IP Library Granted Patent US 11,595,487
Granted Patent B2
US 11,595,487 · App. 15/943,393 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media presentation devices

Inventor: Jan Besehanic (Tampa, FL)
Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
H04L67/535H04L61/2514H04L61/4511H04L61/5007H04L61/5014H04L61/5076
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,595,487
App. No.
15/943,393
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media presentation devices are disclosed. An example method includes associating a domain name service query received at a pseudo DNS server with a media exposure measurement location based on a public Internet Protocol address of the received domain name service query, wherein the pseudo DNS server does not provide domain name-to-IP address translation, and wherein the pseudo DNS server is to receive the domain name service query and transmit a redirect message identifying a conventional DNS server. The example method further includes crediting the media exposure measurement location with accessing media identified based on the domain name service query.

Claims (39)

1. An apparatus for monitoring network activity comprising:

an associator to associate a first domain name service query that identifies a domain name, sent from a media presentation device, received at a pseudo DNS server with a media exposure measurement location based on a public Internet Protocol (IP) address of the received first domain name service query, wherein the pseudo DNS server does not provide domain name-to-IP address translation, wherein the pseudo DNS server is to receive the first domain name service query and transmit a redirect message to the media presentation device to cause the media presentation device to send a second domain name service query that identifies the domain name to a further DNS server; and

a crediter to credit the media exposure measurement location with accessing media identified based on the first domain name service query.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a registrar to associate the public IP address with the media exposure measurement location based on registration data from a panelist.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the registrar is to associate the public IP address with demographic information of the panelist.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the registrar is to receive the registration data via an electronic interface, the electronic interface conveying the public IP address of the media exposure measurement location.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the registration data includes an identification of a device at the media exposure measurement location.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first domain name service query includes at least one of a name, an acronym, an abbreviation, or a title associated with a media content provider.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the further DNS server is to perform domain name-to-IP address translation, the further DNS server to provide a DNS response associated with an address of Internet media content.

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

associate a first domain name service query that identifies a domain name, sent from a media presentation device, received at a pseudo DNS server with a media exposure measurement location based on a public Internet Protocol address of the received first domain name service query, wherein the pseudo DNS server does not provide domain name-to-IP address translation, wherein the pseudo DNS server is to receive the first domain name service query and transmit a redirect message to the media presentation device to cause the media presentation device to send a second domain name service query that identifies the domain name to a further DNS server; and

credit the media exposure measurement location with accessing media identified based on the first domain name service query.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to associate the public IP address with the media exposure measurement location based on registration data from a panelist.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to associate the public IP address with demographic information of the panelist.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the machine to receive the registration data via an electronic interface, the electronic interface conveying the public IP address of the media exposure measurement location.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the registration data includes an identification of a device at the media exposure measurement location.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first domain name service query includes at least one of a name, an acronym, an abbreviation, or a title associated with a media content provider.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the further DNS server is to perform domain name-to-IP address translation, the further DNS server to provide a DNS response associated with an address of Internet media content.

15. A method of monitoring network activity, the method comprising:

associating a first domain name service query that identifies a domain name, sent from a media presentation device, received at a pseudo DNS server with a media exposure measurement location based on a public Internet Protocol address of the received first domain name service query, wherein the pseudo DNS server does not provide domain name-to-IP address translation, wherein the pseudo DNS server is to receive the first domain name service query and transmit a redirect message to the media presentation device to cause the media presentation device to send a second domain name service query that identifies the domain name to a further DNS server; and

crediting the media exposure measurement location with accessing media identified based on the first domain name service query.

16. The method of claim 15 , further including associating the public IP address with the media exposure measurement location based on registration data from a panelist.

17. The method of claim 16 , further including associating the public IP address with demographic information of the panelist.

18. The method of claim 16 , further including receiving the registration data via an electronic interface, the electronic interface conveying the public IP address of the media exposure measurement location.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the registration data includes an identification of a device at the media exposure measurement location.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first domain name service query includes at least one of a name, an acronym, an abbreviation, or a title associated with a media content provider.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the further DNS server is to perform domain name-to-IP address translation, the further DNS server to provide a DNS response associated with an address of Internet media content.

22. An apparatus comprising:

memory;

instructions; and

processor circuitry to at least one of execute or instantiate the instructions to:

associate a first domain name service query that identifies a domain name, sent from a media presentation device, received at a pseudo DNS server with a media exposure measurement location based on a public Internet Protocol address of the received first domain name service query, wherein the pseudo DNS server does not provide domain name-to-IP address translation, wherein the pseudo DNS server is to receive the first domain name service query and transmit a redirect message to the media presentation device to cause the media presentation device to send a second domain name service query that identifies the domain name to a further DNS server; and

credit the media exposure measurement location with accessing media identified based on the first domain name service query.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the processor circuitry is to associate the public IP address with the media exposure measurement location based on registration data from a panelist.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the processor circuitry is to associate the public IP address with demographic information of the panelist.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the processor circuitry is to receive the registration data via an electronic interface, the electronic interface conveying the public IP address of the media exposure measurement location.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the registration data includes an identification of a device at the media exposure measurement location.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the first domain name service query includes at least one of a name, an acronym, an abbreviation, or a title associated with a media content provider.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the further DNS server is to perform domain name-to-IP address translation, the further DNS server to provide a DNS response associated with an address of Internet media content.

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 Apr 11, 2018
From: BESEHANIC, JAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 045509/0545 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15299766 · Oct 21, 2016
Continuation 15084929 · Mar 30, 2016
Continuation 13329044 · Dec 16, 2011
Related Publication 20180227374A1 · Aug 9, 2018