IP Library Granted Patent US 10,171,869
Granted Patent B2
US 10,171,869 · App. 15/206,932 · Granted Jan 1, 2019

Methods and apparatus to determine engagement levels of audience members

Inventor: Alejandro Terrazas (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/44218H04N21/4126H04N21/4223H04N21/44231
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,171,869
App. No.
15/206,932
Granted
Jan 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to determine engagement levels of audience members are disclosed. An example method includes capturing, with a sensor, image data depicting an environment in which a first media device is to present media. Analyzing the image data to determine whether the environment includes a second media device emanating a glow. When the environment includes the second media device emanating the glow, calculating an engagement for a person in the environment with respect to the first media device, the engagement being calculated based on a characteristic of the second media device emanating the glow.

Claims (30)

1. A method, comprising:

capturing, with a sensor, image data depicting an environment in which a first media device is to present media;

analyzing, by executing an instruction with a processor, the image data to determine whether the environment includes a second media device emanating a glow; and

when the environment includes the second media device emanating the glow, calculating, by executing an instruction with the processor, an engagement for a person in the environment with respect to the first media device, the engagement being calculated based on a distance between the person and the second media device emanating the glow.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including detecting a change in the glow over a period of time.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the engagement is further calculated based on the detected change in the glow.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is separate from the first media device and the second media device.

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

detecting media identifying information associated with the first media device; and

associating the media identifying information with the calculated engagement.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first media device is a stationary device located in the environment, and the second media device is a portable device.

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

access image data captured by a sensor, the image data depicting an environment in which a first media device is to present media;

analyze the image data to determine whether the environment includes a second media device emanating a glow; and

when the environment includes the second media device emanating the glow, calculate an amount of attention paid by a person in the environment to the first media device, the amount of attention to be calculated based on a distance between the person and the second media device emanating the glow.

8. The storage medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to detect a change in the glow over a period of time.

9. The storage medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to further calculate the amount of attention paid by the person based on the detected change in the glow.

10. The storage medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein the sensor is separate from the first media device and the second media device.

11. The storage medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to:

gather media identifying information associated with the first media device; and

associate the media identifying information with the calculated engagement.

12. The storage medium as defined in claim 7 , wherein the first media device is a stationary device located in the environment, and the second media device is a portable device.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a detector to analyze image data depicting an environment in which media is to be presented by a first media device to determine whether the environment includes a second media device emanating a glow, the image data captured with a sensor; and

a calculator to determine an engagement for a person in the environment with respect to the first media device, the calculator to determine the engagement based on a distance between the person and the second media device emanating the glow.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the detector is to detect a change in the glow over a period of time.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the calculator is to further determine the engagement for the person based on the detected change in the glow.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the sensor is separate from the first media device and the second media device.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , further including a media detector to collect media identifying information to associate with the calculated engagement.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first media device is a stationary device located in the environment, and the second media device is a portable 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 Aug 2, 2016
From: TERRAZAS, ALEJANDRO
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 039315/0490 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14281139 · May 19, 2014
Continuation 13728515 · Dec 27, 2012
Related Publication 20160323640A1 · Nov 3, 2016
Cited By (2)
US 12,425,688 US 12,432,415