IP Library Granted Patent US 10,932,001
Granted Patent B2
US 10,932,001 · App. 15/467,734 · Granted Feb 23, 2021

Methods and apparatus to identify streaming media sources

Inventors: Sandeep Tapse (Oldsmar, FL); Jason Olmsted (Tampa, FL); James Petro (Dunedin, FL); Albert T. Borawski (Oldsmar, FL); Brian Fuhrer (Palm Harbor, FL)
Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
H04N21/44204H04L65/4069H04L65/608H04N21/23109H04N21/42203H04N21/44222H04N21/4782H04N21/658H04N21/8352H04N21/84
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,932,001
App. No.
15/467,734
Granted
Feb 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to identify media sources are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include an exclusivity determiner, a unique asset identifier, and a signature matcher. The exclusivity determiner is to determine whether media is exclusive to a provider. The unique asset identifier is to associate a first signature of the media with the provider if the media is exclusive to the provider. The signature matcher is to identify the provider based on a second signature, the second signature matching the first signature, the second signature extracted from media presented at a media presentation location.

Claims (52)

1. An apparatus comprising:

an exclusivity determiner to determine whether media is exclusive to a provider;

a unique asset identifier to:

associate a first signature of the media as exclusive with the provider if the media is exclusive to the provider; and

log the first signature associated with the provider in a reference library;

a signature matcher to identify the provider of media presented at a media presentation location, the signature matcher to:

determine whether a second signature of the presented media matches the first signature;

when the second signature matches the first signature, identify whether the first signature of the media is exclusive; and

identify the provider of the presented media based on the first signature of the media being exclusive; and

a creditor to, in response to determining the provider is the exclusive provider of the media, credit the exclusive provider of the media for presentation of the media.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a media determiner to identify the media based on source data collected from a reference generator; and

a provider determiner to identify the provider based on the source data.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the source data includes at least one of a universal resource locator, metadata of the media, or provider-supplied media data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the unique asset identifier is further to mark the first signature associated with the provider as a unique asset.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second signature is generated by a media presentation meter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second signature was extracted during presentation of the media at the media presentation location.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the exclusivity determiner is to search an exclusive media database of media previously identified as exclusive to determine whether media is exclusive to a provider.

8. A method comprising:

determining, by executing an instruction with a processor, whether media is exclusive to a provider;

associating, by executing the instruction with the processor, a first signature of the media as exclusive with the provider if the media is exclusive to the provider;

logging the first signature associated with the provider in a reference library;

identifying, by executing the instruction with the processor, the provider of media presented at a media presentation location by:

determining whether a second signature of the presented media matches the first signature;

when the second signature matches the first signature, identifying whether the first signature of the media is exclusive; and

identifying the provider of the presented media based on the first signature of the media being exclusive; and

in response to determining the provider is the exclusive provider of the media, crediting, by executing the instruction with the processor, the exclusive provider of the media for presentation of the media.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including:

collecting, by executing the instruction with the processor, the first signature and source data of the media from a reference generator; and

identifying, by executing the instruction with the processor, the media and the provider based on the source data.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the source data includes at least one of a universal resource locator, metadata of the media, or provider-supplied media data.

11. The method of claim 8 , further including marking, by executing the instruction with the processor, the first signature associated with the provider as a unique asset.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second signature is generated by a media presentation meter.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second signature was extracted during presentation of the media at the media presentation location.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining, by executing the instruction with the processor, whether media is exclusive to a provider includes searching an exclusive media database of media previously identified as exclusive.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

determine whether media is exclusive to a provider;

associate a first signature of the media as exclusive with the provider if the media is exclusive to the provider;

log the first signature associated with the provider in a reference library;

identify the provider of media presented at a media presentation location by:

determining whether a second signature of the presented media matches the first signature;

when the second signature matches the first signature, identifying whether the first signature of the media is exclusive; and

identifying the provider of the presented media based on the first signature of the media being exclusive; and

in response to determining the provider is the exclusive provider of the media, credit the exclusive provider of the media for presentation of the media.

16. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , further including instructions to:

collect the first signature and source data of the media from a reference generator; and

identify the media and the provider based on the source data.

17. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 16 , wherein the source data includes at least one of a universal resource locator, metadata of the media, or provider-supplied media data.

18. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , further including instructions to mark the first signature associated with the provider as a unique asset.

19. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the second signature is generated by a media presentation meter.

20. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the second signature was extracted during presentation of the media at the media presentation location.

21. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions to determine whether media is exclusive to a provider include instructions to search an exclusive media database of media previously identified as exclusive.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 May 22, 2017
From: TAPSE, SANDEEP; OLMSTED, JASON; PETRO, JAMES; BORAWSKI, ALBERT T.; FUHRER, BRIAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 042458/0554 →