IP Library Granted Patent US 11,233,664
Granted Patent B2
US 11,233,664 · App. 16/355,262 · Granted Jan 25, 2022

Methods and apparatus to identify media

Inventor: Gavin McMillan (Tarpon Springs, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04L9/36G06F21/16G07F17/32G07F17/3241H04L2209/608
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,233,664
App. No.
16/355,262
Granted
Jan 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for identifying media are described. Example methods disclosed herein include presenting a graphical enable button via a display of a media presentation device, the graphical enable button, when selected, is to enable monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to monitor media presented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to be disabled by default. Disclosed example methods also include detecting a first user input corresponding to selection of the graphical enable button and, in response to detection of the first user input: (i) enabling the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, and (ii) transmitting, via a network interface, information to a remote monitoring entity.

Claims (63)

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor of a media presentation device to at least:

present, via a display, a graphical enable button that, when selected, is to enable monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to monitor media presented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to be disabled by default, the monitoring functionality installed in the media presentation device at a time of manufacture of the media presentation device;

detect a first user input corresponding to selection of the graphical enable button; and

in response to detection of the first user input:

enable the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality including a watermark generator and a lookup table;

transmit, via a network interface, information to a remote monitoring entity;

receive, from the remote monitoring entity, updated identification information for updating the lookup table;

determine application identification information for a media presentation application executing on the media presentation device;

determine a first watermark corresponding to application identification information from the lookup table;

request media identification information for media from the media presentation application, the media identification information associated with media to be presented by the media presentation device;

determine a second watermark corresponding to the media identification information from the lookup table; and

insert the first watermark and the second watermark into the media to be presented by the media presentation device prior to the output of the media by the media device.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to present the graphical enable button in response to the media presentation device being powered on.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

present, via the display, a graphical disable button that, when selected, is to disable the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device;

detect a second user input corresponding to selection of the graphical disable button; and

disable the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device in response to detection of the second user input.

4. The computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to present the graphical enable button in response to access of a menu to be presented by the media presentation device.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the information includes demographic information, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to present a form via the display in response to the detection of the first user input, the form to request the demographic information.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the information includes monitoring information generated by the monitoring functionality, and the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to access an identifier received, via a network interface, from the remote monitoring entity, the identifier to identify the monitoring information to the remote monitoring entity.

7. A media presentation device comprising:

a network interface;

memory including machine readable instructions; and

processor circuitry to execute the machine readable instructions to at least:

present, via a display, a graphical enable button that, when selected, is to enable monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to monitor media presented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to be disabled by default, the monitoring functionality installed in the media presentation device at a time of manufacture of the media presentation device;

detect a first user input corresponding to selection of the graphical enable button; and

in response to detection of the first user input:

enable the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality including a watermark generator and a lookup table;

transmit, via the network interface, information to a remote monitoring entity;

receive, from the remote monitoring entity, updated identification information for updating the lookup table;

determine application identification information for a media presentation application executing on the media presentation device;

determine a first watermark corresponding to application identification information from the lookup;

request media identification information for media from the media presentation application, the media identification information associated with media to be presented by the media presentation device;

determine a second watermark corresponding to the media identification information from the lookup table; and

insert the first watermark and the second watermark into the media to be presented by the media presentation device prior to the output of the media by the media device.

8. The media presentation device of claim 7 , wherein the processor circuitry is to present the graphical enable button in response to the media presentation device being powered on.

9. The media presentation device of claim 7 , wherein the processor circuitry is further to:

present, via the display, a graphical disable button that, when selected, is to disable the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device;

detect a second user input corresponding to selection of the graphical disable button; and

disable the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device in response to detection of the second user input.

10. The media presentation device of claim 7 , wherein the processor circuitry is to present the graphical enable button in response to access of a menu to be presented by the media presentation device.

11. The media presentation device of claim 7 , wherein the information includes demographic information, and the processor circuitry is further to present a form via the display in response to the detection of the first user input, the form to request the demographic information.

12. The media presentation device of claim 11 , wherein the information includes monitoring information generated by the monitoring functionality, and the processor circuitry is further to access an identifier received, via a network interface, from the remote monitoring entity, the identifier to identify the monitoring information to the remote monitoring entity.

13. A method comprising:

presenting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a graphical enable button via a display of a media presentation device, the graphical enable button, when selected, to enable monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to monitor media presented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to be disabled by default, the monitoring functionality installed in the media presentation device at a time of manufacture of the media presentation device;

detect, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first user input corresponding to selection of the graphical enable button; and

in response to detection of the first user input:

enabling, by executing an instruction with the processor, the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality including a watermark generator and a lookup table;

transmitting, via a network interface, information to a remote monitoring entity;

receiving, from the remote monitoring entity, updated identification information for updating the lookup table;

determining application identification information for a media presentation application executing on the media presentation device;

determining a first watermark corresponding to application identification information from the lookup table;

requesting media identification information for media from the media presentation application, the media identification information associated with media to be presented by the media presentation device;

determining a second watermark corresponding to the media identification information from the lookup table; and

inserting the first watermark and the second watermark into the media to be presented by the media presentation device prior to the output of the media by the media device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the presenting of the graphical enable button is performed in response to the media presentation device being powered on.

15. The method of claim 13 , further including:

presenting, via the display, a graphical disable button that, when selected, is to disable the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device;

detecting a second user input corresponding to selection of the graphical disable button; and

disabling the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device in response to detection of the second user input.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the presenting of the graphical enable button is performed in response to access of a menu to be presented by the media presentation device.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the information includes demographic information, and further including presenting a form via the display in response to the detection of the first user input, the form to request the demographic information.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the information includes monitoring information generated by the monitoring functionality, and further including accessing an identifier received, via a network interface, from the remote monitoring entity, the identifier to identify the monitoring information to the remote monitoring entity.

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 Sep 12, 2019
From: MCMILLAN, GAVIN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 050357/0978 →