IP Library Granted Patent US 9,467,519
Granted Patent B2
US 9,467,519 · App. 14/987,531 · Granted Oct 11, 2016

Methods and apparatus to identify session users with cookie information

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,467,519
App. No.
14/987,531
Granted
Oct 11, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to identify session users with cookie information. An example method includes identifying a most recently used cookie based on a comparison of timestamps associated with a plurality of cookies, comparing an identifier of the most recently used cookie to a cookie table, the cookie table associating cookies with the plurality of different users, and when the identifier of the most recently used cookie is associated with one of the plurality of different users, associating subsequent usage activity of the computing device with the one of the plurality of different users.

Claims (30)

1. A method to identify a current user of a computing device among a plurality of different users, the method comprising:

identifying, by executing an instruction with a processor, a most recently used cookie based on a comparison of timestamps associated with a plurality of cookies;

comparing, by executing an instruction with the processor, an identifier of the most recently used cookie to a cookie table, the cookie table associating cookies with the plurality of different users; and

when the identifier of the most recently used cookie is associated with one of the plurality of different users, associating, by executing an instruction with the processor, subsequent usage activity of the computing device with the one of the plurality of different users.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein when the identifier of the most recently used cookie is not associated with any of the plurality of different users, refraining from associating the subsequent usage activity of the computing device with any of the plurality of different users.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the subsequent usage activity of the computing device is browsing activity that is not associated with the most recently used cookie.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the associating of the subsequent usage activity occurs until a timeout period expires.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the most recently used cookie is associated with at least one of a social networking service, an email service, or a banking service.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cookies are from a first storage location associated with a first browser and a second storage location associated with a second browser.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the cookie table is stored on the computing device.

8. An apparatus to identify a current user of a computing device among a plurality of different users, the apparatus comprising:

a cookie manager to:

identify a most recently used cookie based on a comparison of timestamps associated with a plurality of cookies; and

compare an identifier of the most recently used cookie to a cookie table, the cookie table associating cookies with the plurality of different users; and

an activity associator to, when the identifier of the most recently used cookie is associated with one of the plurality of different users, associate subsequent usage activity of the computing device with the one of the plurality of different users, at least one of the cookie manager or the activity associator implemented via a processor.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the activity associator is to, when the identifier of the most recently used cookie is not associated with any of the plurality of different users, refrain from associating the subsequent usage activity of the computing device with any of the plurality of different users.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the subsequent usage activity of the computing device is browsing activity that is not associated with the most recently used cookie.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the activity associator is to associate the subsequent usage activity with the one of the plurality of different users until a timeout period expires.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the most recently used cookie is associated with at least one of a social networking service, an email service, or a banking service.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the plurality of cookies are from a first storage location associated with a first browser and a second storage location associated with a second browser.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the cookie table is stored on the computing device.

15. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions to identify a current user of a computing device among a plurality of different users, the instructions, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

identify a most recently used cookie based on a comparison of timestamps associated with a plurality of cookies;

compare an identifier of the most recently used cookie to a cookie table, the cookie table associating cookies with the plurality of different users; and

when the identifier of the most recently used cookie is associated with one of the plurality of different users, associate subsequent usage activity of the computing device with the one of the plurality of different users.

16. The storage medium as defined in claim 15 , further including instructions that cause the machine to, when the identifier of the most recently used cookie is not associated with any of the plurality of different users, refrain from associating the subsequent usage activity of the computing device with any of the plurality of different users.

17. The storage medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the subsequent usage activity of the computing device is browsing activity that is not associated with the most recently used cookie.

18. The storage medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the associating of the subsequent usage activity occurs until a timeout period expires.

19. The storage medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the plurality of cookies are from a first storage location associated with a first browser and a second storage location associated with a second browser.

20. The storage medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the cookie table is stored on the computing device.

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 Jan 5, 2016
From: DUTERQUE, GILLES; SRIVASTAVA, SEEMA VARMA; ION, CRISTINA
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 037412/0534 →