IP Library Granted Patent US 11,277,662
Granted Patent B2
US 11,277,662 · App. 16/788,976 · Granted Mar 15, 2022

Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media

Inventor: Jan Besehanic (Tampa, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/44213H04N21/258H04N21/435H04N21/437H04N21/44222H04N21/6582H04N21/6587
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,277,662
App. No.
16/788,976
Granted
Mar 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a processor, and memory including machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: extract a series of tags associated with media playing on a presentation device, different ones of the tags in the series of the tags embedded in the media at different temporal positions within a duration of the media; identify a first tag from the series of tags to report to a central facility, the first tag identified based on a temporal proximity of the first tag to an event associated with the media playing on the presentation device; and transmit the identified first tag to the central facility, other tags in the series of tags not being transmitted to the central facility.

Claims (108)

1. An apparatus to notify a central facility of events on a presentation device, the apparatus comprising:

a metadata extractor to extract (i) a first set of metadata tags from a first media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the first set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the first media sequence, and (ii) a second set of metadata tags from a second media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the second set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the second media sequence;

an event tag generator to:

determine, based on the extraction of the first set and the second set of metadata tags, that the second media sequence is presented in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device; and

generate a media event tag including information corresponding to presentation of the second media sequence in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

a metadata selector to select a subset of the first set and the second set of metadata tags; and

a transmitter to transmit the media event tag and the subset to the central facility, at least one of the metadata extractor, the event tag generator, the metadata selector, or the transmitter includes hardware.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the presentation device includes the apparatus, and wherein the presentation device is a smart television.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metadata extractor is to detect a timestamp corresponding to the first media sequence.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the timestamp is to identify a duration of exposure of the first media sequence by a user of the presentation device.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a media tracker to detect a first trigger associated with the first media sequence presented on the presentation device.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a player state detector to detect a state of the presentation device.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the player state detector is to detect the state as at least one of play, pause, stop, replay, rewind, forward or skip.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a player state detector to detect a latency between (a) a broadcast of the first media sequence or the second media sequence and (b) presentation of the first media sequence or the second media sequence on the presentation device.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metadata extractor is to extract at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from a service provider stream.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metadata extractor is to extract at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from at least one of a code or an ID3 tag.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metadata extractor is to extract at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from an audio watermark.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metadata extractor is to extract at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from a video watermark.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metadata extractor includes a watermark extractor to:

extract watermark information from the first media sequence and the second media sequence; and

derive, from the extracted watermark information, the first set and the second set of metadata tags.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , further including a player state detector to:

detect a player state of the presentation device during presentation of the second media sequence; and

in response to detecting a change in the player state of the presentation device during presentation of the second media sequence, trigger a second media event tag to be generated, the second media event tag corresponding to the change in the player state of the presentation device.

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

extract (i) a first set of metadata tags from a first media sequence presented on a presentation device, respective ones of the first set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the first media sequence, and (ii) a second set of metadata tags from a second media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the second set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the second media sequence;

determine, based on the extraction of the first set and the second set of metadata tags, that the second media sequence is presented in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

generate a media event tag including information corresponding to presentation of second media sequence in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

select a subset of the first set and the second set of metadata tags; and

cause transmission of the media event tag and the subset to a central facility.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to detect a timestamp corresponding to the first media sequence.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to identify, with the timestamp, a duration of exposure of the first media sequence by a user of the presentation device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to detect a first trigger associated with the first media sequence presented on the presentation device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to detect a state of the presentation device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to detect the state as at least one of play, pause, stop, replay, rewind, forward or skip.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to detect a latency between (a) a broadcast of the first media sequence or the second media sequence and (b) presentation of the first media sequence or the second media sequence on the presentation device.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to extract at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from a service provider stream.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to extract at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from at least one of a code or an ID3 tag.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to extract at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from an audio watermark.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to extract at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from a video watermark.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

extract watermark information from the first media sequence and the second media sequence; and

derive, from the extracted watermark information, the first set and the second set of metadata tags.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

detect a player state of the presentation device during presentation of the second media sequence; and

in response to detecting a change in the player state of the presentation device during presentation of the second media sequence, trigger a second media event tag to be generated, the second media event tag corresponding to the change in the player state of the presentation device.

28. A computer-implemented method to notify a central facility of events on a presentation device, the method comprising:

extracting, by executing an instruction with at least one processor, (i) a first set of metadata tags from a first media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the first set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the first media sequence, and (ii) a second set of metadata tags from a second media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the second set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the second media sequence;

determining, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, based on the extraction of the first set and the second set of metadata tags, that the second media sequence is presented in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

generating, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, a media event tag including information corresponding to presentation of the second media sequence in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

selecting, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, a subset of the first set and the second set of metadata tags; and

causing, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, transmission of the media event tag and the subset to a central facility.

29. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , wherein the presentation device is a smart television.

30. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including detecting a timestamp corresponding to the first media sequence.

31. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 30 , further including identifying, with the timestamp, a duration of exposure of the first media sequence by a user of the presentation device.

32. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including detecting a first trigger associated with the first media sequence presented on the presentation device.

33. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including detecting a state of the presentation device.

34. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 33 , wherein the state of the presentation device includes at least one of play, pause, stop, replay, rewind, forward or skip.

35. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including detecting a latency between (a) a broadcast of the first media sequence or the second media sequence and (b) presentation of the first media sequence or the second media sequence on the presentation device.

36. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including extracting at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from a service provider stream.

37. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including extracting at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from at least one of a code or an ID3 tag.

38. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including extracting at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from an audio watermark.

39. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including extracting at least one of the first set of the metadata tags or the second set of the metadata tags from a video watermark.

40. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including:

extracting watermark information from the first media sequence and the second media sequence; and

deriving, from the extracted watermark information, the first set and the second set of metadata tags.

41. The computer-implemented method as defined in claim 28 , further including:

detecting a player state of the presentation device during presentation of the second media sequence; and

in response to detecting a change in the player state of the presentation device during presentation of the second media sequence, triggering a second media event tag to be generated, the second media event tag corresponding to the change in the player state of the presentation device.

42. An apparatus to notify a central facility of events on a presentation device, the apparatus comprising:

memory;

instructions included in the apparatus; and

processor circuitry to execute the instructions to:

extract (i) a first set of metadata tags from a first media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the first set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the first media sequence, and (ii) a second set of metadata tags from a second media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the second set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the second media sequence;

determine, based on the extraction of the first set and the second set of metadata tags, that the second media sequence is presented in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

generate a media event tag including information corresponding to presentation of the second media sequence in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

select a subset of the first set and the second set of metadata tags; and

transmit the media event tag and the subset to the central facility.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 , wherein the processor circuitry is to:

extract watermark information from the first media sequence and the second media sequence; and

derive, from the extracted watermark information, the first set and the second set of metadata tags.

44. An apparatus to notify a central facility of events on a presentation device, the apparatus comprising:

a metadata extractor to extract (i) a first set of metadata tags from a first media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the first set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the first media sequence, and (ii) a second set of metadata tags from a second media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the second set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the second media sequence;

an event tag generator to:

determine, based on the extraction of the first set and the second set of metadata tags, that the second media sequence is presented in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device; and

when a trigger includes a change in a uniform resource locator corresponding to the second media sequence, generate a media event tag including information corresponding to presentation of the second media sequence in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device; and

a transmitter to transmit the media event tag to the central facility, at least one of the metadata extractor, the event tag generator, or the transmitter includes hardware.

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

extract (i) a first set of metadata tags from a first media sequence presented on a presentation device, respective ones of the first set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the first media sequence, and (ii) a second set of metadata tags from a second media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the second set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the second media sequence;

determine, based on the extraction of the first set and the second set of metadata tags, that the second media sequence is presented in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

when a trigger includes a change in a uniform resource locator corresponding to the second media sequence, generate a media event tag including information corresponding to presentation of second media sequence in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device; and

cause transmission of the media event tag to a central facility.

46. A computer-implemented method to notify a central facility of events on a presentation device, the method comprising:

extracting, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, (i) a first set of metadata tags from a first media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the first set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the first media sequence, and (ii) a second set of metadata tags from a second media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the second set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the second media sequence;

determining, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, based on the extraction of the first set and the second set of metadata tags, that the second media sequence is presented in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

when a trigger includes a change in a uniform resource locator corresponding to the second media sequence, generating, by executing an instruction with the at least one processor, a media event tag including information corresponding to presentation of the second media sequence in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device; and

causing transmission of the media event tag to a central facility.

47. An apparatus to notify a central facility of events on a presentation device, the apparatus comprising:

memory;

instructions included in the apparatus; and

processor circuitry to execute the instructions to:

extract (i) a first set of metadata tags from a first media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the first set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the first media sequence, and (ii) a second set of metadata tags from a second media sequence presented on the presentation device, respective ones of the second set of metadata tags including information corresponding to the second media sequence;

determine, based on the extraction of the first set and the second set of metadata tags, that the second media sequence is presented in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device;

when a trigger includes a change in a uniform resource locator corresponding to the second media sequence, generate a media event tag including information corresponding to presentation of the second media sequence in place of the first media sequence on the presentation device; and

transmit the media event tag to the central facility.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 , wherein the processor circuitry is to:

detect a player state of the presentation device during presentation of the second media sequence; and

in response to detecting a change in the player state of the presentation device during presentation of the second media sequence, trigger a second media event tag to be generated, the second media event tag corresponding to the change in the player state of the presentation device.

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 12, 2020
From: BESEHANIC, JAN
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 052097/0567 →