IP Library Granted Patent US 10,440,413
Granted Patent B2
US 10,440,413 · App. 15/665,055 · Granted Oct 8, 2019

Methods and apparatus to perform media device asset qualification

Inventors: Daniel Nelson (Tampa, FL); James Petro (Dunedin, FL); Albert T. Borawski (Oldsmar, FL)
Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
H04N21/2407G06F16/2255H04N21/254H04N21/25891H04N21/4394H04N21/44008H04N21/44222H04N21/6543H04N21/812H04N21/4113H04N21/4126
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,440,413
App. No.
15/665,055
Granted
Oct 8, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform media device asset qualification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an asset quality evaluator to identify candidate media device assets obtained from a media device that identify media. The example apparatus further includes an asset grader to grade the candidate media device assets based on calculating a valid hash count corresponding to a number of matches between a first one of the candidate media device assets compared to a second one of the candidate media device assets using a hash table, and identify the first one of the candidate media device assets as a reference media device asset, the first one having a higher grade compared to grades of other candidate media device assets. The example apparatus further includes an asset loader to generate a validation report including the identification of the reference media device asset.

Claims (44)

1. An apparatus comprising:

an asset hasher to generate a hash table using candidate media device assets generated by media devices during respective presentations of media at the media devices, the candidate media device assets including a signature and a media identifier that identifies the media, wherein the media does not have a reference signature in a reference database;

an asset matcher to calculate one or more counts of matches of A) signature and a media identifier of a first one of the candidate media device assets and B) respective signatures and media identifiers of multiple ones of the remaining candidate media device assets using the hash table;

an asset grader to, after the one or more counts of matches are calculated, identify the signature of the first one of the candidate media device assets as the reference signature based on the one or more counts of matches; and

an asset loader to load the reference signature into the reference database after identifying the signature of the first one of the candidate media device assets as the reference signature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an asset quality evaluator to disqualify one or more of the candidate media device assets when a jump in a timestamp is identified.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an asset quality evaluator to disqualify one or more candidate media device assets when a corresponding media identifier indicates an incorrect language.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an asset quality evaluator to disqualify one or more candidate media device assets when the one or more candidate media device assets fail to satisfy a minimum duration threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the asset grader is to grade the candidate media device assets based on a difference between an expected duration of the media and a matched duration of the media, the matched duration corresponding to a number of signatures in the first one of the candidate media device assets that matches a signature in at least one other candidate media device asset.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an asset quality evaluator to identify the candidate media device assets by:

obtaining database candidates including a signature, the database candidates including first database candidates having the media identifier;

storing the first database candidates in a database different from the reference database when the media identified by the media identifier does not have the reference signature in the reference database;

incrementing a counter when each of the first database candidates are stored in the database; and

identifying the first database candidates as the candidate media device assets when the counter satisfies a threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further including a network interface to obtain the database candidates from the media devices via a network.

8. A method comprising:

generating a hash table using candidate media device assets generated by media devices during respective presentations of media at the media devices, the candidate media device assets including a signature and a media identifier that identifies the media, wherein the media does not have a reference signature in a reference database;

calculating one or more counts of matches of A) a signature and a media identifier of a first one of the candidate media device assets and B) respective signatures and media identifiers of multiple ones of the remaining candidate media device assets using the hash table;

identifying, after the one or more counts of matches are calculated, the signature of the first one of the candidate media device assets as the reference signature based on the one or more counts of matches; and

loading the reference signature into the reference database after identifying the signature of the first one of the candidate media device assets as the reference signature.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including disqualifying one or more of the candidate media device assets when a jump in a timestamp is identified.

10. The method of claim 8 , further including disqualifying one or more candidate media device assets when a corresponding media identifier indicates an incorrect language.

11. The method of claim 8 , further including disqualifying one or more candidate media device assets when the one or more candidate media device assets fail to satisfy a minimum duration threshold.

12. The method of claim 8 , further including calculating a difference between an expected duration of the media and a matched duration of the media, the matched duration corresponding to a number of signatures in the first one of the candidate media device assets that matches a signature in at least one other candidate media device asset.

13. The method of claim 8 , further including:

obtaining database candidates including a signature, the database candidates including first database candidates having the media identifier;

storing the first database candidates in a database different from the reference database when the media identified by the media identifier does not have the reference signature in the reference database;

incrementing a counter when each of the first database candidates are stored in the database; and

identifying the first database candidates as the candidate media device assets when the counter satisfies a threshold.

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

generate a hash table using candidate media device assets generated by media devices during respective presentations of media at the media devices, the candidate media device assets including a signature and a media identifier that identifies the media, wherein the media does not have a reference signature in a reference database;

calculate one or more counts of matches of A) a signature and a media identifier of a first one of the candidate media device assets and B) respective signatures and media identifiers of multiple ones of the remaining candidate media device assets using the hash table;

identify the signature of the first one of the candidate media device assets as the reference signature based on the one or more counts of matches; and

load the reference signature into the reference database after identifying the signature of the first one of the candidate media device assets as the reference signature.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to at least disqualify one or more candidate media device assets when a jump in a timestamp is identified.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to at least disqualify one or more candidate media device assets when a corresponding media identifier indicates an incorrect language.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to at least disqualify one or more candidate media device assets when the one or more candidate media device assets fail to satisfy a minimum duration threshold.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to at least calculate a difference between an expected duration of the media and a matched duration of the media, the matched duration corresponding to a number of signatures in the first one of the candidate media device assets that matches a signature in at least one other candidate media device asset.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to at least:

obtain database candidates including a signature, the database candidates including first database candidates having the media identifier;

store the first database candidates in a database different from the reference database when the media identified by the media identifier does not have the reference signature in the reference database;

increment a counter when each of the first database candidates are stored in the database; and

identify the first database candidates as the candidate media device assets when the counter satisfies a threshold.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to obtain the database candidates from the media devices via a network.

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 Feb 1, 2018
From: NELSON, DANIEL; PETRO, JAMES; BORAWSKI, ALBERT T
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 044795/0170 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190037257A1 · Jan 31, 2019
Cited By (3)
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