IP Library Granted Patent US 9,779,426
Granted Patent B2
US 9,779,426 · App. 15/218,725 · Granted Oct 3, 2017

Methods and apparatus to access media

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,779,426
App. No.
15/218,725
Granted
Oct 3, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to share media are disclosed. An example system includes a first device to capture, via a sensor, a representation of media being presented by a media presentation device separate from the first device. The first device to send a first user identifier of a first user of the first device, a second user identifier of a second user, different from the first user, and the representation of media to a media share facility. In response to the sending of the first user identifier, the second user identifier and the representation of media to the media share facility, receiving access to the media for the second user. When the access to the media is provided to the second user, crediting the media content with audience-interest credit based on the first user identifier.

Claims (37)

1. A method to present media, the method comprising:

initiating, by executing a monitoring application at a first device, a sampling of ambient sound, via a sensor in the first device, in response to input from a first user of the first device, the monitoring application received at the first device from a media access service;

collecting, by executing the monitoring application at the first device, representative information corresponding to media contributing to the ambient sound;

transmitting, by executing the monitoring application at the first device, a request to the media access service from the first device, the request to access the media for a second user, the request including a first user identifier of the first user, a second user identifier of the second user, different from the first user, and the representative information; and

authorizing, by executing the monitoring application at the first device, access to the media in response to an authorization indication from the media access service, the authorization indication transmitted by the media access service in conjunction with crediting the media with audience-interest credit based on the request for the second user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein authorizing access to the media includes one of receiving a hyperlink corresponding to an Internet location that provides access to the media or receiving a copy of the media.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein access to the media is received at at least one of the first device or a second device associated with the second user identifier of the second user.

4. The method of claim 2 , further including:

receiving a first advertisement combined with the media when the media is accessed by the first user; and

receiving a second advertisement combined with the media when the media is accessed by the second user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the representative information is at least one of a signature generated based on the media or a code from the media.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second user identifiers are email addresses.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the media comprises at least one of a television program, a movie, a newscast, radio, a song, an image, or an advertisement.

8. A tangible computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

initiate, by executing a monitoring application at a first device, a sampling of ambient sound, via a sensor in the first device, in response to input from a first user of the first device, the monitoring application received at the first device from a media access service;

collect, by executing the monitoring application at the first device, representative information corresponding to media contributing to the ambient sound;

transmit, by executing the monitoring application at the first device, a request to the media access service from the first device, the request to access the media for a second user, the request including a first user identifier of the first user, a second user identifier of the second user, different from the first user, and the representative information; and

authorize, by executing the monitoring application at the first device, access to the media in response to an authorization indication from the media access service, the authorization indication transmitted by the media access service in conjunction with crediting the media with audience-interest credit based on the request for the second user.

9. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein authorizing access to the media includes one of receiving a hyperlink corresponding to an Internet location that provides access to the media or receiving a copy of the media.

10. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein access to the media is received at at least one of the first device or a second device associated with the second user identifier of the second user.

11. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

receive a first advertisement combined with the media when the media is accessed by the first user; and

receive a second advertisement combined with the media when the media is accessed by the second user.

12. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the representative information is at least one of a signature generated based on the media or a code from the media.

13. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the first and second user identifiers are email addresses.

14. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the media comprises at least one of a television program, a movie, a newscast, radio, a song, an image, or an advertisement.

15. A portable device, comprising:

a processor to:

initiate, by executing a monitoring application at the portable device, a sampling of ambient sound, via a sensor in the portable device, in response to input from a first user of the portable device, the monitoring application received at the portable device from a media access service; and

collect, by executing the monitoring application at the portable device, representative information corresponding to media contributing to the ambient sound;

a communication interface to transmit, by executing the monitoring application at the portable device, a request to the media access service to access the media for a second user, the request including a first user identifier of the first user, a second user identifier of the second user, different from the first user, and the representative information; and

the communication interface to receive, by executing the monitoring application at the portable device, an authorization indication from the media access service, the authorization indication transmitted by the media access service in conjunction with crediting the media with audience-interest credit based on the request for the second user.

16. The portable device of claim 15 , wherein the authorization indication includes one of receiving a hyperlink corresponding to an Internet location that provides access to the media or receiving a copy of the media.

17. The portable device of claim 16 , further including receiving a first advertisement combined with the media when the media is accessed by the first user.

18. The portable device of claim 16 , wherein the representative information is at least one of a signature generated based on the media or a code from the media.

19. The portable device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second user identifiers are email addresses.

20. The portable device of claim 16 , wherein the media comprises at least one of a television program, a movie, a newscast, radio, a song, an image, or an advertisement.

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 Jul 27, 2016
From: RAMASWAMY, ARUN; BOSWORTH, ALAN N.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 039266/0281 →