IP Library Granted Patent US 10,924,791
Granted Patent B2
US 10,924,791 · App. 16/388,630 · Granted Feb 16, 2021

Methods and apparatus to estimate demographics of a household

Inventors: Jonathan Sullivan (Hurricane, UT); Peter Lipa (Tucson, AZ); Michael Sheppard (Brooklyn, NY); Alejandro Terrazas (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/25883H04N21/44204H04N21/44222H04N21/4661H04N21/4665H04N21/4667
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,924,791
App. No.
16/388,630
Granted
Feb 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to estimate demographics of a household are disclosed. An example method to determine demographics for non-panelist households includes calculating a first demographic constraint average and a second demographic constraint average based on a first demographic distribution of a first tuning event of a household and a second demographic distribution of a second tuning event of the household. The household is a non-panelist household. The example method also includes, based on the first demographic constraint average, determining a first likelihood of the household being associated with a first demographic constraint. The example method also includes, based on the second demographic constraint average, determining a second likelihood of the household being associated with a second demographic constraint. The example method also includes estimating a household characteristic of the household based on the first likelihood and the second likelihood.

Claims (34)

1. An apparatus to determine demographics for non-panelist households, the apparatus comprising:

a score calculator to:

calculate a first demographic constraint average and a second demographic constraint average in connection with tuning events of non-panelist households, the first and second demographic constraint averages based on (a) acquiring a first quantity of temporally-mapped panelist demographic distribution data occurring during a first tuning event of a respective one of the non-panelist households and (b) acquiring a second quantity of temporally-mapped panelist demographic distribution data occurring during a second tuning event of the respective one of the non-panelist households;

based on the first demographic constraint average and a first probability that the first tuning event corresponds to a first demographic constraint, determine a first likelihood score of the respective one of the non-panelist households being associated with the first demographic constraint;

based on the second demographic constraint average and a second probability that the second tuning event corresponds to a second demographic constraint, determine a second likelihood score of the respective one of the non-panelist households being associated with the second demographic constraint; and

a household estimator to estimate a household characteristic of the respective one of the non-panelist households based on the first likelihood score and the second likelihood score, the household characteristic including a number of members of the respective one of the non-panelist households, wherein the score calculator and the household estimator are implemented via one or more logic circuits.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including an event correlator to identify the first tuning event and the second tuning event from a set-top box of the respective one of the non-panelist households.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the household estimator is to produce rating values corresponding to presented media for panelist households and the non-panelist households.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the score calculator is to:

divide the first demographic constraint average of a first one of the non-panelist households by a first constraint probability of an average demographic distribution of panelist households corresponding to consumption events of the panelist households; and

divide the second demographic constraint average of a second one of the non-panelist households by a second constraint probability of the average demographic distribution of the panelist households to determine the second likelihood score.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the household estimator is to estimate the household characteristic of the non-panelist households based on at least one of the first and second demographic constraints, a total number of minutes consumed by respective ones of the non-panelist households, or a number of minutes consumed by respective ones of the non-panelist households per predetermined time-period segments.

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

calculate a first demographic constraint average and a second demographic constraint average in connection with tuning events of non-panelist households, the first and second demographic constraint averages based on (a) acquiring a first quantity of temporally-mapped panelist demographic distribution data occurring during a first tuning event of a respective one of the non-panelist households and (b) acquiring a second quantity of temporally-mapped panelist demographic distribution data occurring during a second tuning event of the respective one of the non-panelist households;

based on the first demographic constraint average and a first probability that the first tuning event corresponds to a first demographic constraint, determine a first likelihood score of the respective one of the non-panelist households being associated with the first demographic constraint;

based on the second demographic constraint average and a second probability that the second tuning event corresponds to a second demographic constraint, determine a second likelihood score of the respective one of the non-panelist households being associated with the second demographic constraint; and

estimate a household characteristic of the respective one of the non-panelist households based on the first likelihood score and the second likelihood score, the household characteristic including a number of members of the respective one of the non-panelist households.

7. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to identify the first tuning event and the second tuning event from a set-top box of the respective one of the non-panelist households.

8. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to produce rating values corresponding to presented media for panelist households and the non-panelist households.

9. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:

divide the first demographic constraint average of a first one of the non-panelist households by a first constraint probability of an average demographic distribution of panelist households corresponding to consumption events of the panelist households; and

divide the second demographic constraint average of a second one of the non-panelist households by a second constraint probability of the average demographic distribution of the panelist households to determine the second likelihood score.

10. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 6 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to estimate the household characteristic of the non-panelist households based on at least one of the first and second demographic constraints, a total number of minutes consumed by respective ones of the non-panelist households, or a number of minutes consumed by respective ones of the non-panelist households per predetermined time-period segments.

11. A method to determine demographics for non-panelist households, the method comprising:

calculating, by executing an instruction with at least one processor, a first demographic constraint average and a second demographic constraint average in connection with tuning events of non-panelist households, the first and second demographic constraint averages based on (a) acquiring a first quantity of temporally-mapped panelist demographic distribution data occurring during a first tuning event of a respective one of the non-panelist households and (b) acquiring a second quantity of temporally-mapped panelist demographic distribution data occurring during a second tuning event of the respective one of the non-panelist households;

based on the first demographic constraint average and a first probability that the first tuning event corresponds to a first demographic constraint, determining, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, a first likelihood score of the respective one of the non-panelist households being associated with the first demographic constraint;

based on the second demographic constraint average and a second probability that the second tuning event corresponds to a second demographic constraint, determining, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, a second likelihood score of the respective one of the non-panelist households being associated with the second demographic constraint; and

estimating, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, a household characteristic of the respective one of the non-panelist households based on the first likelihood score and the second likelihood score, the household characteristic including a number of members of the respective one of the non-panelist households.

12. The method as defined in claim 11 , further including identifying the first tuning event and the second tuning event from a set-top box of the respective one of the non-panelist households.

13. The method as defined in claim 11 , further including producing rating values corresponding to presented media for panelist households and the non-panelist households.

14. The method as defined in claim 11 , further including:

dividing the first demographic constraint average of a first one of the non-panelist households by a first constraint probability of an average demographic distribution of panelist households corresponding to consumption events of the panelist households; and

dividing the second demographic constraint average of a second one of the non-panelist households by a second constraint probability of the average demographic distribution of the panelist households to determine the second likelihood score.

15. The method as defined in claim 11 , further including estimating the household characteristic of the non-panelist households based on at least one of the first and second demographic constraints, a total number of minutes consumed by respective ones of the non-panelist households, or a number of minutes consumed by respective ones of the non-panelist households per predetermined time-period segments.

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 Aug 20, 2019
From: SULLIVAN, JONATHAN; LIPA, PETER; SHEPPARD, MICHAEL; TERRAZAS, ALEJANDRO
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 050095/0855 →