IP Library Granted Patent US 10,148,987
Granted Patent B2
US 10,148,987 · App. 15/458,399 · Granted Dec 4, 2018

Methods and apparatus to correlate census measurement data with panel data

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,148,987
App. No.
15/458,399
Granted
Dec 4, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to correlate census measurement data with panel data. An example method includes accessing a message sent from a requesting device in response to accessing media that includes a tag causing the requesting device to send the message to a monitoring entity with an identification of a geographic location of the requesting device and media identifying information. The example method also includes determining locations of a plurality of panelist homes and comparing the geographic location of the requesting device with the locations of the panelist homes. When the geographic location of the requesting device is within a threshold distance of a first one of the panelist homes, identifying a user of the requesting device as a panelist residing at the first panelist home, and associating the media identifying information with panelist data associated with the first one of the panelist homes.

Claims (38)

1. A method comprising:

accessing a message with a computing device of a monitoring entity, the message sent from a requesting device in response to accessing media that includes a tag causing the requesting device accessing the media to send the message to the monitoring entity with an identification of a geographic location of the requesting device and media identifying information;

determining, with the computing device of the monitoring entity, locations of a plurality of panelist homes;

comparing, with the computing device of the monitoring entity, the geographic location of the requesting device with the locations of the plurality of panelist homes; and

when the geographic location of the requesting device is within a threshold distance of a first location of a first one of the plurality of panelist homes:

identifying, with the computing device of the monitoring entity, a user of the requesting device as a panelist residing at the first one of the panelist homes; and

associating, with the computing device of the monitoring entity, the media identifying information with panelist data associated with the first one of the panelist homes.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media identifying information corresponds to media accessed by the requesting device at the geographic location.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the tag is a reference to an executable monitoring instruction hosted external to the media.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the message is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol message.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the geographic location is determined via a global positioning system.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the geographic location is determined via cellular data.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the geographic location is determined via Wi-Fi data.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein a portion of the message is encrypted.

9. A system comprising:

a beacon handler to access a message sent from a requesting device in response to accessing media that includes a tag causing the requesting device accessing the media to send the message to the beacon handler with an identification of a geographic location of the requesting device and media identifying information;

a location handler to identify locations of a plurality of panelist homes;

the location handler to compare the geographic location of the requesting device with the locations of the plurality of panelist homes;

a comparator to determine whether the geographic location of the requesting device is within a threshold distance of a first location of a first one of the plurality of panelist homes; and

a panelist associator to identifying a user of the requesting device as a panelist residing at the first one of the panelist homes and associate the media identifying information to panelist data associated with the first one of the panelist homes when an output of the comparator indicates the geographic location of the requesting device is within the threshold distance of the first location of the first one of the plurality of panelist homes.

10. The system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the media identifying information corresponds to media accessed by the requesting device at the geographic location.

11. The system as defined in claim 9 , further including a beacon parser to extract the geographic location of the requesting device from the message.

12. The system as defined in claim 9 , further including a decrypter to decrypt the message.

13. The system as defined in claim 9 , wherein the message is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol message.

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

access a message sent from a requesting device in response to accessing media that includes a tag causing the requesting device accessing the media to send the message to a monitoring entity with an identification of a geographic location of the requesting device and media identifying information;

identify locations of a plurality of panelist homes;

compare the geographic location of the requesting device with the locations of the plurality of panelist homes;

determine whether the geographic location of the requesting device is within a threshold distance of a first location of a first one of the plurality of panelist homes; and

identifying a user of the requesting device as a panelist residing at the first one of the panelist homes and associate the media identifying information to panelist data associated with the first one of the panelist homes when the geographic location of the requesting device is within the threshold distance of the first location of the first one of the plurality of panelist homes.

15. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to extract the geographic location of the requesting device from the message.

16. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

determine a portion of the message is encrypted; and

decrypt the message.

17. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the message is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol message.

18. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the geographic location of the requesting device is determined via a global positioning system.

19. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the geographic location of the requesting device is determined via cellular data.

20. The tangible computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the geographic location of the requesting device is determined via Wi-Fi data.

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 17, 2017
From: MCMILLAN, F. GAVIN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 041609/0556 →