IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,250,367
Granted Patent B2
US 12,250,367 · App. 18/895,919 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Methods and apparatus for automatic TV on/off detection

Inventors: Michael Jordan Liss (Maitland, FL); Richard Lee Horner (St. Petersburg, FL); Charles Clinton Conklin (New Port Richey, FL); James Joseph Vitt (Palm Harbor, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N17/004G01R35/005H04H60/32H04N5/64G09G2330/021G09G2370/04H04N21/44213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,250,367
App. No.
18/895,919
Granted
Mar 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to determine a power state of a device. An example method includes determining respective counts for a plurality of measurements during a calibration period, the measurements indicative of an amount of power drawn by the device, determining a first threshold and a second threshold based on at least one of the counts, the first threshold determined using most frequently logged measurement values, the most frequently logged measurement values based on counts performed after expiration of the calibration period, comparing a measurement to the first threshold and to the second threshold, and outputting a positive indication when the measurement is within an acceptable difference range, the acceptable difference range based on the amount of power drawn by the device.

Claims (37)

1. A method for calibrating a sensor to be configured to detect power states of a smart television, wherein the sensor is connected between the smart television and a power source, the method comprising:

monitoring, from the sensor, first current data of the smart television over a first time period during which the smart television is in a powered-off state;

monitoring, from the sensor, second current data of the smart television over a second time period during which the smart television is in a powered-on state and in a first input mode;

monitoring, from the sensor, third current data of the smart television over a third time period during which the smart television is in the powered-on state and in a second input mode, wherein power drawn by the smart television in the powered-on state and the second input mode is different from power drawn by the smart television in the powered-on state and the first input mode; and

calibrating the sensor based on the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the third time period are contiguous.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time period occurs after the first time period.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second input mode comprises internet streaming of media.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by a meter in communication with the sensor, outputs of the sensor including the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period, wherein the calibrating occurs when the meter is installed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calibrating the sensor includes determining a threshold based on at least one of the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the first current data, the second current data, and the third current data comprises receiving the first current data, the second current data, and the third current data via a short-range wireless connection with the sensor.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising:

monitoring, from a sensor, first current data of a smart television over a first time period during which the smart television is in a powered-off state;

monitoring, from the sensor, second current data of the smart television over a second time period during which the smart television is in a powered-on state and in a first input mode;

monitoring, from the sensor, third current data of the smart television over a third time period during which the smart television is in the powered-on state and in a second input mode, wherein power drawn by the smart television in the powered-on state and the second input mode is different from power drawn by the smart television in the powered-on state and the first input mode; and

calibrating the sensor based on the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the third time period are contiguous.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the second time period occurs after the first time period.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the second input mode comprises internet streaming of media.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, by a meter in communication with the sensor, outputs of the sensor including the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period, wherein the calibrating occurs when the meter is installed.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the calibrating the sensor includes determining a threshold based on at least one of the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein monitoring the first current data, the second current data, and the third current data comprises receiving the first current data, the second current data, and the third current data via a short-range wireless connection with the sensor.

15. A computing system for calibrating a sensor to be configured to detect power states of a smart television, wherein the sensor is connected between the smart television and a power source, the computing system comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause performance of a set of operations comprising:

monitoring, from the sensor, first current data of the smart television over a first time period during which the smart television is in a powered-off state;

monitoring, from the sensor, second current data of the smart television over a second time period during which the smart television is in a powered-on state and in a first input mode;

monitoring, from the sensor, third current data of the smart television over a third time period during which the smart television is in the powered-on state and in a second input mode, wherein power drawn by the smart television in the powered-on state and the second input mode is different from power drawn by the smart television in the powered-on state and the first input mode; and

calibrating the sensor based on the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period.

16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the third time period are contiguous.

17. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the second time period occurs after the first time period, and wherein the second input mode comprises internet streaming of media.

18. The computing system of claim 15 , further comprising:

receiving, by a meter in communication with the sensor, outputs of the sensor including the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period, wherein the calibrating occurs when the meter is installed.

19. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the calibrating the sensor includes determining a threshold based on at least one of the first current data of the smart television over the first time period, the second current data of the smart television over the second time period, and the third current data of the smart television over the third time period.

20. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein monitoring the first current data, the second current data, and the third current data comprises receiving the first current data, the second current data, and the third current data via a short-range wireless connection with the sensor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2024
From: LISS, MICHAEL JORDAN; HORNER, RICHARD LEE; CONKLIN, CHARLES CLINTON; VITT, JAMES JOSEPH
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 068693/0351 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 18362110 · Jul 31, 2023
Continuation 17872799 · Jul 25, 2022
Continuation 17001621 · Aug 24, 2020
Continuation 16272804 · Feb 11, 2019
Continuation 15633394 · Jun 26, 2017
Continuation 13473320 · May 16, 2012
Provisional Application 61600894 · Feb 20, 2012
Related Publication 20250016301A1 · Jan 9, 2025
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