IP Library Granted Patent US 11,144,967
Granted Patent B2
US 11,144,967 · App. 16/706,366 · Granted Oct 12, 2021

Methods and apparatus to determine impressions using distributed demographic information

Inventors: Ronan Heffernan (Wesley Chapel, FL); Kevin Geraghty (Dublin, CA); Mark Kalus (New York, NY); Mainak Mazumdar (Forest Hills, NY); Ari Paparo (New York, NY); Steven John Splaine (Tampa, FL)
Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
G06Q30/0272G06F16/951G06F17/30864G06F21/6245G06Q30/0201G06Q30/0241G06Q30/0246H04L43/04H04L43/0876H04L67/1097H04L67/22H04L67/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,144,967
App. No.
16/706,366
Granted
Oct 12, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to determine media impressions using distributed demographic information are disclosed. An example method to monitor media exposure involves receiving a first request from a client device at an intermediary serving a first sub-domain of a first internet domain, the first request to be indicative of access to media at the client device; transmitting, from the intermediary, first data associated with the first request to a data collection server of an audience measurement entity and second data about the first request to an entity of the first internet domain; and in response to determining that the first request does not include a user identifier associated with the first internet domain, sending a first response from the intermediary to the client device, the first response to instruct the client device to send a second request to a second intermediary associated with a second sub-domain of a second internet domain, the second request indicative of the access to the media at the client device.

Claims (31)

1. An apparatus to monitor media exposure, the apparatus comprising:

memory including computer readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the computer readable instructions to:

send a first request to an impression monitor of a first internet domain, the first request indicative of access to media at a client device;

send a second request to a first intermediary serving a sub-domain of a second internet domain in response to receiving a response from the impression monitor, the second request indicative of the access to the media at the client device; and

in response to the first intermediary determining that the second request does not include a user identifier associated with the second internet domain, send a third request to a second intermediary associated with a second sub-domain of a third internet domain, the third request indicative of the access to the media at the client device.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the user identifier is a cookie.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the third request is to cause the second intermediary to transmit third data associated with the third request to a data collection server of an audience measurement entity and fourth data associated with the third request to an entity of the second internet domain.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the user identifier is a first user identifier, and the third data includes a status of a second user identifier provided to the entity of the second internet domain.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the user identifier is a first user identifier, the fourth data includes an identifier corresponding to the media, and a second user identifier associated with the second internet domain.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 , wherein the identifier is a campaign identifier to identify an advertisement in the media.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 , wherein the identifier is encrypted to prevent the entity of the second internet domain from recognizing the identifier.

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

send a first request to an impression monitor of a first internet domain, the first request indicative of access to media at a client device;

send a second request to a first intermediary serving a sub-domain of a second internet domain in response to receiving a response from the impression monitor, the second request indicative of the access to the media at the client device; and

in response to the first intermediary determining that the second request does not include a user identifier associated with the second internet domain, send a third request to a second intermediary associated with a second sub-domain of a third internet domain, the third request indicative of the access to the media at the client device.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the user identifier is a cookie.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 8 , wherein the third request is to cause the second intermediary to transmit third data associated with the third request to a data collection server of an audience measurement entity and fourth data associated with the third request to an entity of the second internet domain.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the user identifier is a first user identifier, and the third data includes a status of a second user identifier provided to the entity of the second internet domain.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the user identifier is a first user identifier, the fourth data includes an identifier corresponding to the media, and a second user identifier associated with the second internet domain.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the identifier is a campaign identifier to identify an advertisement in the media.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 13 , wherein the identifier is encrypted to prevent the entity of the second internet domain from recognizing the identifier.

15. A method to monitor media exposure, the method comprising:

sending a first request to an impression monitor of a first internet domain, the first request indicative of access to media at a client device;

sending a second request to a first intermediary serving a sub-domain of a second internet domain in response to receiving a response from the impression monitor, the second request indicative of the access to the media at the client device; and

in response to the first intermediary determining that the second request does not include a user identifier associated with the second internet domain, send a third request to a second intermediary associated with a second sub-domain of a third internet domain, the third request indicative of the access to the media at the client device.

16. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the user identifier is a cookie.

17. The method as defined in claim 15 , wherein the third request is to cause the second intermediary to transmit third data associated with the third request to a data collection server of an audience measurement entity and fourth data associated with the third request to an entity of the second internet domain.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the user identifier is a first user identifier, and the third data includes a status of a second user identifier provided to the entity of the second internet domain.

19. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the user identifier is a first user identifier, the fourth data includes an identifier corresponding to the media, and a second user identifier associated with the second internet domain.

20. The method as defined in claim 19 , wherein the identifier is encrypted to prevent the entity of the second internet domain from recognizing the identifier.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2021
From: HEFFERNAN, RONAN; GERAGHTY, KEVIN; KALUS, MARK; MAZUMDAR, MAINAK; PAPARO, ARI; SPLAINE, STEVEN JOHN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 055299/0880 →
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 →