IP Library Granted Patent US 11,277,461
Granted Patent B2
US 11,277,461 · App. 16/719,944 · Granted Mar 15, 2022

Methods and apparatus to monitor streaming media

Inventors: Jose Mortensen (Tampa, FL); Alan Bosworth (Odessa, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04L65/80H04L65/608H04N21/2662
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,277,461
App. No.
16/719,944
Granted
Mar 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to monitor streaming media. An example apparatus includes a media calibrator to calibrate video data to a calibration time-base based on audio data, the video data and audio data associated with a media stream and a signature generator to generate a signature representative of the media stream based on the calibrated video data.

Claims (33)

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

memory;

instructions in the apparatus; and

processor circuitry to execute the instructions to:

determine a buffered time interval based on audio data, the buffered time interval corresponding to a first audio request and a second audio request;

generate a calibration time-base in response to the buffered time interval being less than an expected time interval, the calibration time-base to include a calibrated time interval corresponding to the first audio request and the second audio request, the calibrated time interval to have a greater duration than the buffered time interval, the first audio request and the second audio request of the calibration time-base separated by the expected time interval; and

calibrate video data to the calibration time-base based on the audio data, the video data and the audio data associated with a media stream; and

generate a signature representative of the media stream based on the calibrated video data, the signature corresponding to a bitrate of the calibrated video data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to determine a reference signature that matches the signature representative of the media stream.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to credit presentation of the media stream to media associated with the reference signature when the signature matches at least one of a set of signatures stored in a signature database.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to calibrate the video data in response to buffering.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to identify at least one of a source internet protocol (IP), a source port, a destination IP, a destination port, a start time of the media stream, an end time of the media stream, and a bitrate of the media stream.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor circuitry is to execute the instructions to identify one or more video requests associated with the media stream based on at least one of the source IP, source port, destination IP, destination port, and bitrate of the media stream.

7. A method to monitor streaming media, the method comprising:

determining a buffered time interval based on audio data, the buffered time interval corresponding to a first audio request and a second audio request;

generating a calibration time-base in response to the buffered time interval being less than an expected time interval, the calibration time-base to include a calibrated time interval corresponding to the first audio request and the second audio request, the calibrated time interval to have a greater duration than the buffered time interval, the first audio request and the second audio request of the calibration time-base separated by the expected time interval;

calibrating video data to the calibration time-base based on the audio data, the video data and the audio data associated with a media stream; and

generating a signature representative of the media stream based on the calibrated video data, the signature corresponding to a bitrate of the calibrated video data.

8. The method of claim 7 , further including determining a reference signature that matches the signature representative of the media stream.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including crediting presentation of the media stream to media associated with the reference signature when the signature matches at least one of a set of signatures stored in a signature database.

10. The method of claim 7 , further including calibrating the video data in response to buffering.

11. The method of claim 7 , further including identifying identify at least one of a source internet protocol (IP), a source port, a destination IP, a destination port, a start time of the media stream, an end time of the media stream, and a bitrate of the media stream.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including identifying one or more video requests associated with the media stream based on at least one of the source IP, source port, destination IP, destination port, and bitrate of the media stream.

13. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to at least:

determine a buffered time interval based on audio data, the buffered time interval corresponding to a first audio request and a second audio request;

generate a calibration time-base in response to the buffered time interval being less than an expected time interval, the calibration time-base to include a calibrated time interval corresponding to the first audio request and the second audio request, the calibrated time interval to have a greater duration than the buffered time interval, the first audio request and the second audio request of the calibration time-base separated by the expected time interval;

calibrate video data to the calibration time-base based on the audio data, the video data and the audio data associated with a media stream; and

generate a signature representative of the media stream based on the calibrated video data, the signature corresponding to a bitrate of the calibrated video data.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to determine a reference signature that matches the signature representative of the media stream.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to credit presentation of the media stream to media associated with the reference signature when the signature matches at least one of a set of signatures stored in a signature database.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to calibrate the video data in response to buffering.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to identify at least one of a source internet protocol (IP), a source port, a destination IP, a destination port, a start time of the media stream, a end time of the media stream, and a bitrate of the media stream.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to identify one or more video requests associated with the media stream based on at least one of the source IP, source port, destination IP, destination port, and bitrate of the media stream.

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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2021
From: MORTENSEN, JOSE; BOSWORTH, ALAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 055611/0082 →
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 →