IP Library Granted Patent US 11,039,208
Granted Patent B2
US 11,039,208 · App. 16/261,281 · Granted Jun 15, 2021

Methods, apparatus, and machine-readable storage media to monitor a media presentation

Inventor: Jan Besehanic (Tampa, FL)
Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
H04N21/44213G06Q30/02H04H20/57H04H60/31H04H60/37H04H60/58H04N21/25841H04N21/41407H04N21/42203H04N21/4394H04N21/44008H04N21/44222
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,039,208
App. No.
16/261,281
Granted
Jun 15, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and machine-readable storage media to monitor media presentations are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a locator to compare a location of a mobile device with a set of reference locations at which audio monitoring is to be performed. The disclosed example apparatus further includes an audio receiver to enable a microphone of the mobile device to collect audio for media monitoring when (1) the location of the mobile device corresponds to a first one of the reference locations and (2) a media presentation monitor at the first one of the reference locations indicates a likelihood of media being presented at the first location satisfies a threshold. In some disclosed examples, the audio receiver of the example apparatus is to disable the microphone from collecting audio for media monitoring when the location of the mobile device does not correspond to any of the reference locations.

Claims (23)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a locator to compare a location of a mobile device with a set of reference locations at which audio monitoring is to be performed;

an audio receiver to:

enable a microphone of the mobile device to collect audio for media monitoring when (1) the location of the mobile device corresponds to a first location of the set of reference locations and (2) a media presentation monitor at the first location of the set of reference locations indicates a likelihood of media being presented at the first location satisfies a threshold;

disable the microphone from collecting audio for media monitoring when the location of the mobile device corresponds to the first location and the media presentation monitor indicates the likelihood of the media being presented at the first location does not satisfy the threshold; and

disable the microphone from collecting audio for media monitoring when the location of the mobile device does not correspond to any of the set of reference locations.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locator is to determine the mobile device is at the first location based on whether the mobile device is connected to a wireless local area network associated with the first location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a data transmitter to transmit at least one of the collected audio or an identification of the collected audio to a media monitoring server.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the data transmitter is to transmit the at least one of the collected audio or the identification of the collected audio when a threshold audio collection amount is satisfied.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the data transmitter is to transmit the at least one of the collected audio or the identification of the collected audio at a regular interval or in response to a request.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the likelihood of the media being presented at the first location is determined based on a sensor or transducer input at the first location.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the likelihood of the media being presented at the first location is determined based on at least one of a mobile application operating on the mobile device, an operating state of a media presentation device at the first location, or user inputs to the media presentation device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor of a mobile device to at least:

compare a location of a mobile device with a set of reference locations at which audio monitoring is to be performed;

enable a microphone of the mobile device to collect audio for media monitoring when (1) the location of the mobile device corresponds to a first location of the set of reference locations and (2) a media presentation monitor at the first location of the set of reference locations indicates a likelihood of media being presented at the first location satisfies a threshold;

disable the microphone from collecting audio for media monitoring when the location of the mobile device corresponds to the first location and the media presentation monitor indicates the likelihood of the media being presented at the first location does not satisfy the threshold; and

disable the microphone from collecting audio for media monitoring when the location of the mobile device does not correspond to any of the set of reference locations.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor of the mobile device to determine the mobile device is at the first location based on whether the mobile device is connected to a wireless local area network associated with the first location.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor of the mobile device to transmit at least one of the collected audio or an identification of the collected audio to a media monitoring server.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor of the mobile device to transmit the at least one of the collected audio or the identification of the collected audio when a threshold audio collection amount is satisfied.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor of the mobile device to transmit the at least one of the collected audio or the identification of the collected audio at a regular interval or in response to a request.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the likelihood of the media being presented at the first location is determined based on a sensor input at the first location.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the likelihood of the media being presented at the first location is determined based on at least one of a mobile application operating on the mobile device, an operating state of a media presentation device at the first location, or user inputs to the media presentation device.

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 13, 2020
From: BESEHANIC, JAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 051807/0543 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13436444 · Mar 30, 2012
Related Publication 20190158915A1 · May 23, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,652,436