IP Library Granted Patent US 10,924,802
Granted Patent B2
US 10,924,802 · App. 16/297,297 · Granted Feb 16, 2021

Methods, apparatus, and systems to collect audience measurement data

Inventor: Brian Shane Fuhrer (Palm Harbor, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/44204H04H60/31H04H60/45H04H60/46H04H60/66H04N21/25883H04N21/25891H04N21/44213H04N21/44218H04N21/44222H04N21/6582
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,924,802
App. No.
16/297,297
Granted
Feb 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems to collect audience measurement data are disclosed. Disclosed example systems include a first processor to collect (i) first media identification data corresponding to a first time period and (ii) second media identification data corresponding to a second time period after the first time period, the first media identification data and the second media identification data associated with a monitored location. Disclosed example systems also include a second processor to (i) develop behavior data based on the first media identification data and people meter data collected during the first time period with a people meter associated with the monitored location and (ii) identify an audience member associated with the second media identification data based on the behavior data and without access to any people meter data corresponding to the second time period.

Claims (46)

1. An audience measurement system comprising:

a first processor to collect (i) first media identification data corresponding to a first time period and (ii) second media identification data corresponding to a second time period after the first time period, the first media identification data and the second media identification data associated with a monitored location; and

a second processor to:

develop behavior data based on the first media identification data and people meter data collected during the first time period with a people meter associated with the monitored location, the people meter to be deactivated during the second time period; and

identify an audience member associated with the second media identification data based on the behavior data and without access to any people meter data corresponding to the second time period.

2. The audience measurement system of claim 1 , further including a people meter to collect the people meter data during the first time period.

3. The audience measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the people meter is to prompt people to self-identify.

4. The audience measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the first processor is to collect network usage data corresponding to the second time period and associated with the monitored location, and the second processor is to identify an audience member associated with network usage during the second time period at the monitored location based on the behavior data and without access to any people meter data corresponding to the second time period.

5. The audience measurement system of claim 4 , wherein the network usage data is second network usage data, the first processor is to collect first network usage data corresponding to the first time period and associated with the monitored location, and the second processor to develop the behavior data based on first network usage data.

6. The audience measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is to identify the audience member associated with the second media identification data based on the behavior data by:

matching characteristics of the second media identification data to a corresponding portion of the behavior data corresponding to the audience member, the characteristics including at least one of a day, a time, a program title, a program genre, or a broadcast channel;

calculating a probability based on the characteristics, the probability corresponding to a likelihood that the audience member is associated with the second media identification data; and

determining whether the probability satisfies a threshold.

7. A method to collect audience measurement data comprising:

collecting first media identification data corresponding to a first time period;

collecting second media identification data corresponding to a second time period after the first time period, the first media identification data and the second media identification data associated with a monitored location; an

developing, by executing an instruction with a processor, behavior data based on the first media identification data and people meter data collected during the first time period with a people meter associated with the monitored location, the people meter to be deactivated during the second time period; and

identifying, by executing an instruction with the processor, an audience member associated with the second media identification data based on the behavior data and without access to any people meter data corresponding to the second time period.

8. The method of claim 7 , further including collecting the people meter data during the first time period with a people meter.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the people meter is to prompt people to self-identify.

10. The method of claim 7 , further including:

collecting network usage data corresponding to the second time period and associated with the monitored location; and

identifying an audience member associated with network usage during the second time period at the monitored location based on the behavior data and without access to any people meter data corresponding to the second time period.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the network usage data is second network usage data, and further including:

collecting first network usage data corresponding to the first time period and associated with the monitored location; and

developing the behavior data based on first network usage data.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the identifying of the audience member associated with the second media identification data based on the behavior data includes:

matching characteristics of the second media identification data to a corresponding portion of the behavior data corresponding to the audience member, the characteristics including at least one of a day, a time, a program title, a program genre, or a broadcast channel;

calculating a probability based on the characteristics, the probability corresponding to a likelihood that the audience member is associated with the second media identification data; and

determining whether the probability satisfies a threshold.

13. An article of manufacture comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to at least:

collect first media identification data corresponding to a first time period;

collect second media identification data corresponding to a second time period after the first time period, the first media identification data and the second media identification data associated with a monitored location; and

develop behavior data based on the first media identification data and people meter data collected during the first time period with a people meter associated with the monitored location, the people meter to be deactivated during the second time period; and

identify an audience member associated with the second media identification data based on the behavior data and without access to any people meter data corresponding to the second time period.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the people meter data is collected during the first time period with a people meter.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

collect network usage data corresponding to the second time period and associated with the monitored location; and

identify an audience member associated with network usage during the second time period at the monitored location based on the behavior data and without access to any people meter data corresponding to the second time period.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the network usage data is second network usage data, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to:

collect first network usage data corresponding to the first time period and associated with the monitored location; and

develop the behavior data based on first network usage data.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

match characteristics of the second media identification data to a corresponding portion of the behavior data corresponding to the audience member, the characteristics including at least one of a day, a time, a program title, a program genre, or a broadcast channel;

calculate a probability based on the characteristics, the probability corresponding to a likelihood that the audience member is associated with the second media identification data; and

determine whether the probability satisfies a threshold.

Assignments (9)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2023
From: FUHRER, BRIAN SHANE
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 062708/0423 →
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 12, 2019
From: FUHRER, BRIAN SHANE
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 050361/0646 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 15905413 · Feb 26, 2018
Continuation 15363919 · Nov 29, 2016
Continuation 14724401 · May 28, 2015
Continuation 14144341 · Dec 30, 2013
Continuation 12887275 · Sep 21, 2010
Related Publication 20190208268A1 · Jul 4, 2019