IP Library Granted Patent US 11,146,414
Granted Patent B2
US 11,146,414 · App. 15/595,613 · Granted Oct 12, 2021

Methods and apparatus to locate unknown media devices

Inventors: Mark Cave (Palm Harbor, FL); Joseph Kerkes (Lutz, FL)
H04L12/1831H04L43/0876H04L51/043H04L51/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,146,414
App. No.
15/595,613
Granted
Oct 12, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and method to automatically determine the location of unknown media devices is disclosed. An example apparatus includes a media device detector to detect an unknown media device identified in monitoring data collected by an audience measurement device at a location determined to have an “on” status, a media transmission detector to detect a media transmission associated with a device address and an association storer to store an association of the device address, the unknown media device and the location. A probability determiner determines a probability that the unknown media device is located at the location.

Claims (39)

1. An apparatus for determining a location of media devices, the apparatus comprising:

a media device detector to detect an unknown media device identified in monitoring data collected by an audience measurement device at a first location of a first media presentation device determined to have an “on” status;

a media transmission detector to detect a media transmission associated with a device address;

an association storer to:

store an association of the device address with the unknown media device and the first location of the first media presentation device in a probability data structure, the association indicative of when the unknown media device transmits network communications during a period of time when the first media presentation device is determined to have the “on” status, the probability data structure including counts of a number of associations for the device address with the first location of the first media presentation device and respective locations of a plurality of media presentation devices;

increase the counts when subsequent associations for the unknown media device with the first media presentation device or the plurality of media presentation devices that are determined to have the “on” status and the first location of the first media presentation device or the respective locations of the plurality of media presentation devices are stored; and

a probability determiner to determine a probability that the unknown media device is located at the first location of the first media presentation device based on a total count of associations of the device address with the unknown media device and the location of the first media presentation device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:

a contact prompter to prompt a contacting of an exposure site of the unknown media device when a condition that is based on the determined probability is satisfied.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the condition is a probability threshold.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the condition is an elapse of a predetermined period of time after a probability threshold has been reached.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the probability data structure correlates respective media access control (MAC) addresses with a plurality of sites.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the media transmission detector monitors media transmissions in an on-going manner.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a network communications monitor identifies a media device type of the unknown media device.

8. A method for determining a location of unknown media devices, the method comprising:

detecting, by executing an instruction via a processor, an unknown media device identified in monitoring data collected by an audience measurement device at a first location of a first media presentation device determined to have an “on” status;

detecting, by executing an instruction via the processor, a media transmission associated with a device address;

storing, by executing an instruction via the processor, an association of the device address with the unknown media device and the first location of the first media presentation device in a probability data structure, the association indicative of when the unknown media device transmits network communications during a period of time when the first media presentation device is determined to have the “on” status, the probability data structure including counts of a number of associations for the device address with the first location of the first media presentation device and respective locations of a plurality of media presentation devices;

increasing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the counts when subsequent associations for the unknown media device with the first media presentation device or the plurality of media presentation devices that are determined to have the “on” status and the first location of the first media presentation device or the respective locations of the plurality of media presentation devices are stored; and

determining, by executing an instruction via the processor, a probability that the unknown media device is located at the first location of the first media presentation device based on a total count of associations of the device address with the unknown media device and the location of the first media presentation device.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including:

prompting an exposure site of the unknown media device to be contacted when a condition that is based on the determined probability is satisfied.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the condition is a probability threshold.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the condition is an elapse of a predetermined period of time after a probability threshold has been reached.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining comprises generating the probability data structure that correlates respective media access control (MAC) addresses with a plurality of sites.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining includes continuous monitoring.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein a network communications monitor identifies a media device type of the unknown media device.

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

detect an unknown media device identified in monitoring data collected by an audience measurement device at a location of a first media presentation device determined to have an “on” status;

detect a media transmission associated with a device address;

store an association of the device address with the unknown media device and the location of the first media presentation device in a probability data structure, the association indicative of when the unknown media device transmits network communications during a period of time when the first media presentation device is determined to have the “on” status, the probability data structure including counts of a number of associations for the device address with the location of the first media presentation device and respective locations of a plurality of media presentation devices;

increase the counts when subsequent associations for the unknown media device with the first media presentation device or the plurality of media presentation devices that are determined to have the “on” status and the location of the first media presentation device or the respective locations of the plurality of media presentation devices are stored; and

determine a probability that the unknown media device is located at the location of the first media presentation device based on a total count of associations of the device address with the unknown media device and the location of the first media presentation device.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed further cause the machine to:

prompt an exposure site of the unknown media device to be contacted when a condition that is based on the determined probability is satisfied.

17. The non-transitory machine: readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the condition is a probability threshold.

18. The non-transitory machine: readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the condition is an elapse of a predetermined period of time after a probability threshold has been reached.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to store comprises the association by at least generating the probability data structure that correlates respective media access control (MAC) addresses with a plurality of sites.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the determining includes continuous monitoring.

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 Jul 31, 2017
From: CAVE, MARK; KERKES, JOSEPH
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 043142/0959 →