IP Library Granted Patent US 11,432,041
Granted Patent B2
US 11,432,041 · App. 16/428,315 · Granted Aug 30, 2022

Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media

Inventor: Jan Besehanic (Tampa, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/44213G06V20/46H04H60/31H04H60/59H04N21/4223H04N21/435H04N21/4532G06V2201/02H04H2201/50H04N21/8358
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,432,041
App. No.
16/428,315
Granted
Aug 30, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to measure exposure to streaming media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a video retriever to retrieve an image displayed by a media device presenting the streaming media, the media device separate from the video retriever. A metadata extractor is to extract a video watermark from the retrieved image. A metadata converter is to, in response to the extraction of the video watermark, convert the video watermark into text formatted metadata. A transmitter is to transmit the text formatted metadata to a central facility.

Claims (33)

1. A method to monitor media presented by a media device, the method comprising:

capturing, with a retriever separate from the media device presenting media to a user, media of the media device, the media including metadata embedded into a video stream of the media using a chroma key;

extracting, with a processor, a watermark from the media displayed at the media device, the watermark including the chroma key;

converting, with the processor, the watermark to an ID3 metadata format; and

transmitting the ID3 formatted metadata to a central facility.

2. The method as described in claim 1 , further including transmitting at least one of a user identifier or a device identifier to the central facility in association with the ID3 formatted metadata.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media includes pulse code modulation (PCM) audio data.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media device is television.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the media device is coupled to a television to present the media on the television.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the ID3 formatted metadata is transmitted to the central facility via the Internet.

7. A computer readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

capture, with a retriever separate from a media device presenting media to a user, media of the media device, the media including metadata embedded into a video stream of the media using a chroma key;

extract a watermark from the media displayed at the media device, the watermark including the chroma key;

convert the watermark to an ID3 metadata format; and

transmit the ID3 formatted metadata to a central facility.

8. The computer readable storage device as described in claim 7 , further including transmitting at least one of a user identifier or a device identifier to the central facility in association with the ID3 formatted metadata.

9. The computer readable storage device as defined in claim 7 , wherein the media includes pulse code modulation (PCM) audio data.

10. The computer readable storage device as defined in claim 7 , wherein the media device is television.

11. The computer readable storage device as defined in claim 7 , wherein the media device is coupled to a television to present the media on the television.

12. The computer readable storage device as defined in claim 7 , wherein the ID3 formatted metadata is transmitted to the central facility via the Internet.

13. An apparatus to monitor media presented by a media device, the apparatus comprising:

at least one memory;

instructions in the apparatus; and

processor circuitry to execute the instructions to:

capture, with a retriever separate from the media device presenting media to a user, media of the media device, the media including metadata embedded into a video stream of the media using a chroma key;

extract a watermark from the media displayed at the media device, the watermark including the chroma key;

convert the watermark to an ID3 metadata format; and

transmit the ID3 formatted metadata to a central facility.

14. The apparatus as described in claim 13 , wherein the processor circuitry is to transmit at least one of a user identifier or a device identifier to the central facility in association with the ID3 formatted metadata.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the media includes pulse code modulation (PCM) audio data.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the media device is television.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the media device is coupled to a television to present the media on the television.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the processor circuitry is to transmit the ID3 formatted metadata to the central facility via the Internet.

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 Jun 20, 2019
From: BESEHANIC, JAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 049533/0151 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15973080 · May 7, 2018
Continuation 14465510 · Aug 21, 2014
Related Publication 20190289361A1 · Sep 19, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,695,683