Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media devices
First Claim
1. A network communications monitor to identify a media device, the network communications monitor comprising:
- a network communicator to connect to a home network associated with a panelist home, and monitor the home network for a network communication sent by a requesting device separate from the network communications monitor, the network communication having a destination other than the network communications monitor;
a communications processor to;
store, by executing an instruction with a processor, a table of device identifiers and respective media access control addresses corresponding to registered devices on the home network, the device identifiers provided by a panelist associated with the home network during a registration process;
in response to the network communicator detecting the network communication transmitted on the home network, attempt to identify a device identifier of the requesting device from the table of device identifiers and respective media access control addresses based on a media access control address of the requesting device; and
in response to a failure to identify the device identifier, prompt the panelist to provide a device identifier for the unidentified device; and
a communications data storer to;
store data identifying the network communication in association with at least one of the device identifier or the media access control address in a network communications data store when the device identifier is identified, andstore the data identifying the network communication in association with the media access control address when the device identifier is not identified.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media devices are disclosed. An example method includes establishing a table of device identifiers and respective media access control (MAC) addresses corresponding to devices on a home network, the device identifiers provided by a panelist associated with the home network during a registration process. The home network is monitored for a network communication sent by a requesting device separate from a network communications monitor, the network communications monitor installed in the home network associated with a panelist home. A device identifier of the requesting device is identified from the table of device identifiers and respective MAC addresses based on a MAC address of the requesting device. In response to a failure to identify the device identifier, the panelist is prompted to provide the device identifier for the requesting device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A network communications monitor to identify a media device, the network communications monitor comprising:
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a network communicator to connect to a home network associated with a panelist home, and monitor the home network for a network communication sent by a requesting device separate from the network communications monitor, the network communication having a destination other than the network communications monitor; a communications processor to; store, by executing an instruction with a processor, a table of device identifiers and respective media access control addresses corresponding to registered devices on the home network, the device identifiers provided by a panelist associated with the home network during a registration process; in response to the network communicator detecting the network communication transmitted on the home network, attempt to identify a device identifier of the requesting device from the table of device identifiers and respective media access control addresses based on a media access control address of the requesting device; and in response to a failure to identify the device identifier, prompt the panelist to provide a device identifier for the unidentified device; and a communications data storer to; store data identifying the network communication in association with at least one of the device identifier or the media access control address in a network communications data store when the device identifier is identified, and store the data identifying the network communication in association with the media access control address when the device identifier is not identified. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of identifying a media presentation device, the method comprising:
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establishing a table of device identifiers and respective media access control addresses corresponding to devices on a home network, the device identifiers provided by a panelist associated with the home network during a registration process; monitoring, by executing an instruction with a processor of a network communications monitor, the home network for a network communication sent by a requesting device separate from the network communications monitor, the network communication having a destination other than the network communications monitor, the network communications monitor installed in the home network associated with a panelist home; attempting to identify a device identifier of the requesting device from the table of device identifiers and respective media access control addresses based on a media access control address of the requesting device, the device identifier different from the media access control address; in response to a failure to identify the device identifier, prompting, by executing an instruction with the processor, the panelist to provide the device identifier for the requesting device; and transmitting data identifying the network communication and the device identifier to an audience measurement entity. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A tangible machine readable storage disk or storage device comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a network communications monitor to at least:
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establish a table of device identifiers and respective media access control addresses corresponding to devices on a home network, the device identifiers provided by a panelist associated with the home network during a registration process; monitor the home network for a network communication sent by a requesting device separate from the network communications monitor, the network communication having a destination other than the network communications monitor, the network communications monitor installed in the home network associated with a panelist home; attempt to identify a device identifier of the requesting device from the table of device identifiers and respective media access control addresses based on a media access control address of the requesting device, the device identifier different from the media access control address; in response to a failure to identify the device identifier, prompt the panelist to provide the device identifier for the requesting device; and transmit data identifying the network communication and the device identifier to an audience measurement entity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification