IP Library Granted Patent US 10,104,409
Granted Patent B2
US 10,104,409 · App. 15/639,763 · Granted Oct 16, 2018

Methods and systems for segmenting data and performing analysis

Inventors: Elizabeth Rockwood Fulton (New York, NY); David Ernst (Norwalk, CT); Steve Ozzano (Darien, CT)
Assignee: DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
H04N21/252H04N21/25883H04N21/2668H04N21/4532H04N21/6582H04N21/812H04N21/8456
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,104,409
App. No.
15/639,763
Granted
Oct 16, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus and methods for segmenting television audience data are disclosed. The methods include receiving program level viewing data for one or more individuals. The methods also include creating one or more segments for the one or more individuals based upon the program level viewing data. The methods further include combining the one or more segments into one or more groups by applying a grouping function and performing analysis on the one or more groups, and generating reports based upon the analysis.

Claims (52)

1. A computer implemented method for segmenting data utilizing a share of requirement algorithm, the method comprising:

receiving, at at least one server, program level viewing data for a plurality of individuals, the program level viewing data comprising audience data associated with each of the plurality of individuals;

combining the audience data associated with the plurality of individuals with additional respondent level data from one or more data sources, the additional respondent level data comprising online behavior data and consumption patterns;

creating, by the server, an initial set of viewer segments, each viewer segment comprising a subset of the plurality of individuals, based upon the received program level viewing data, the initial set of viewer segments being created by sorting the plurality of individuals by program consumption patterns;

analyzing, by the server, the initial set of viewer segments, the analyzing comprising:

identifying types of viewers in each segment of the initial set of viewer segments;

providing a representative snapshots of the types of viewers of the said segment; and

identifying which products best represent the viewers of the said segment;

determining, by the server, a numeric viewer grouping threshold, the numeric viewer grouping threshold corresponding to a numeric variation between the initial set of viewer segments, of a viewer grouping function for grouping the initial set of viewer segments into a hierarchy of viewer groups based on the received program level viewing data of the plurality of individuals, and based upon a selected end use of the viewer segments or hierarchy of viewer groups of the plurality of individuals, wherein each viewer group of the hierarchy of viewer groups may comprise a plurality of viewer segments of the initial set of viewer segments, and the viewer grouping function comprises a share of requirement algorithm that groups the viewer segments into the viewer groups based upon the numeric viewer grouping threshold;

associating, by the server, each viewer segment of the initial set of viewer segments with at least one viewer group of the hierarchy of viewer groups by applying the viewer grouping function with the determined numeric viewer grouping threshold to the initial set of viewer segments of the plurality of individuals; and

analyzing, by the server, the hierarchy of viewer groups according to the selected end use.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

increasing the numeric viewer grouping threshold based on a determination that the selected end use of the program level viewing data is scheduling of programming, wherein the numeric viewer grouping threshold is a number or percentage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the program level viewing data comprises content viewing data of the plurality of individuals, and wherein the audience data comprises one of a viewer identifier, television program data, and time data associated with each of the television program data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a viewer segment from the initial set of viewer segments; and placing an individual from the plurality of individuals into the selected viewer segment when the program level viewing data of the individual is within a program range for the selected viewer segment.

5. An apparatus for segmenting data, the apparatus utilizing a share of requirement algorithm, the apparatus executing a method comprising:

receiving program level viewing data for a plurality of individuals, the program level viewing data comprising audience data associated with each of the plurality of individuals;

combining the audience data associated with the plurality of individuals with additional respondent level data from one or more data sources, the additional respondent level data comprising online behavior data and consumption patterns;

creating an initial set of viewer segments, each viewer segment comprising a subset of the plurality of individuals, based upon the received program level viewing data, the initial set of viewer segments being created by sorting the plurality of individuals by program consumption patterns;

analyzing the initial set of viewer segments, the analyzing comprising:

identifying types of viewers in each segment of the initial set of viewer segments;

providing a representative snapshots of the types of viewers of the said segment; and

identifying which products best represent the viewers of the said segment;

determining a numeric viewer grouping threshold, the numeric viewer grouping threshold corresponding to a numeric variation between the initial set of viewer segments, of a viewer grouping function for grouping the initial set of viewer segments into a hierarchy of viewer groups based on the received program level viewing data of the plurality of individuals, and based upon a selected end use of the viewer segments or hierarchy of viewer groups of the plurality of individuals, wherein each viewer group of the hierarchy of viewer groups may comprise a plurality of viewer segments of the initial set of viewer segments, and the viewer grouping function comprises a share of requirement algorithm that groups the viewer segments into the viewer groups based upon the numeric viewer grouping threshold;

associating each viewer segment the initial set of viewer segments with at least one viewer group of the hierarchy of viewer groups by applying the viewer grouping function with the determined numeric viewer grouping threshold to the initial set of viewer segments of the plurality of individuals; and

analyzing the hierarchy of viewer groups according to the selected end use.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , the method further comprising:

selecting a viewer segment from the initial set of viewer segments; and

placing an individual from the plurality of individuals into the selected viewer segment when the program level viewing data of the individual is within a program range for the selected viewer segment.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the audience data comprises one of a viewer identifier, television program data, and time data associated with each of the television program data.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the additional respondent level data comprises one of demographic data, product purchase history data.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising:

generating targeted marketing to the plurality of individuals based upon the analysis performed.

10. A system for segmenting data utilizing a share of requirement algorithm, the system comprising:

a processor;

a user interface functioning via the processor;

and a repository accessible by the processor;

the processor executing a method comprising:

receiving program level viewing data for a plurality of individuals, the program level viewing data comprising audience data associated with each of the plurality of individuals;

combining the audience data associated with the plurality of individuals with additional respondent level data from one or more data sources, the additional respondent level data comprising online behavior data and consumption patterns;

creating an initial set of viewer segments, each viewer segment comprising a subset of the plurality of individuals, based upon the received program level viewing data, the initial set of viewer segments being created by sorting the plurality of individuals by program consumption patterns;

analyzing the initial set of viewer segments, the analyzing comprising:

identifying types of viewers in each segment of the initial set of viewer segments;

providing a representative snapshots of the types of viewers of the said segment; and

identifying which products best represent the viewers of the said segment;

determining a numeric viewer grouping threshold, the numeric viewer grouping threshold corresponding to a numeric variation between the initial set of viewer segments, of a viewer grouping function for grouping the initial set of viewer segments into a hierarchy of viewer groups based on the received program level viewing data of the plurality of individuals, and based upon a selected end use of the viewer segments or hierarchy of viewer groups of the plurality of individuals, wherein each viewer group of the hierarchy of viewer groups may comprise a plurality of viewer segments of the initial set of viewer segments, and the viewer grouping function comprises a share of requirement algorithm that groups the viewer segments into the viewer groups based upon the numeric viewer grouping threshold;

associating, via the processor, each viewer segment of the initial set of viewer segments with at least one viewer group of the hierarchy of viewer groups by applying the viewer grouping function with the adjusted numeric viewer grouping threshold to the initial set of viewer segments of the plurality of individuals; and

analyzing the hierarchy of viewer groups according to the selected end use.

11. The system of claim 10 , the method further comprising:

selecting a viewer segment from the initial set of viewer segments; and

placing an individual from the plurality of individuals into the selected viewer segment when the program level viewing data of the individual is within a program range for the selected viewer segment.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2025
From: WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC.; WARNER MEDIA, LLC; TURNER BROADCASTING SYSTEM, INC.; HOME BOX OFFICE, INC.; DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; WARNERMEDIA DIRECT LLC; DISCOVERY.COM LLC; WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.; CNN INTERACTIVE GROUP, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072995/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2017
From: FULTON, ELIZABETH ROCKWOOD; ERNST, DAVID; OZZANO, STEVE
To: DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 044022/0886 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14835300 · Aug 25, 2015
Continuation 13179218 · Jul 8, 2011
Provisional Application 61363083 · Jul 9, 2010
Related Publication 20170302980A1 · Oct 19, 2017