IP Library Granted Patent US 10,264,318
Granted Patent B2
US 10,264,318 · App. 15/361,315 · Granted Apr 16, 2019

Methods and apparatus to improve viewer assignment by adjusting for a localized event

Inventors: David J. Kurzynski (South Elgin, IL); Balachander Shankar (Tampa, FL); Richard Peters (Gurnee, IL); Jonathan Sullivan (Hurricane, UT); Molly Poppie (Arlington Heights, IL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/4667G06N7/005G06N99/005G06Q30/0255H04N21/44222H04N21/4532H04N21/84
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,264,318
App. No.
15/361,315
Granted
Apr 16, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to improve viewer assignment by adjusting for a localized event are disclosed. An example method includes identifying, by executing an instruction with a processor, heavy tuning data associated with panelists in a first area based on (1) a first number of households tuned to first media in the first area and (2) a first percentage of exposure minutes tuned to the first media in the first area. The example method also includes determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, if the heavy tuning data represents a local bias based on a second percentage of exposure minutes tuned to second media in a second area.

Claims (64)

1. An apparatus to perform viewership assignment, the apparatus comprising:

a localized event engine to:

obtain first tuning data associated with first panelists having tuned to first media in a first area from media meters that are unable to identify respective ones of the first panelists;

identify a subset of the first tuning data as heavy tuning data when (1) a first number of households tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies a first threshold and (2) a first percentage of exposure minutes tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies a second threshold; and

determine that the heavy tuning data represents a local bias when a difference between a second percentage of exposure minutes associated with second panelists having viewed second media in a second area and a third percentage of exposure minutes associated with third panelists having tuned to the second media in the first area satisfies a third threshold, the second media being comparable media to the first media; and

a localized event selector to:

obtain viewing data associated with the second panelists in the second area from people meters that are able to identify respective ones of the second panelists; and

impute the viewing data associated with the second panelists in the second area for tuning data included in the heavy tuning data when the heavy tuning data is determined to represent the local bias, at least one of the localized event engine or the localized event selector implemented with hardware.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a heavy exposure classifier to:

determine that the first number of households tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies the first threshold, the first threshold being a household number threshold, wherein respective ones of the first number of households have respective household sizes of two members; and

determine that the first percentage of exposure minutes tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies the second threshold, the first percentage being a total number of exposure minutes tuned to the first media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes tuned to a plurality of media in the first area, the second threshold being an exposure percentage threshold.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including:

a comparable media identifier to identify the second media, the second media being comparable media to the first media; and

a comparable media percentage calculator to:

calculate the second percentage of exposure minutes, the second percentage being a first comparable media exposure percentage associated with the second area based on the comparable media, the second percentage corresponding to a first total number of exposure minutes associated with viewing the second media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes associated with viewing a plurality of media associated with the second area;

calculate the third percentage of exposure minutes, the third percentage being a second comparable media exposure percentage associated with the first area based on the comparable media, the third percentage corresponding to a second total number of exposure minutes tuned to the second media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes tuned to a plurality of media associated with the first area; and

calculate the difference between the first comparable media exposure percentage and the second comparable media exposure percentage.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , further including a localized event recipient data identifier to determine that the heavy tuning data represents the local bias when the difference satisfies the third threshold.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the heavy tuning data is first heavy tuning data, the apparatus further including:

a localized event donor data identifier to identify second heavy tuning data associated with a third area exhibiting the local bias when the first heavy tuning data represents the local bias; and

a most likely viewer engine to impute media consumption behavior associated with the third area to the panelists in the first area.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a collection engine to collect data associated with panelists in the first area and the second area via the media meters and the people meters.

7. A method to perform viewership assignment, the method comprising:

obtaining, by executing an instruction with a processor, first tuning data associated with first panelists having tuned to first media in a first area from media meters that are unable to identify respective ones of the first panelists;

identifying a subset of the first tuning data as heavy tuning data when (1) a first number of households tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies a first threshold and (2) a first percentage of exposure minutes tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies a second threshold;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, that the heavy tuning data represents a local bias when a difference between a second percentage of exposure minutes associated with second panelists having viewed second media in a second area and a third percentage of exposure minutes associated with third panelists having tuned to the second media in the first area satisfies a third threshold, the second media being comparable media to the first media;

obtaining viewing data associated with the second panelists in the second area from people meters that are able to identify respective ones of the second panelists; and

imputing the viewing data associated with the second panelists in the second area for tuning data included in the heavy tuning data when the heavy tuning data is determined to represent the local bias.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 , wherein the identifying of the heavy tuning data includes:

determining that the first number of households tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies the first threshold, the first threshold being a household number threshold, wherein respective ones of the first number of households have respective household sizes of two members; and

determining that the first percentage of exposure minutes tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies the second threshold, the first percentage being a total number of exposure minutes tuned to the first media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes tuned to a plurality of media in the first area, the second threshold being an exposure percentage threshold.

