US 9,521,456
Granted Patent B2
US 9,521,456 · App. 14/724,401 · Granted Dec 13, 2016

Methods, apparatus, and systems to collect audience measurement data

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,521,456
App. No.
14/724,401
Granted
Dec 13, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems to collect audience measurement data are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes collecting first media data. Audience identification data is collected with a people meter. Audience member behavior is developed data based on the first media data and the audience identification data. Second media data is collected after the people meter has been removed, the removal of the people meter occurring after the audience member behavior data has been developed. Audience members associated with the second media data are identified based on the audience member behavior data.

Claims (36)

1. A method of collecting audience measurement data in a monitored household, the method comprising:

collecting first media data;

collecting audience identification data with a people meter;

developing, with a first processor, audience member behavior data based on the first media data and the audience identification data;

collecting second media data after the people meter has been removed, the removal of the people meter occurring after the audience member behavior data has been developed; and

identifying, with at least one of the first processor or a second processor, audience members associated with the second media data based on the audience member behavior data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media data is collected in association with a first media presentation of a first media system, and the second media data is collected in association with a second media presentation of a second media system different from the first media system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first media system is a television, and the second media system is at least one of a computer, a cell phone, a smartphone, a laptop, or a tablet.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first media presentation is television media and the second media presentation is Internet media.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collecting of the second media data occurs without prompting the audience members to self-identify.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the developing of the audience member behavior data occurs over a first time period that is more than one year.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the audience member behavior data includes at least one of times of day, days of week, or media accessed by individual ones of the audience members.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the audience members associated with the second media data further includes obtaining demographic data for the identified audience members and associating the demographic data with the second media data to generate audience composition data.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collecting of the second media data extends a panelist term for the monitored household by eliminating button pushing.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media data is collected via a base metering device, and the second media data is collected via a mailable meter without the people meter being present in the household.

11. An apparatus to collect audience measurement data comprising:

a people meter to collect audience identification data during a first time period;

a media measurement device to collect first media identification data during the first time period and second media identification data during a second time period after the first time period, the second media identification data collected without collecting audience measurement data from the people meter, the people meter removed during the second time period; and

a behavior processor to:

develop audience member behavior data based on the first media identification data and the audience identification; and

identify the audience members associated with the second media identification data based on the audience member behavior data.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the people meter does not collect the audience identification data and does not prompt audience members to self-identify during the second time period.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the media measurement device further includes a communication interface to collect Internet usage data without collecting audience identification data.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the behavior processor is to identify audience members associated with the Internet usage data based on the audience member behavior data.

15. A machine-readable storage device or storage disk comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

develop audience member behavior data based on first media data and audience identification data collected with a people meter over a first time period;

collect second media data after the people meter has been removed, the removal of the people meter occurring after the audience member behavior data has been developed; and

identify audience members associated with the second media data based on the audience member behavior data and without collecting audience identification data.

16. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to obtain demographic data for the audience members associated with the second media.

17. The machine-readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to identify the audience members associated with Internet usage based on the audience member behavior data.

18. A method of collecting audience measurement data in a monitored household, the method comprising:

collecting first media data via a base metering device;

collecting audience identification data with a people meter;

developing, with a first processor, audience member behavior data based on the first media data and the audience identification data;

collecting second media data after the people meter has been removed, the second media data collected by a service provider associated with the second media data, the removal of the people meter occurring after the audience member behavior data has been developed; and

identifying, with at least one of the first processor or a second processor, audience members associated with the second media data based on the audience member behavior data.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 Jun 1, 2015
From: FUHRER, BRIAN SHANE
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 035805/0568 →