IP Library Granted Patent US 9,942,607
Granted Patent B2
US 9,942,607 · App. 15/363,919 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Methods, apparatus, and systems to collect audience measurement data

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,942,607
App. No.
15/363,919
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems to collect audience measurement data are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes collecting first media data and audience identification data via a metering device. Audience member behavior data is developed based on the first media data and the audience identification data. Second media data is accessed after the metering device has been removed. The second media data is collected by a service provider associated with the second media data. The removal of the metering device occurring after the audience member behavior data has been developed. Audience members associated with the second media data are identified based on the audience member behavior data.

Claims (35)

1. A system to collect audience measurement data, the system comprising:

a metering device to collect audience identification data and first media identification data during a first time period, the metering device to be deactivated during a second time period after the first time period; and a behavior processor to:

develop audience member behavior data based on the first media identification data and the audience identification data, the metering device to be deactivated after the audience member behavior data has been developed;

access second media identification data during the second time period, the second media data collected via a service provider; and

identify an audience member associated with the second media identification data based on the audience member behavior data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metering device does not collect the audience identification data during the second time period and does not prompt audience members to self-identify during the second time period.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metering device further includes a communication interface to collect Internet usage data without collecting the audience identification data.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the behavior processor is to identify audience members associated with the Internet usage data based on the audience member behavior data.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metering device is to be deactivated in response to the audience member behavior data having been developed.

6. A method of collecting audience measurement data, the method comprising:

collecting first media data and audience identification data via a metering device;

developing, by executing an instruction with a first processor, audience member behavior data based on the first media data and the audience identification data;

accessing second media data after the metering device has been deactivated, the second media data collected by a service provider associated with the second media data, the deactivation of the metering device occurring after the audience member behavior data has been developed; and

identifying, by executing an instruction with at least one of the first processor or a second processor, an audience member associated with the second media data based on the audience member behavior data.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first media data is collected in association with a first media presentation of a first media system, and the second media data is collected in association with a second media presentation of a second media system different from the first media system.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first media system is a television, and the second media system is at least one of a computer, a cell phone, a smartphone, a laptop, or a tablet.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first media presentation is television media and the second media presentation is Internet media.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the collecting of the second media data occurs without prompting the audience member to self-identify.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the developing of the audience member behavior data occurs over a first time period that is more than one year.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the audience member behavior data includes at least one of times of day, days of week, or media accessed the audience member.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the identifying of the audience member associated with the second media data further includes obtaining demographic data for the audience member and associating the demographic data with the second media data to generate audience composition data.

14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the collecting of the second media data extends a panelist term for a monitored household by eliminating button pushing.

15. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second media data is collected via a set top box provided by the service provider.

16. The method of claim 6 , wherein the metering device is deactivated in response to the audience member behavior data having been developed.

17. A tangible computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

collect first media data and audience identification data via a metering device;

develop audience member behavior data based on the first media data and the audience identification data;

access second media data after the metering device has been deactivated, the second media data collected by a service provider associated with the second media data, the deactivation of the metering device occurring after the audience member behavior data has been developed; and

identify an audience member associated with the second media data based on the audience member behavior data.

18. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first media data is collected in association with a first media presentation of a first media system, and the second media data is collected in association with a second media presentation of a second media system different from the first media system.

19. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the first media system is a television, and the second media system is at least one of a computer, a cell phone, a smartphone, a laptop, or a tablet.

20. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the first media presentation is television media and the second media presentation is Internet media.

21. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to collect the second media data without prompting the audience member to self-identify.

22. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the second media data is collected via a set top box provided by the service provider.

23. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the metering device is deactivated in response to the audience member behavior data having been developed.

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 10, 2017
From: FUHRER, BRIAN SHANE
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 041684/0295 →