IP Library Granted Patent US 10,715,214
Granted Patent B2
US 10,715,214 · App. 16/208,497 · Granted Jul 14, 2020

Methods and apparatus to monitor a media presentation

Inventors: William K. Krug (Rockville, MD); James Zhang (Vineland, NJ)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04B5/0006G06F3/165H04B5/06H04L65/403H04R3/005H04R5/04H04R29/00H04W4/70G11B2020/10546H04R2201/107H04R2420/07H04R2420/09H04R2499/11
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,715,214
App. No.
16/208,497
Granted
Jul 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to monitor a media presentation are disclosed. An example system includes a monitoring device to monitor a media presentation and generate research data identifying the media. A bridge device includes a housing dimensioned to receive the monitoring device, a receiver carried by the housing to receive a first audio signal via a wireless data connection from an audio source device using a wireless communication protocol, the first audio signal associated with the media. The bridge device includes an audio emitter to emit the audio signal for receipt by the monitoring device, and a transmitter to transmit the audio signal to an audio receiver device using the wireless communication protocol.

Claims (35)

1. A system for gathering research data indicating exposure to media, the system comprising:

a monitoring device to monitor a media presentation and generate research data identifying the media;

a bridge device including:

a housing dimensioned to receive the monitoring device;

a receiver carried by the housing to receive a first audio signal via a wireless data connection from an audio source device using a wireless communication protocol, the first audio signal associated with the media;

an audio emitter to emit the audio signal for receipt by a microphone of the monitoring device; and

a transmitter to transmit the audio signal to an audio receiver device using the wireless communication protocol.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio source device is a cellular phone.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bridge device further includes a first pairing button to cause the receiver to pair with the audio source device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio source device is a portable device.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the bridge device further includes a second pairing button to cause the transmitter to pair with the audio receiver device.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication protocol includes at least one of a Bluetooth protocol, a ZigBee protocol, a wireless LAN protocol, an infrared data link, or an inductive link.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device includes:

an audio sensor to receive the audio signal from the audio emitter; and

a processor to generate the research data identifying media associated with the media presentation based on the audio signal received by the audio sensor.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the audio emitter includes a speaker and the audio sensor includes a microphone.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the speaker is oriented to emit the audio signal in the housing towards a microphone of the monitoring device.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the monitoring device includes a network communicator to transmit the research data to an audience measurement entity.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is to decode a code identifying the media or to extract an audio signature identifying the media from the audio signal.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the media comprises at least one of a program, music, television, radio, or an advertisement.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication protocol is an Advanced Audio Distribution Profile protocol.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the audio receiver device includes wireless headphones.

15. A system for gathering research data indicating exposure to media, the system comprising:

a bridge device including:

a housing dimensioned to interface with a monitoring device;

a receiver to receive a first audio signal via a wireless data connection from an audio source device using a wireless communication protocol, the first audio signal associated with the media; and

a speaker carried by the housing to emit the audio signal for receipt by a monitoring device; and

a monitoring device including:

a microphone to receive the audio signal from the speaker; and

a processor to generate research data identifying the media.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the monitoring device further includes a transmitter to transmit the research data to a media monitoring entity.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the audio source device is a portable device.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the portable device is a cellular phone.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an inner cavity that is dimensioned to receive the monitoring device, and the audio emitter is positioned to emit the audio signal into the inner cavity of the housing.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the housing includes an inner cavity that is dimensioned to receive the monitoring device, and the speaker is positioned to emit the audio signal into the inner cavity of the housing.

Assignments (11)
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 26, 2019
From: KRUG, WILLIAM K.; ZHANG, JAMES
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 049004/0605 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: ARBITRON INC.
To: NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.
Reel/Frame 049014/0162 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: ARBITRON INC.
To: NIELSEN HOLDINGS N.V.
Reel/Frame 049013/0078 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2019
From: NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 049005/0119 →