IP Library Granted Patent US 10,681,414
Granted Patent B2
US 10,681,414 · App. 15/445,530 · Granted Jun 9, 2020

Methods and apparatus to estimate population reach from different marginal rating unions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,681,414
App. No.
15/445,530
Granted
Jun 9, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate population reach for different unions based on marginal ratings. An example apparatus includes a reach determiner to estimate a population reach of a union of time intervals for which media ratings data is available; a pseudo universe determiner to determine a pseudo universe estimate of a recorded audience corresponding to the union; determine a pseudo universe estimate of a population audience corresponding to the union based on the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience; and determine an error of the population reach estimate of the union based on the pseudo universe of the population audience corresponding to the union; and the reach determiner to when the error does not satisfy a threshold, adjust the population reach estimate; and when the error does satisfy the threshold, determine the population reach of the union based on the population reach estimate.

Claims (46)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a reach determiner to determine a population reach estimate of a union of time intervals for which media ratings data is available;

a pseudo universe determiner to:

determine a pseudo universe estimate of a recorded audience corresponding to the union;

determine a pseudo universe estimate of a population audience corresponding to the union based on the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience; and

determine an error of the population reach estimate of the union based on the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponding to the union; and

the reach determiner to:

when the error does not satisfy a threshold, adjust the population reach estimate of the union to reduce the error; and

when the error does satisfy the threshold, determine an output population reach of the union based on the population reach estimate of the union.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience corresponds to a recorded reach for subsets of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponds to a population reach for the subsets of the union.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience corresponds to a first universe estimate that assures independency among recorded audience data for the subsets of the union; and

the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponds to a second universe estimate that assures independency among population audience data for the subsets of the union.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the error corresponds to a difference of (A) a first relationship corresponding to the population reach estimate of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience of the union and (B) a second relationship between population reach estimates for subsets of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience of the union.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a consistency checker to check a consistency of the population reach estimate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the population reach estimate is inconsistent when the population reach estimate is lower than a second population estimate reach of a subset of the union.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the population reach estimate is inconsistent when the population reach estimate is greater than at least one of (A) a sum of reaches for subsets of the union or (B) a universe estimate.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the consistency checker is to check the consistency of the population reach estimate by adjusting the population reach estimate when the population reach estimate is inconsistent.

9. A method comprising:

estimating, by executing an instruction using a processor, a population reach estimate of a union of time intervals for which media ratings data is available;

determining, by executing an instruction using the processor, a pseudo universe estimate of a recorded audience corresponding to the union;

determining, by executing an instruction using the processor, a pseudo universe estimate of a population audience corresponding to the union based on the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience;

determining, by executing an instruction using the processor, an error of the population reach estimate of the union based on the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponding to the union;

when the error does not satisfy a threshold, adjusting, by executing an instruction using the processor, the population reach estimate of the union to reduce the error; and

when the error does satisfy the threshold, determining, by executing an instruction using the processor, an output population reach of the union based on the population reach estimate of the union.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience corresponds to a recorded reach for subsets of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponds to a population reach for the subsets of the union.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience corresponds to a first universe estimate that assures independency among recorded audience data for the subsets of the union; and

the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponds to a second universe estimate that assures independency among population audience data for the subsets of the union.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the error corresponds to a difference of (A) a first relationship corresponding to the population reach estimate of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience of the union and (B) a second relationship between population reach estimates for subsets of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience of the union.

13. The method of claim 9 , further including checking a consistency of the population reach estimate.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the population reach estimate is inconsistent when the population reach estimate is lower than a second population estimate reach of a subset of the union.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the population reach estimate is inconsistent when the population reach estimate is greater than at least one of (A) a sum of reaches for subsets of the union or (B) a universe estimate.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the checking of the consistency of the population reach estimate includes, when the population reach estimate is inconsistent, adjusting the population reach estimate.

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

determine a population reach estimate of a union of time intervals for which media ratings data is available;

determine a pseudo universe estimate of a recorded audience corresponding to the union;

determine a pseudo universe estimate of a population audience corresponding to the union based on the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience;

determine an error of the population reach estimate of the union based on the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponding to the union;

when the error does not satisfy a threshold, adjust the population reach estimate of the union to reduce the error; and

when the error does satisfy the threshold, determine an output population reach of the union based on the population reach estimate of the union.

18. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience corresponds to a recorded reach for subsets of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponds to a population reach for the subsets of the union.

19. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein:

the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience corresponds to a first universe estimate that assures independency among recorded audience data for the subsets of the union; and

the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience corresponds to a second universe estimate that assures independency among population audience data for the subsets of the union.

20. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the error corresponds to a difference of (A) a first relationship corresponding to the population reach estimate of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience of the union and (B) a second relationship between population reach estimates for subsets of the union and the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience of the union.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, 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 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE EXECUTION DATE OF MICHAEL D. MORGAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 042786 FRAME: 0554. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 17, 2020
From: SHEPPARD, MICHAEL; SULLIVAN, JONATHAN; MURPHY, EDWARD; MORGAN, MICHAEL D.; DAEMEN, LUDO
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 053238/0001 →
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 Jun 22, 2017
From: SHEPPARD, MICHAEL; SULLIVAN, JONATHAN; MURPHY, EDWARD; MORGAN, MICHAEL D.; DAEMEN, LUDO
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 042786/0554 →