IP Library Granted Patent US 10,945,043
Granted Patent B2
US 10,945,043 · App. 16/544,875 · Granted Mar 9, 2021

Methods and apparatus to create a panel of media device users

Inventors: Albert T. Borawski (Oldsmar, FL); Stephen S. Bell (Schaumburg, IL); Oana Dan (New York, NY)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/4755H04H60/31H04H60/45H04L65/4076H04L67/025H04L67/22H04L67/306H04N21/41407H04N21/44222H04N21/4516H04N21/4667H04N21/6125H04N21/812H04W4/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,945,043
App. No.
16/544,875
Granted
Mar 9, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to create a panel of media device users are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an interface to receive a unique identifier and an application identifier from a media device executing an instrumented application. A panel creator is to create a master frame corresponding to media devices that have executed the instrumented application. A registration data controller is to: (i) determine a skip rate, (ii) assign the media device from the master frame into a first test cell based on a random value and the skip rate, (iii) select a first recruitment interface associated with the first test cell, and (iv) instruct the instrumented application to, in response to the instrumented application being executed for a first time after a threshold period of time since an initial execution of the instrumented application has elapsed, display the first recruitment interface.

Claims (28)

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory including machine readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to implement:

an interface to receive a unique identifier and an application identifier from a media device executing an instrumented application, the unique identifier and the application identifier received without collecting any personally identifiable information;

a panel creator to create a master frame corresponding to media devices that have executed the instrumented application; and

a registration data controller to: (i) determine a skip rate representing a rate at which media devices in the master frame are to be selected to join a panel, (ii) assign the media device from the master frame into a first test cell based on a random value and the skip rate, (iii) select a first recruitment interface associated with the first test cell, the first recruitment interface different from a second recruitment interface associated with a second test cell, and (iv) instruct the instrumented application to, in response to the instrumented application being executed for a first time after a threshold period of time since an initial execution of the instrumented application has elapsed, display the first recruitment interface to a user associated with the selected media device requesting the user to join the panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to receive monitoring data from the instrumented application after the user has agreed to become a panelist.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to generate the unique identifier to be used by the media device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to transmit the unique identifier to the media device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the application identifier is assigned to the instrumented application by at least one of the media provider or an application developer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the random value is less than or equal to the skip rate and greater than or equal to zero.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the skip rate is based on a count of media devices in the master frame divided by a desired number of media devices for the panel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to sort the master frame prior to selecting the media device from the master frame.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to sort the master frame based on a number of applications associated with respective media devices in the master frame.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to sort the master frame based on application identifiers respectively associated with respective media devices in the master frame.

11. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a unique identifier and an application identifier from a media device executing an instrumented application, the unique identifier and the application identifier received without collecting any personally identifiable information;

means for creating a master frame corresponding to media devices that have executed the instrumented application; and

means for controlling to: (i) determine a skip rate representing a rate at which media devices in the master frame are to be selected to join a panel, (ii) assign the media device from the master frame into a first test cell based on a random value and the skip rate, (iii) select a first recruitment interface associated with the first test cell, the first recruitment interface different from a second recruitment interface associated with a second test cell, and (iv) instruct the instrumented application to, in response to the instrumented application being executed for a first time after a threshold period of time since an initial execution of the instrumented application has elapsed, display the first recruitment interface to a user associated with the selected media device requesting the user to join the panel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further including a means for accessing monitoring data from the instrumented application after the user has agreed to become a panelist.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , further including means for generating the unique identifier to be used by the media device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the means for receiving is to transmit the unique identifier to the media device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the application identifier is assigned to the instrumented application by at least one of a media provider or an application developer.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the random value is less than or equal to the skip rate and greater than or equal to zero.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the skip rate is based on a count of media devices in the master frame divided by a desired number of media devices for the panel.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the means for controlling is to sort the master frame prior to selecting the media device from the master frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the means for controlling is to sort the master frame based on a number of applications associated with respective media devices in the master frame.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the means for controlling is to sort the master frame based on application identifiers respectively associated with respective media devices in the master frame.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: GRACENOTE, INC.; A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, 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 19, 2019
From: BORAWSKI, ALBERT T; BELL, STEPHEN S; DAN, OANA
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 050437/0264 →