IP Library Granted Patent US 11,432,042
Granted Patent B2
US 11,432,042 · App. 16/528,156 · Granted Aug 30, 2022

Methods and apparatus to classify all other tuning data

Inventors: Charles C. Conklin (New Port Richey, FL); Michael Lombardi (Oldsmar, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/44222G06F16/73H04N21/422H04N21/44218
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,432,042
App. No.
16/528,156
Granted
Aug 30, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to classify all other tuning (AOT) data are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a media interface to access first channel information corresponding to a first record at a first time. An operating state identifier is to store the channel information corresponding to the first record at the first time in a data store. An AOT identifier is to determine the first record is classified as AOT data. A comparator is to compare the channel information at the first time with second channel information at a second time, wherein the second channel information at the second time corresponds to a previously classified media record. A record updater is to, when the first channel information matches the second channel information, update the first record with a media identification from the matched classification classified media record and store the updated first record in the data store.

Claims (35)

1. An apparatus for classifying all-other-tuning (AOT) data, the apparatus comprising:

a media interface to access first channel information corresponding to a first record at a first time from a media presentation location, the first record including information indicative of an active device outputting low audio volume;

an operating state identifier to store the first channel information corresponding to the first record at the first time in a data store;

an AOT identifier to classify the first record as AOT data when a media identification is not identified in the first record due to the low audio volume;

a comparator to compare the first channel information at the first time with second channel information at a second time, wherein the second channel information at the second time corresponds to a previously classified media record from the media presentation location; and

a record updater to, when the first channel information matches the second channel information, update the first record with the media identification from the previously classified media record and store the updated first record in the data store.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a media identifier to collect live media records from the active device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the media identifier is to classify the media records corresponding to the second time as an identified broadcast network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a media identifier to detect audio code data or compare signatures to classify media records as identified media or AOT data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a duplicator to copy the classified media record at the second time and provide the copy to the record updater.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AOT identifier is to notify the operating state identifier to query the media interface for first channel information before the operating state identifier stores the first channel information in the data store.

7. A method for classifying AOT data, the method comprising:

classifying, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first record from a media presentation location as all-other-tuning (AOT) data with a first time stamp based on an indication that a media data is not identified due to a low audio volume output of an active device;

accessing, by executing an instruction with the processor, first channel information corresponding to the first record;

comparing, by executing an instruction with the processor, the first channel information corresponding to the first record with second channel information corresponding to a second record from the media presentation location to determine if the first channel information matches the second channel information;

in response to the first channel information corresponding to the first record matching the second channel information corresponding to the second record, querying, by executing an instruction with the processor, a data store for identified media data of the second record; and

duplicating, by executing an instruction with the processor, the identified media data of the second record to replace the AOT data of the first record.

8. The method of claim 7 , further including storing the first record in the data store when the AOT data has been replaced by the identified media data.

9. The method of claim 7 , further including classifying the first record as AOT data if the first channel information corresponding to the first record does not match the second channel information corresponding to the second record.

10. The method of claim 7 , further including identifying the second record at a time before the first record.

11. The method of claim 7 , further including determining a state of the active device, wherein the active device is presenting unidentifiable media at the first time stamp.

12. The method of claim 7 , further including collecting live media records from the active device.

13. The method of claim 7 , further including detecting audio codes or comparing signatures to classify a media record as identified media or AOT data.

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

classify a first record from a media presentation location as all-other-tuning (AOT) data with a first time stamp based on an indication that a media data is not identified due to a low audio volume output of an active device;

access channel information corresponding to the first record;

compare the channel information corresponding to the first record with channel information corresponding to a second record from the media presentation location to determine if the channel information from the media presentation location corresponding to the first record matches the channel information from the media presentation location corresponding to the second record;

query, in response to the channel information corresponding to the first record matching the channel information corresponding to the second record, a data store for identified media data of the second record;

duplicate the identified media data of the second record to replace the AOT data of the first record.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to store the first record in the data store when the AOT data has been replaced by the identified media data.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to classify the first record as AOT data if the channel information corresponding to the first record does not match the channel information corresponding to the second record.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to identify the second record at a time before the first record.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine a state of the active device, wherein the active device is presenting unidentifiable media at the first time stamp.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to collect live media records from the active device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to detect audio codes or compare signatures to classify a media record as identified media or AOT data.

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 Mar 13, 2020
From: CONKLIN, CHARLES C.; LOMBARDI, MICHAEL
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 052110/0632 →