IP Library Granted Patent US 10,827,217
Granted Patent B2
US 10,827,217 · App. 16/235,902 · Granted Nov 3, 2020

Methods and apparatus to collect distributed user information for media impressions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,827,217
App. No.
16/235,902
Granted
Nov 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A disclosed example includes a database, a communication interface, and a processor. The database is to store a logged media impression for a media identifier representative of media accessed via the Internet. The communication interface is to send a third-party device identifier or a user identifier corresponding to the user to a database proprietor when a user has not elected to not participate in third-party tracking corresponding to online activities, and receive user information from the database proprietor based on the third-party device identifier or the user identifier. The processor is to log a demographic impression based on the media impression and the user information, and generate an impression report corresponding to the media based on the demographic impression.

Claims (43)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a database to store a logged media impression for a media identifier representative of media accessed via the Internet;

a communication interface to:

send a third-party device identifier or a user identifier corresponding to a user to a database proprietor based on an opt-out flag received in a server-to-server communication at a first server associated with an audience measurement entity from a second server associated with an Internet media provider, the opt-out flag to indicate that the user has not elected to not participate in third-party tracking corresponding to online activities; and

receive user information from the database proprietor based on the third-party device identifier or the user identifier; and

a processor to:

log a demographic impression based on the media impression and the user information; and

generate an impression report corresponding to the media based on the demographic impression.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the media is provided by the Internet media provider, and the processor is further to determine that the user has not elected to not participate in the third-party tracking based on the opt-out flag from the second server associated with the Internet media provider.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the media is accessed via the Internet using an over-the-top device or a smart television.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third-party device identifier or the user identifier is at least one of an Ad-ID, an Identifier for Advertisers, a GOOGLE Advertising ID, or a ROKU ID.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to generate the demographic impression by associating demographic information from the user information with the media impression corresponding to the media.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third-party tracking corresponding to the online activities is third-party tracking corresponding to activities at a webpage of the Internet media provider.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the media identifier corresponds to the media accessed via the webpage of the Internet media provider.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user information includes at least one of demographics, purchase data, or behavior data corresponding to the user.

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

log a media impression for a media identifier representative of media accessed via the Internet;

based on an opt-out flag received in a server-to-server communication at a first server associated with an audience measurement entity from a second server associated with an Internet media provider, the opt-out flag indicative of a user not having elected to not participate in third-party tracking corresponding to online activities, send a third-party device identifier or a user identifier corresponding to the user to a database proprietor;

receive user information from the database proprietor based on the third-party device identifier or the user identifier;

log a demographic impression based on the media impression and the user information; and

generate an impression report corresponding to the media based on the demographic impression.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the media is provided by the Internet media provider, and the instructions are to further cause the processor to:

determine that the user has not elected to not participate in the third-party tracking based on the opt-out flag from the second server associated with the Internet media provider.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the media is accessed via the Internet using an over-the-top device or a smart television.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the third-party device identifier or the user identifier is at least one of an Ad-ID, an Identifier for Advertisers, a GOOGLE Advertising ID, or a ROKU ID.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are to cause the processor to generate the demographic impression by associating demographic information from the user information with the media impression corresponding to the media.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the third-party tracking corresponding to the online activities is third-party tracking corresponding to activities at a webpage of the Internet media provider.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the media identifier corresponds to the media accessed via the webpage of the Internet media provider.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the user information includes at least one of demographics, purchase data, or behavior data corresponding to the user.

17. A method, comprising:

logging, by executing an instruction with a processor, a media impression for a media identifier representative of media accessed via the Internet;

based on an opt-out flag received in a server-to-server communication at a first server associated with an audience measurement entity from a second server associated with an Internet media provider, the opt-out flag indicative of a user not having elected to not participate in third-party tracking corresponding to online activities, sending, by executing an instruction with the processor, a third-party device identifier or a user identifier corresponding to the user to a database proprietor;

accessing, by execution an instruction with the processor, user information received from the database proprietor based on the third-party device identifier or the user identifier;

logging, by executing an instruction with the processor, a demographic impression based on the media impression and the user information; and

generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, an impression report corresponding to the media based on the demographic impression.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the media is provided by the Internet media provider, and further including:

determining that the user has not elected to not participate in the third-party tracking based on the opt-out flag from the second server associated with the Internet media provider.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the media is accessed via the Internet using an over-the-top device or a smart television.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the third-party device identifier or the user identifier is at least one of an Ad-ID, an Identifier for Advertisers, a GOOGLE Advertising ID, or a ROKU ID.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein generating the demographic impression includes associating demographic information from the user information with the media impression corresponding to the media.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the third-party tracking corresponding to the online activities is third-party tracking corresponding to activities at a webpage of the Internet media provider.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the media identifier corresponds to the media accessed via the webpage of the Internet media provider.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein the user information includes at least one of demographics, purchase data, or behavior data corresponding to the user.

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 Jan 17, 2019
From: SPLAINE, STEVEN J.; SWIFT, ADRIAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 048043/0351 →