IP Library Granted Patent US 10,412,427
Granted Patent B2
US 10,412,427 · App. 15/943,479 · Granted Sep 10, 2019

Methods and systems to meter media content presented on a wireless communication device

Inventors: David H. Wright (Safety Harbor, FL); Kamal Nasser (Palm Harbor, FL); Jeff L. Herrmann (Chicago, IL); Arun Ramaswamy (Tampa, FL); Brian Scott Mello (Oldsmar, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/24H04H60/64H04H60/66H04L67/22H04N7/17318H04N21/2407H04N21/25841H04N21/25883H04N21/41407H04N21/42684H04N21/4424H04N21/44209H04N21/44222H04N21/845H04H60/32H04H60/37H04H60/40H04H60/43H04H60/44H04H60/50H04H60/51H04H60/58H04H60/59H04H2201/90H04W4/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,412,427
App. No.
15/943,479
Granted
Sep 10, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus to generate media metering information includes a display to present selectable options for a user to select one of a plurality of levels of anonymity to be used in association with generating the media metering information indicative of media content presentations; a processor to access an anonymity selection of one of the levels of anonymity, the levels of anonymity including no anonymity, partial anonymity, and total anonymity; and a metering information generator to generate the media metering information in association with the anonymity selection.

Claims (29)

1. An apparatus to generate media metering information, comprising:

a display to present selectable options for a user to select one of a plurality of levels of anonymity to be used in association with generating the media metering information indicative of media presentations;

a processor to:

access an anonymity selection of one of the levels of anonymity, the levels of anonymity including a no anonymity level, a partial anonymity level, and a total anonymity level, the no anonymity level corresponding to providing demographic information, the partial anonymity level corresponding to providing only a device identifier or a postal zip code, and the total anonymity level corresponding to providing none of the demographic information, the device identifier, and the postal zip code; and

update the display to present a user interface screen in response to a user-selection of the no anonymity level, the user interface screen to obtain user input of the demographic information; and

a metering information generator to generate the media metering information in association with the anonymity selection.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the user interface screen is to prompt the user to select to provide the demographic information via the apparatus, via a phone call, or via another device.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of media identifier information indicative of media presented via the apparatus, web browser usage information, a geographic location of a cell tower transmitting media to the apparatus, or a geographic location of the apparatus.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code without including additional demographic information when the partial anonymity level is selected, and the media metering information does not include the at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code when the total anonymity level is selected, the media metering information to be stored in a memory and transmitted to an audience measurement entity.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metering information generator is to generate the media metering information based on media presented via the apparatus.

6. An article of manufacture comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least:

request a user to select one of a plurality of levels of anonymity from selectable options of a display to be used in association with generating media metering information indicative of media presentations;

access an anonymity selection of one of the levels of anonymity, the levels of anonymity including a no anonymity level, a partial anonymity level, and a total anonymity level, the no anonymity level corresponding to providing demographic information, the partial anonymity level corresponding to providing only a device identifier or a postal zip code, and the total anonymity level corresponding to providing none of the demographic information, the device identifier, and the postal zip code;

update the display to present a user interface screen in response to user-selection of the no anonymity level, the user interface screen to obtain user input of the demographic information; and

generate the media metering information in association with the anonymity selection.

7. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 6 , wherein the user interface screen is to prompt the user to select to provide the demographic information via a wireless communication device, via a phone call, or via a website.

8. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 6 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of media identifier information indicative of media presented via a wireless communication device, web browser usage information, a geographic location of a cell tower transmitting media to the wireless communication device, or a geographic location of the wireless communication device.

9. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 6 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code without including additional demographic information when the partial anonymity level is selected, and the media metering information does not include the at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code when the total anonymity level is selected, the media metering information to be stored in a memory and transmitted to an audience measurement entity.

10. The article of manufacture as defined in claim 6 , wherein the metering information generator is to generate the media metering information based on media presented via a wireless communication device.

11. A method to generate media metering information, comprising:

requesting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a user to select one of a plurality of levels of anonymity from selectable options of a display to be used in association with generating the media metering information indicative of media presentations;

accessing, by executing an instruction with the processor, an anonymity selection of one of the levels of anonymity, the levels of anonymity including a no anonymity level, a partial anonymity level, and a total anonymity level, the no anonymity level corresponding to providing demographic information, the partial anonymity level corresponding to providing only a device identifier or a postal zip code, and the total anonymity level corresponding to providing none of the demographic information, the device identifier, and the postal zip code;

update, by executing an instruction with the processor, the display to present a user interface screen in response to user-selection of the no anonymity level, the user interface screen to obtain user input of the demographic information; and

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, the media metering information in association with the anonymity selection.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 , further including retrieving demographic information corresponding to the user from a subscriber account database of a wireless service provider based on the anonymity selection.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 , further including analyzing the media metering information based on the retrieved demographic information.

14. The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of media identifier information indicative of media presented via a wireless communication device, web browser usage information, a geographic location of a cell tower transmitting media to the wireless communication device, or a geographic location of the wireless communication device.

15. The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code without including additional demographic information when the partial anonymity level is selected, and the media metering information does not include the at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code when the total anonymity level is selected, the media metering information to be stored in a memory and transmitted to an audience measurement entity.

16. The method as defined in claim 11 , wherein the generating of the media metering information is based on media presented via a wireless communication device.

Assignments (10)
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 →
MERGER Recorded May 3, 2018
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 045711/0127 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded May 3, 2018
From: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 046545/0626 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2018
From: WRIGHT, DAVID H.; NASSER, KAMAL; HERRMANN, JEFF L.; RAMASWAMY, ARUN; MELLO, BRIAN SCOTT
To: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH, INC.
Reel/Frame 045711/0149 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 15224039 · Jul 29, 2016
Continuation 13930799 · Jun 28, 2013
Continuation 11877413 · Oct 23, 2007
Continuation PCTUS2007007819 · Mar 27, 2007
Provisional Application 60786190 · Mar 27, 2006
Related Publication 20180227611A1 · Aug 9, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,348,825