9. The method as defined in claim 7 , wherein the determining if the heavy tuning data represents a local bias includes:

identifying the second media, the second media being comparable media to the first media;

calculating the second percentage of exposure minutes, the second percentage being a first comparable media exposure percentage associated with the second area based on the comparable media, the second percentage corresponding to a first total number of exposure minutes associated with viewing the second media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes associated with viewing a plurality of media associated with the second area; and

calculating the third percentage of exposure minutes, the third percentage being a second comparable media exposure percentage associated with the first area based on the comparable media, the third percentage corresponding to a second total number of exposure minutes tuned to the second media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes tuned to a plurality of media associated with the first area.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 , further including:

calculating the difference between the first comparable media exposure percentage and the second comparable media exposure percentage; and

determining that the heavy tuning data represents a local bias when the difference satisfies the third threshold.

11. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the comparable media corresponds to a media station or a media genre associated with the first media.

12. The method as defined in claim 7 , wherein the heavy tuning data is first heavy tuning data, the method further including:

in response to determining that the first heavy tuning data represents a local bias, identifying second heavy tuning data associated with a third area exhibiting the local bias; and

imputing media consumption behavior associated with the third area to the panelists in the first area.

13. The method as defined in claim 7 , wherein the heavy tuning data corresponds to data points related to media consumption behavior of the panelists in the first area during a first time period of a plurality of time periods.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

obtain first tuning data associated with first panelists having tuned to first media in a first area from media meters that are unable to identify respective ones of the first panelists;

identify a subset of the first tuning data as heavy tuning data when (1) a first number of households tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies a first threshold and (2) a first percentage of exposure minutes tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies a second threshold;

determine that the heavy tuning data represents a local bias when a difference between a second percentage of exposure minutes associated with second panelists having viewed second media in a second area and a third percentage of exposure minutes associated with third panelists having tuned to the second media in the first area satisfies a third threshold, the second media being comparable media to the first media;

obtain viewing data associated with the second panelists in the second area from people meters that are able to identify respective ones of the second panelists; and

impute the viewing data associated with the second panelist in the second area for viewing data included in the heavy tuning data when the heavy tuning data is determined to represent the local bias, at least one of the localized event engine or the localized event selector implemented with hardware.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to identify the heavy tuning data by:

determining that the first number of households tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies the first threshold, the first threshold being a household number threshold, wherein respective ones of the first number of households have respective household sizes of two members; and

determining that the first percentage of exposure minutes tuned to the first media in the first area satisfies the second threshold, the first percentage being a total number of exposure minutes tuned to the first media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes tuned to a plurality of media in the first area, the second threshold being an exposure percentage threshold.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine if the heavy tuning data represents a local bias by:

identifying the second media, the second media being comparable media to the first media;

calculating the second percentage of exposure minutes, the second percentage being a first comparable media exposure percentage associated with the second area based on the comparable media, the second percentage corresponding to a first total number of exposure minutes associated with viewing the second media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes associated with viewing a plurality of media associated with the second area; and

calculating the third percentage of exposure minutes, the third percentage being a second comparable media exposure percentage associated with the first area based on the comparable media, the third percentage corresponding to a second total number of exposure minutes tuned to the second media with respect to a plurality of exposure minutes tuned to a plurality of media associated with the first area.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:

calculate the difference between the first comparable media exposure percentage and the second comparable media exposure percentage; and

determine that the heavy tuning data represents a local bias when the difference satisfies the third threshold.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the comparable media is to correspond to a media station or a media genre associated with the first media.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to:

identify second heavy tuning data associated with a third area exhibiting the local bias when the heavy tuning data represents the local bias; and

impute media consumption behavior associated with the third area to the panelists in the first area.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the heavy tuning data corresponds to data points related to media consumption behavior of the panelists in the first area during a first time period of a plurality of time periods.

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 Mar 13, 2017
From: KURZYNSKI, DAVID J.; SHANKAR, BALACHANDER; PETERS, RICHARD; SULLIVAN, JONATHAN; POPPIE, MOLLY
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 041550/0689 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170353764A1 · Dec 7, 2017
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