IP Library Granted Patent US 10,778,440
Granted Patent B2
US 10,778,440 · App. 16/045,440 · Granted Sep 15, 2020

Methods and apparatus to collect distributed user information for media impressions and search terms

Inventors: John R. Burbank (New York, NY); Madhusudhan Reddy Alla (Allen, TX)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04L9/3247G06F16/951G06F16/9535G06F21/6245G06Q30/0256G06Q30/0277G06Q50/01H04L9/32H04L51/32H04L63/0414H04L63/0428H04L67/22H04W12/02G06F2221/2101G06F2221/2107G06F2221/2135H04W12/00512H04W12/00514H04W12/00518
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,778,440
App. No.
16/045,440
Granted
Sep 15, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed examples include providing encrypted identifiers identifying at least one of a device or a user of the device for sending to corresponding database proprietors; accessing user information corresponding to the encrypted identifiers, the user information received from the corresponding database proprietors; and associating the user information with at least one of a search term collected at the device or a media impression logged for media presented at the device.

Claims (31)

1. An apparatus comprising:

memory including machine executable instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to:

provide encrypted identifiers identifying at least one of a device or a user of the device for sending to corresponding database proprietors, the device being separate from the processor;

access user information corresponding to the encrypted identifiers, the user information received from the corresponding database proprietors; and

associate the user information with at least one of a search term collected at the device or a media impression logged for media presented at the device.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is located in a server separate from the device and in communication with the device.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the database proprietors include a social network service and a wireless service provider, a first one of the encrypted identifiers including a username of the user registered with the social network service, and a second one of the encrypted identifiers including a device identifier used by the wireless service provider to identify the device.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the user information includes first demographic information of the user stored by the social network service, and second demographic information of the user stored by the wireless service provider.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media is an advertisement, and the search term corresponds to a search performed at the device to at least one of search information on the Internet, search for a product, search for a website, or search a website.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is to execute the instructions to identify the encrypted identifiers as pertaining to the corresponding database proprietors based on respective database proprietor identifiers received in association with corresponding ones of the encrypted identifiers, the respective database proprietor identifiers to identify corresponding ones of the database proprietors.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein to provide the encrypted identifiers, the processor is to execute the instructions to decode the encrypted identifiers from a single identifier received from at least one of an app publisher or a media publisher.

8. A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

provide encrypted identifiers identifying at least one of a device or a user of the device for sending to corresponding database proprietors, the device being separate from the processor;

access user information corresponding to the encrypted identifiers, the user information received from the corresponding database proprietors; and

associate the user information with at least one of a search term collected at the device or a media impression logged for media presented at the device.

9. The tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the processor is located in a server separate from the device and in communication with the device.

10. The tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the database proprietors include a social network service and a wireless service provider, a first one of the encrypted identifiers including a username of the user registered with the social network service, and a second one of the encrypted identifiers including a device identifier used by the wireless service provider to identify the device.

11. The tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the user information includes first demographic information of the user stored by the social network service, and second demographic information of the user stored by the wireless service provider.

12. The tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the media is an advertisement, and the search term corresponds to a search performed at the device to at least one of search information on the Internet, search for a product, search for a website, or search a website.

13. The tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further to cause the processor to identify the encrypted identifiers as pertaining to the corresponding database proprietors based on respective database proprietor identifiers received in association with corresponding ones of the encrypted identifiers, the respective database proprietor identifiers to identify corresponding ones of the database proprietors.

14. The tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein to provide the encrypted identifiers, the instructions are to cause the processor to decode the encrypted identifiers from a single identifier received from at least one of an app publisher or a media publisher.

15. A method comprising:

providing, by executing an instruction with a processor, encrypted identifiers identifying at least one of a device or a user of the device for sending to corresponding database proprietors, the device being separate from the processor;

accessing, by executing an instruction with the processor, user information corresponding to the encrypted identifiers, the user information received from the corresponding database proprietors; and

associating, by executing an instruction with the processor, the user information with at least one of a search term collected at the device or a media impression logged for media presented at the device.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the processor is located in a server separate from the device and in communication with the device.

17. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the database proprietors include a social network service and a wireless service provider, a first one of the encrypted identifiers including a username of the user registered with the social network service, and a second one of the encrypted identifiers including a device identifier used by the wireless service provider to identify the device.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the user information includes first demographic information of the user stored by the social network service, and second demographic information of the user stored by the wireless service provider.

19. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the media is an advertisement, and the search term corresponds to a search performed at the device to at least one of search information on the Internet, search for a product, search for a website, or search a website.

20. The method as defined in claim 15 , further including identifying the encrypted identifiers as pertaining to the corresponding database proprietors based on respective database proprietor identifiers received in association with corresponding ones of the encrypted identifiers, the respective database proprietor identifiers to identify corresponding ones of the database proprietors.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, 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 13, 2018
From: BURBANK, JOHN R.; ALLA, MADHUSUDHAN REDDY
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 047068/0517 →