IP Library Granted Patent US 10,555,048
Granted Patent B2
US 10,555,048 · App. 16/004,111 · Granted Feb 4, 2020

Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to provide secondary content in association with primary broadcast media content

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,555,048
App. No.
16/004,111
Granted
Feb 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to provide media content are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for identifying primary media content presented on a first media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for accessing a secondary content schedule associated with the primary media content. The secondary content schedule includes a plurality of secondary content items and time values associated with the secondary content items. The secondary content items are also associated with a loyalty value for a user of the first media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus further include means for selecting one of the secondary content items to be accessed in response to a timestamp associated with the primary media content being between time values associated with the selected one of the secondary content items in the secondary content schedule.

Claims (31)

1. An apparatus for presenting secondary content, the apparatus comprising:

a decoder to identify primary media content presented on a first media presentation device;

a fetcher implemented by hardware or at least one processor, the fetcher to access a secondary content schedule associated with the primary media content, the secondary content schedule including a plurality of secondary content items and first time values associated with the secondary content items, the secondary content items associated with a loyalty value for a user of the first media presentation device;

a clock to provide second time values based on a timestamp associated with the primary media content; and

a selector to compare the first time values associated with the secondary content items in the secondary content schedule to the second time values provided by the clock to select one of the secondary content items to be accessed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to identify the primary media content, the decoder is to determine the timestamp and at least one of a station identifier or a program identifier associated with the primary media content.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first time values associated with the secondary content items include respective start times and end times for the secondary content items.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the loyalty value for the user is based on a plurality of primary media content presentations previously presented to the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the loyalty value is based on at least one of a duration spent consuming a first type of primary media content, a duration spent consuming primary media content from a first network, a diversity of shows watched on the first network, how often the user activates secondary content offers, a number of times a first show has been watched, a number of times the first network has been watched, a likelihood of the user consuming the first type of primary media content, or a likelihood of the user consuming a particular primary media content.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an audio input interface to receive an audio signal output by the first media presentation device, the decoder to identify the primary media content based on the audio signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including at least one of a Bluetooth interface, a cellular interface, or a wireless interface to access the one of the secondary content items.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus and the first media presentation device are at a same monitoring site.

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

identify primary media content presented on a first media presentation device;

access a secondary content schedule associated with the primary media content, the secondary content schedule including a plurality of secondary content items and first time values associated with the secondary content items, the secondary content items associated with a loyalty value for a user of the first media presentation device; and

compare the first time values associated with the secondary content items in the secondary content schedule to second time values provided by a clock to select one of the secondary content items to be accessed, the second time values based on a timestamp associated with the primary media content.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein to identify the primary media content, the computer readable instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine the timestamp and at least one of a station identifier or a program identifier associated with the primary media content.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the first time values associated with the secondary content items include respective start times and end times for the secondary content items.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the loyalty value for the user is based on a plurality of primary media content presentations previously presented to the user.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the loyalty value is based on at least one of a duration spent consuming a first type of primary media content, a duration spent consuming primary media content from a first network, a diversity of shows watched on the first network, how often the user activates secondary content offers, a number of times a first show has been watched, a number of times the first network has been watched, a likelihood of the user consuming the first type of primary media content, or a likelihood of the user consuming a particular primary media content.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the first media presentation device and the second media presentation device are at a same monitoring site.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to access the one of the secondary content items via at least one of a Bluetooth interface of the second media presentation device, a cellular interface of the second media presentation device, or a wireless interface of the second media presentation device.

16. An apparatus for presenting secondary content, the apparatus comprising:

means for identifying primary media content presented on a first media presentation device;

means for accessing a secondary content schedule associated with the primary media content, the secondary content schedule including a plurality of secondary content items and first time values associated with the secondary content items, the secondary content items associated with a loyalty value for a user of the first media presentation device;

means for providing second time values based on a timestamp associated with the primary media content; and

means for selecting one of the secondary content items to be accessed, the means for selecting to compare the first time values associated with the secondary content items in the secondary content schedule to the second time values to select one of the secondary content items to be accessed.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the means for identifying is to identify the primary media content by determining the timestamp and at least one of a station identifier or a program identifier associated with the primary media content.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first time values associated with the secondary content items include respective start times and end times for the secondary content items.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the loyalty value for the user is based on a plurality of primary media content presentations previously presented to the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , further including means for receiving audio signals associated with the primary 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 Sep 21, 2018
From: HARKNESS, DAVID HENRY; RAMASWAMY, ARUN; SAMSON, JEROME; BESEHANIC, JAN; SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL; TOPCHY, ALEXANDER PAVLOVICH
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 046940/0968 →