IP Library Granted Patent US 11,496,433
Granted Patent B2
US 11,496,433 · App. 16/450,440 · Granted Nov 8, 2022

Methods and apparatus to estimate demographics of users employing social media

Inventors: Michael Richard Sheppard (Brooklyn, NY); Matthew B. Reid (Alameda, CA); Alejandro Terrazas (Santa Cruz, CA); Peter Otto Robert Lipa (Tucson, AZ); Brian George Schiller (St. Louis, MO)
Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
H04L51/52G06Q30/00G06Q30/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,496,433
App. No.
16/450,440
Granted
Nov 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate demographics of users employing social media. An example method disclosed herein includes (1) identifying a social media message regarding an asset, the social media message associated with a user identifier associated with the user, (2) determining demographics associated with a group of people exposed to the asset, (3) associating the user identifier with the asset, and (4) repeating (1) to (3). The example method also includes (5) combining demographics associated with two or more different groups of people with which the user identifier is associated to estimate a demographic profile for the user.

Claims (38)

1. A method to estimate demographics of a user of social media, the method comprising:

identifying, by executing an instruction with a processor, first demographics of a first subset of a panel that is associated with a first media asset and second demographics of a second subset of the panel that is associated with a second media asset;

transmitting, by executing an instruction with the processor, an electronic query to a message hosting server via a computer network, the electronic query including a keyword list including a first asset identifier corresponding to the first media asset and a second asset identifier corresponding to the second media asset to obtain a plurality of social media messages that are transmitted over a computer network;

detecting, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first social media message of the plurality of social media messages that mentions the first media asset, the first social media message originated by or received by a user and a second social media message of the plurality of social media messages that mentions the second media asset, the second social media message originated by or received by the user;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, the first social media message satisfies a first media asset rule, the first media asset rule corresponding to a first time block associated with the first media asset;

in response to the determining, generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, a composite demographic profile for the user based on the first demographics and the second demographics; and

storing an association of the composite demographic profile with the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first user identifier associated with the first social media message is tagged with the first demographics and a second user identifier associated with the second social media message is tagged with the second demographics.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first demographics include a first set of demographic categories, each demographic category including a likelihood of representing the first demographics and the second demographics include a second set of demographic categories, each demographic category including a likelihood of representing the second demographics.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the composite demographic profile is generated based on a statistical analysis of the likelihoods for each demographic category from the first demographics and the second demographics.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein storing an association of the composite demographic profile includes storing a record of the first user identifier tagged with the first demographics and a record of the second user identifier tagged with the second demographics.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first media asset and the second media asset are associated with at least one keyword.

7. The method of claim 1 , further including determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, the second social media message satisfies a second media asset rule, the second media asset rule corresponding to a second time block associated with the second media asset.

8. A system to estimate demographics of a user of social media, the system comprising:

an identifier to identify, by executing an instruction with a processor, first demographics of a first subset of a panel that is associated with a first media asset and second demographics of a second subset of the panel that is associated with a second media asset;

a transmitter to transmit, by executing an instruction with the processor, an electronic query to a message hosting server via a computer network, the electronic query including a keyword list including a first asset identifier corresponding to the first media asset and a second asset identifier corresponding to the second media asset to obtain a plurality of social media messages that are transmitted over a computer network;

a detector to detect, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first social media message of the plurality of social media messages that mentions the first media asset, the first social media message originated by or received by a user and a second social media message of the plurality of social media messages that mentions the second media asset, the second social media message originated by or received by the user;

the identifier to determine the first social media message satisfies a first media asset rule, the first media asset rule corresponding to a first time block associated with the first media asset;

a generator to generate, in response to the determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a composite demographic profile for the user based on the first demographics and the second demographics; and

an association storer to, by executing an instruction with the processor, store an association of the composite demographic profile with the user.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein a first user identifier associated with the first social media message is tagged with the first demographics and a second user identifier associated with the second social media message is tagged with the second demographics.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first demographics include a first set of demographic categories, each demographic category including a likelihood of representing the first demographics and the second demographics include a second set of demographic categories, each demographic category including a likelihood of representing the second demographics.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the composite demographic profile is generated based on a statistical analysis of the likelihoods for each demographic category from the first demographics and the second demographics.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein storing an association of the composite demographic profile includes storing a record of the first user identifier tagged with the first demographics and a record of the second user identifier tagged with the second demographics.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first media asset and the second media asset are associated with at least one keyword.

14. The system of claim 8 , further including the identifier to determine the second social media message satisfies a second media asset rule, the second media asset rule corresponding to a second time block associated with the second media asset.

15. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

identify, by executing an instruction with a processor, first demographics of a first subset of a panel that is associated with a first media asset and second demographics of a second subset of the panel that is associated with a second media asset;

transmit, by executing an instruction with the processor, an electronic query to a message hosting server via a computer network, the electronic query including a keyword list including a first asset identifier corresponding to the first media asset and a second asset identifier corresponding to the second media asset to obtain a plurality of social media messages that are transmitted over a computer network;

detect, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first social media message of the plurality of social media messages that mentions the first media asset, the first social media message originated by or received by a user and a second social media message of the plurality of social media messages that mentions the second media asset, the second social media message originated by or received by the user;

determine the first social media message satisfies a first media asset rule, the first media asset rule corresponding to a first time block associated with the first media asset;

in response to the determining, generate a composite demographic profile for the user based on the first demographics and the second demographics; and

store an association of the composite demographic profile with the user.

16. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein a first user identifier associated with the first social media message is tagged with the first demographics and a second user identifier associated with the second social media message is tagged with the second demographics.

17. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the first demographics include a first set of demographic categories, each demographic category including a likelihood of representing the first demographics and the second demographics include a second set of demographic categories, each demographic category including a likelihood of representing the second demographics.

18. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the composite demographic profile is generated based on a statistical analysis of the likelihoods for each demographic category from the first demographics and the second demographics.

19. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein storing an association of the composite demographic profile includes storing a record of the first user identifier tagged with the first demographics and a record of the second user identifier tagged with the second demographics.

20. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first media asset and the second media asset are associated with at least one keyword.

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 6, 2019
From: SHEPPARD, MICHAEL RICHARD; REID, MATTHEW B.; SCHILLER, BRIAN GEORGE; LIPA, PETER OTTO ROBERT; TERRAZAS, ALEX
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 050289/0245 →