IP Library Granted Patent US 11,563,991
Granted Patent B2
US 11,563,991 · App. 16/806,695 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Methods and apparatus to monitor a media presentation

Inventors: Gangadhar Jakkula (Tampa, FL); Narasimha Reddy Goli (Hyderabad, IN)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/2402H04N21/26208H04N21/44209H04N21/44213H04N21/4583H04N21/84H04N21/8547
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,563,991
App. No.
16/806,695
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to monitor a media presentation are disclosed. An example method includes in response to receipt of a media identifier, extracting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a timestamp from the received media identifier. A time of receipt of the media identifier is determined. A difference between the time of receipt of the media identifier and the timestamp from the received media identifier is determined. A time shifted viewing code is calculated based on the difference The time shifted viewing code is transmitted to a media monitor that transmitted the media identifier, the time shifted viewing code to be reported when the media monitor reports monitoring information.

Claims (51)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a metadata retriever to:

gather metadata associated with a media presentation on a media device;

gather a media identifier corresponding to the media presentation;

a time shifted viewing code retriever to cause transmission of a request for a time shifted viewing code from a server of a central facility, the request including the media identifier, the time shifted viewing code determined based on a time of receipt of the request for the time shifted viewing code and a timestamp of the media presentation;

a metadata processor to construct a segment code, the segment code including: (i) a segment pattern having indicia corresponding to first periods of media presented on the media device and second periods of the media not presented on the media device and (ii) a segment number determined by dividing a difference between a first time corresponding to the media presentation on the media device and a second time corresponding to a beginning of a media presentation day; and

a network communicator to transmit a monitoring message to a database proprietor, the monitoring message including the time shifted viewing code, the segment code, the metadata, and the media identifier, the monitoring message enabling the database proprietor to provide demographic information associated with a user of the media device to the central facility, the database proprietor separate from the central facility, the database proprietor to maintain user records including the demographic information, at least one of the metadata retriever, the time shifted viewing code retriever, the metadata processor, or the network communicator to include circuitry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metadata includes at least one of a platform identifier, a device type information, an operating system (OS) version information, a placement identifier, or a country code.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the metadata retriever is to:

store the metadata and the media identifier in a buffer;

analyze the buffer to determine whether a media segment is complete;

after determining the media segment is complete:

construct the monitoring message, the monitoring message including information associated with the media segment; and

clear the buffer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the metadata processor is to determine whether the media segment is complete based on a presence of a quantity of media identifiers corresponding to a segment length, the quantity of media identifiers including the media identifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further including a configuration retriever to retrieve configuration parameters from the central facility, the configuration parameters including the segment length.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the media identifier includes the timestamp and a station identifier.

7. An apparatus comprising:

means for gathering to:

gather metadata associated with a media presentation on a media device;

gather a media identifier corresponding to the media presentation;

means for causing transmission of a request for a time shifted viewing code from a server of a central facility, the request including the media identifier, the time shifted viewing code determined based on a time of receipt of the request for the time shifted viewing code and a timestamp of the media presentation;

means for constructing a segment code, the segment code including: a segment pattern having indicia corresponding to first periods of media presented on the media device and second periods of the media not presented on the media device and (ii) a segment number determined by dividing a difference between a first time corresponding to the media presentation on the media device and a second time corresponding to a beginning of a media presentation day; and

means for transmitting a monitoring message to a database proprietor, the monitoring message including the time shifted viewing code, the segment code, the metadata and the media identifier, the monitoring message enabling the database proprietor to provide demographic information associated with a user of the media device to the central facility, the database proprietor separate from the central facility, the database proprietor to maintain user records including the demographic information.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the metadata includes at least one of a platform identifier, a device type information, an operating system (OS) version information, a placement identifier, or a country code.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the means for gathering is to store the metadata and the media identifier in a buffer, and wherein the means for constructing is to:

analyze the buffer to determine whether a media segment is complete;

after determining the media segment is complete:

construct the monitoring message, the monitoring message including information associated with the media segment; and

clear the buffer.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the means for constructing is to determine whether the media segment is complete based on a presence of a quantity of media identifiers corresponding to a segment length, the quantity of media identifiers including the media identifier.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further including means for accessing configuration parameters from the central facility, the configuration parameters including the segment length.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the media identifier includes the timestamp and a station identifier.

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

gather metadata associated with a media presentation on a media device;

gather a media identifier corresponding to the media presentation;

cause transmission of a request for a time shifted viewing code from a server of a central facility, the request including the media identifier, the time shifted viewing code determined based on a time of receipt of the request for the time shifted viewing code and a timestamp of the media presentation;

construct a segment code, the segment code including: (i) a segment pattern having indicia corresponding to first periods of media presented on the media device and second periods of the media not presented on the media device and (ii) a segment number determined by dividing a difference between a first time corresponding to the media presentation on the media device and a second time corresponding to a beginning of a media presentation day; and

cause transmission of a monitoring message to a database proprietor, the monitoring message including the time shifted viewing code, the segment code, the metadata and the media identifier, the monitoring message enabling the database proprietor to provide demographic information associated with a user of the media device to the central facility, the database proprietor separate from the central facility, the database proprietor to maintain user records including the demographic information.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the metadata includes at least one of a platform identifier, a device type information, an operating system (OS) version information, a placement identifier, or a country code.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

store the metadata and the media identifier in a buffer;

analyze the buffer to determine whether a media segment is complete;

after determining the media segment is complete:

construct the monitoring message, the monitoring message including information associated with the media segment; and

clear the buffer.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the determination of whether the media segment is complete is based on a presence of a quantity of media identifiers corresponding to a segment length, the quantity of media identifiers including the media identifier.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to retrieve configuration parameters from the central facility, the configuration parameters including the segment length.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the segment pattern includes at least a second indicia and a third indicia, the second indicia representative of a first portion of the segment being at least one of presented or not presented, and the third indicia representative of a second portion of the segment being at least one of presented or not presented.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the segment pattern includes five indicia in a format of a, b, c, d, e, wherein ‘a’ is a first indicia, ‘b’ is a second indicia, ‘c’ is a third indicia, ‘d’ is a fourth indicia, and ‘e’ is a fifth indicia.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a single monitoring message is to be transmitted to the database proprietor, the single monitoring message to include the time shifted viewing code, the segment code, the metadata and the media 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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2020
From: JAKKULA, GANGADHAR; GOLI, NARASIMHA REDDY
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 053541/0233 →
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 →