IP Library Granted Patent US 11,151,589
Granted Patent B2
US 11,151,589 · App. 15/381,762 · Granted Oct 19, 2021

Methods and apparatus to determine reach with time dependent weights

Inventors: Michael Sheppard (Holland, MI); Ludo Daemen (Duffel, BE); Stephen S. Bell (McHenry, IL); Jonathan Sullivan (Hurricane, UT)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
G06Q30/0204
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,151,589
App. No.
15/381,762
Granted
Oct 19, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to determine reach with time dependent weights are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein includes determining a first subset of panelists exposed to media at a first time; determining a second subset of the panelists exposed to the media at a second time; applying a first plurality of weights to the first subset of panelists to generate first weighted exposures; applying a second plurality of weights to the second subset of the panelists to generate second weighted exposures; for a first panelist in the first and second subsets, determining a first cumulative weighted exposure by determining which of the first and second weighted exposures is largest for each of the first panelist; for a second panelist in one of the first and second subsets, determining a second cumulative weighted exposure by based on the weight applied to the second panelist; and determining a reach of the media for the first and second times by combining the first and second cumulative weighted exposures.

Claims (69)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a total audience calculator to:

determine a first subset of panelists exposed to media at a first time; and

determine a second subset of the panelists exposed to the media at a second time different than the first time;

a weight applicator to:

apply a first plurality of weights to a first plurality of exposures of the first subset of the panelists to generate first weighted exposures; and

apply a second plurality of weights to a second plurality of exposures of the second subset of the panelists to generate second weighted exposures;

the total audience calculator to:

identify a first panelist that is included in both the first subset of the panelists exposed to the media at the first time and the second subset of the panelists exposed to the media at the second time;

determine a first cumulative weighted exposure for the first time and the second time, the first cumulative weighted exposure based on a first value that is a larger one of (a) one of the first weighted exposures associated with the first panelist and the first time and (b) one of the second weighted exposures associated with the first panelist and the second time; and

for a second panelist in one of the first and second subsets, determine a second cumulative weighted exposure based on a second value applied to the second panelist, the second panelist exposed to the media at the first time and at the second time; and

a reach calculator to determine a reach of the media for the first and second times by combining the first and second cumulative weighted exposures.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first plurality of weights includes a first weight for the first panelist and a second weight for the second panelist, the first plurality of weights corresponding to a total population at the first time; and

the second plurality of weights includes a third weight for the first panelist and a fourth weight for the second panelist, the second plurality of weights corresponding to the total population at the second time.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the weight applicator is to:

apply the first plurality of weights to the first subset of the panelists by applying the first weight to the first panelist; and

apply the second plurality of weights to the second subset of the panelists by applying the third weight to the first panelist and the fourth weight to the second panelist.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the total audience calculator is to:

determine a first unique audience total at the first time by summing the first weighted exposures; and

determine a second unique audience total at the second time by summing the second weighted exposures.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the total audience calculator is to, for a third panelist not in either of the first or the second subsets, determine a third cumulative weighted exposure, the third cumulative weighted exposure being zero.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reach calculator is to combine the first and second cumulative weighted exposures by summing the first cumulative weighted exposure and the second cumulative weighted exposure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the total audience calculator is to:

determine a first total audience at the first time by summing the first plurality of weights; and

determine a second total audience at the second time by summing the second plurality of weights.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the reach calculator is to, when the reach is more than at least one of the first total audience or the second total audience, adjust the reach to be less than or equal to at least one of the first total audience or the second total audience.

9. A method comprising:

determining, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first subset of panelists exposed to media at a first time;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a second subset of the panelists exposed to the media at a second time different than the first time;

applying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first plurality of weights to a first plurality of exposures of the first subset of the panelists to generate first weighted exposures;

applying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a second plurality of weights to a second plurality of exposures of the second subset of the panelists to generate second weighted exposures;

identifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first panelist that is included in both the first subset of the panelists exposed to the media at the first time and the second subset of the panelists exposed to the media at the second time;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first cumulative weighted exposure for the first time and the second time, the first cumulative weighted exposure based on a first value that is a larger one of (a) one of the first weighted exposures associated with the first panelist and the first time and (b) one of the second weighted exposures associated with the first panelist and the second time;

for a second panelist in one of the first and second subsets, determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a second cumulative weighted exposure based on a second value applied to the second panelist, the second panelist exposed to the media at the first time and at the second time; and

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a reach of the media for the first and second times by combining the first and second cumulative weighted exposures.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the first plurality of weights includes a first weight for the first panelist and a second weight for the second panelist, the first plurality of weights corresponding to a total population at the first time; and

the second plurality of weights includes a third weight for the first panelist and a fourth weight for the second panelist, the second plurality of weights corresponding to the total population at the second time.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the applying the first plurality of weights to the first subset of the panelists includes applying the first weight to the first panelist; and

the applying the second plurality of weights to the second subset of the panelists includes applying the third weight to the first panelist and the fourth weight to the second panelist.

12. The method of claim 9 , further including:

determining a first unique audience total at the first time by summing the first weighted exposures; and

determining a second unique audience total at the second time by summing the second weighted exposures.

13. The method of claim 9 , further including, for a third panelist not in either of the first or the second subsets, determining a third cumulative weighted exposure, the third cumulative weighted exposure being zero.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein combining the first and second cumulative weighted exposures includes summing the first cumulative weighted exposure and the second cumulative weighted exposure.

15. The method of claim 9 , further including:

determining a first total audience at the first time by summing the first plurality of weights; and

determining a second total audience at the second time by summing the second plurality of weights.

16. The method of claim 15 , further including, when the reach is more than at least one of the first total audience or the second total audience, adjusting the reach to be less than or equal to at least one of the first total audience or the second total audience.

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

determine a first subset of panelists exposed to media at a first time;

determine a second subset of the panelists exposed to the media at a second time different than the first time;

apply a first plurality of weights to a first plurality of exposures of the first subset of the panelists to generate first weighted exposures;

apply a second plurality of weights to a second plurality of exposures of the second subset of the panelists to generate second weighted exposures;

identify a first panelist that is included in both the first subset of the panelists exposed to the media at the first time and the second subset of the panelists exposed to the media at the second time;

determine a first cumulative weighted exposure for the first time and the second time, the first cumulative weighted exposure based on a first value that is a larger one of (a) one of the first weighted exposures associated with the first panelist and the first time and (b) one of the second weighted exposures associated with the first panelist and the second time;

for a second panelist in one of the first and second subsets, determine a second cumulative weighted exposure based on a second value applied to the second panelist, the second panelist exposed to the media at the first time and at the second time; and

determine a reach of the media for the first and second times by combining the first and second cumulative weighted exposures.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein:

the first plurality of weights includes a first weight for the first panelist and a second weight for the second panelist, the first plurality of weights corresponding to a total population at the first time; and

the second plurality of weights includes a third weight for the first panelist and a fourth weight for the second panelist, the second plurality of weights corresponding to the total population at the second time.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to:

apply the first plurality of weights to the first subset of the panelists by applying the first weight to the first panelist; and

apply the second plurality of weights to the second subset of the panelists by applying the third weight to the first panelist and the fourth weight to the second panelist.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to:

determine a first unique audience total at the first time by summing the first weighted exposures; and

determine a second unique audience total at the second time by summing the second weighted exposures.

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 Feb 27, 2017
From: SHEPPARD, MICHAEL; DAEMEN, LUDO; BELL, STEPHEN S.; SULLIVAN, JONATHAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 041386/0812 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180174171A1 · Jun 21, 2018