IP Library Granted Patent US 11,507,580
Granted Patent B2
US 11,507,580 · App. 16/146,875 · Granted Nov 22, 2022

Methods and apparatus to partition data

Inventors: Michael Sheppard (Brooklyn, NY); Jonathan Sullivan (Hurricane, UT); Peter Lipa (Tucson, AZ); Alejandro Terrazas (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
G06F16/24556G06F16/2365G06F16/2465G06Q30/0201
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,507,580
App. No.
16/146,875
Granted
Nov 22, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to partition data are disclosed. An example apparatus to partition panelist data includes an indicator matrix generator to determine an indicator matrix including panelist vectors for panelists based on panelist data associated with the panelists, a first one of the panelist vectors for a first one of the panelists to indicate whether the first one of the panelists: has a first characteristic, meets a first criterion based on the first characteristic and a second characteristic, has a third characteristic, and meets a second criterion based on the third characteristic and a fourth characteristic. The example apparatus further includes a matrix reducer to reduce the indicator matrix to a set of unique panelist vectors that represent partitions of the panelist data, the partitions of the panelist data to utilize less storage capacity than the panelist data.

Claims (53)

1. An apparatus to partition panelist data, the apparatus comprising:

at least one memory;

computer readable instructions; and

at least one processor to execute the computer readable instructions to at least:

store panelist data in the at least one memory, the panelist data collected from at least one thousand panelists;

determine an indicator matrix including panelist vectors for panelists based on the panelist data, the panelist data associated with the panelists, a first one of the panelist vectors for a first one of the panelists to indicate whether the first one of the panelists:

has a first characteristic;

meets a first criterion based on the first characteristic and a second characteristic;

has a third characteristic; and

meets a second criterion based on the third characteristic and a fourth characteristic;

identify a set of unique panelist vectors that represent partitions of the panelist data;

weight and store the set of unique panelist vectors in the at least one memory, respective ones of the stored unique panelist vectors to be weighted by corresponding numbers of the panelists represented by the respective ones of the stored unique panelist vectors; and

discard redundant remaining ones of the panelist vectors not included in the set of unique panelist vectors and discard the panelist data from the at least one memory to reduce a data storage requirement of the at least one memory.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is to assign labels to the unique panelist vectors.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is to:

store the labels assigned to the unique panelist vectors in the at least one memory.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is to attach respective descriptions to the unique panelist vectors, the descriptions to indicate whether respective ones of the unique panelist vectors have the first characteristic, the second characteristic, the third characteristic and the fourth characteristic.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is to assign panelist labels to the panelists, the panelist labels corresponding to the labels assigned to the unique panelist vectors.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is to sort the panelists into groups corresponding to the panelist labels assigned to the panelists.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is to determine the first criterion and the second criterion based on characteristics exhibited by a number of the panelists.

8. A method to partition panelist data, the method comprising:

storing, by executing an instruction with a processor, panelist data in at least one memory, the panelist data collected from at least one thousand panelists;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, an indicator matrix including panelist vectors for panelists based on the panelist data, the panelist data associated with the panelists, a first one of the panelist vectors for a first one of the panelists to indicate whether the first one of the panelists:

has a first characteristic;

meets a first criterion based on the first characteristic and a second characteristic;

has a third characteristic; and

meets a second criterion based on the third characteristic and a fourth characteristic;

identifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a set of unique panelist vectors that represent partitions of the panelist data;

weighting and storing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the set of unique panelist vectors in the at least one memory, respective ones of the stored unique panelist vectors being weighted by corresponding numbers of the panelists represented by the respective ones of the stored unique panelist vectors; and

discarding, by executing an instruction with the processor, redundant remaining ones of the panelist vectors not included in the set of unique panelist vectors and discarding the panelist data from the at least one memory to reduce a data storage requirement of the at least one memory.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including assigning labels to the unique panelist vectors.

10. The method of claim 9 , further including:

storing the labels assigned to the unique panelist vectors in the at least one memory.

11. The method of claim 9 , further including attaching respective descriptions to the unique panelist vectors, the descriptions indicating whether respective ones of the unique panelist vectors have the first characteristic, the second characteristic, the third characteristic and the fourth characteristic.

12. The method of claim 9 , further including assigning panelist labels to the panelists, the panelist labels corresponding to the labels assigned to the unique panelist vectors.

13. The method of claim 12 , further including sorting the panelists into groups corresponding to the panelist labels assigned to the panelists.

14. The method of claim 8 , further including determining the first criterion and the second criterion based on characteristics exhibited by a number of the panelists.

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

store panelist data in at least one memory, the panelist data collected from at least one thousand panelists;

determine an indicator matrix including panelist vectors for panelists based on the panelist data, the panelist data associated with the panelists, a first one of the panelist vectors for a first one of the panelists to indicate whether the first one of the panelists:

has a first characteristic;

meets a first criterion based on the first characteristic and a second characteristic;

has a third characteristic; and

meets a second criterion based on the third characteristic and a fourth characteristic;

identify a set of unique panelist vectors that represent partitions of the panelist data;

weight and store the set of unique panelist vectors in the at least one memory, respective ones of the stored unique panelist vectors to be weighted by corresponding numbers of the panelists represented by the respective ones of the stored unique panelist vectors; and

discard redundant remaining ones of the panelist vectors not included in the set of unique panelist vectors and discard the panelist data from the at least one memory to reduce a data storage requirement of the at least one memory.

16. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to assign labels to the unique panelist vectors.

17. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to:

store the labels assigned to the unique panelist vectors in the at least one memory.

18. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to attach respective descriptions to the unique panelist vectors, the descriptions indicating whether respective ones of the unique panelist vectors have the first characteristic, the second characteristic, the third characteristic and the fourth characteristic.

19. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to assign panelist labels to the panelists, the panelist labels corresponding to the labels assigned to the unique panelist vectors.

20. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to sort the panelists into groups corresponding to the panelist labels assigned to the panelists.

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 Feb 20, 2019
From: SHEPPARD, MICHAEL; SULLIVAN, JONATHAN; LIPA, PETER; TERRAZAS, ALEJANDRO
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 048388/0476 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14860361 · Sep 21, 2015
Related Publication 20190034492A1 · Jan 31, 2019