METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MAINTAIN AUDIENCE PRIVACY WHILE DETERMINING VIEWING OF VIDEO-ON-DEMAND PROGRAMS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method to monitor presentation of video-on-demand (VOD) content comprising:
- determining subscriber metering data reflecting presentation of VOD media content to a subscriber site;
determining server metering data corresponding to a VOD server configured to provide the VOD content to the subscriber site;
manipulating at least a portion of the subscriber metering data and at least a portion of the server metering data to preserve anonymity of a subscriber associated with the subscriber site; and
merging the subscriber metering data and the server metering data based on the at least a portion of the subscriber metering data and the at least a portion of the server metering data.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus to maintain audience privacy while determining viewing of video-on-demand programs are disclosed. An example method for monitoring a displayed VOD program disclosed herein comprises determining a first set of metering information based on a first set of data collected at a subscriber site, determining a second set of metering information based on a second set of data reported by at least one of a VOD server and a head-end, determining a third set of data based on the second set of data, and combining the first and third sets of metering information to credit the displayed VOD program.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method to monitor presentation of video-on-demand (VOD) content comprising:
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determining subscriber metering data reflecting presentation of VOD media content to a subscriber site;
determining server metering data corresponding to a VOD server configured to provide the VOD content to the subscriber site;
manipulating at least a portion of the subscriber metering data and at least a portion of the server metering data to preserve anonymity of a subscriber associated with the subscriber site; and
merging the subscriber metering data and the server metering data based on the at least a portion of the subscriber metering data and the at least a portion of the server metering data. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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2. (canceled)
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6-8. -8. (canceled)
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12-13. -13. (canceled)
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17-21. -21. (canceled)
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25-26. -26. (canceled)
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33-40. -40. (canceled)
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41. A method to exchange personal data, the method comprising:
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providing a first set of personal data corresponding to a first set of individuals associated with a first entity to a second entity, wherein identities of the first set of individuals are hidden from the second entity;
creating a set of personal data keys corresponding to a second set of individuals associated with the second entity;
using the set of personal data keys to identify a portion of the first set of personal data corresponding to a particular individual in the first set of individuals and in the second set of individuals; and
merging the portion of the first set of personal data corresponding to the particular individual with a second set of personal data associated with the second entity without identifying the particular individual to the first entity. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method to share data between a service provider and an audience measurement company, the method comprising:
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providing a data set from the service provider to the audience measurement company, wherein the data set comprises service usage data and first identification data collected by the service provider from subscribers of the service provider, and the first identification data is encrypted to hide the subscribers'"'"' identities from the audience measurement company;
encrypting second identification data associated with audience members monitored by the audience measurement company;
identifying subscribers of the service provider who are also audience members monitored by the audience measurement company by comparing the encrypted second identification data with the encrypted first identification data in the data set; and
adding portions of the service usage data from the data set for the identified subscribers to a database of the audience measurement company, wherein the audience members monitored by the audience measurement company are not identified to the service provider and subscribers of the service provider who are not audience members monitored by the audience measurement company are not identified to the audience measurement company. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49-59. -59. (canceled)
Specification