METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR METERING COMPUTER-BASED MEDIA PRESENTATION

• US 20080172681A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Wright, David Howell, Donald, James Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 9,209,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/372 Programme
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for metering the presentation of computer-based media presentation are disclosed. An example disclosed method performed by a computer that is configured to execute an operating system and a media presentation program comprises modifying the media presentation program to re-direct a function call made to the operating system by the media presentation program, and processing the re-directed function call to determine media presentation information.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer that is configured to execute an operating system and a media presentation program comprising:

modifying the media presentation program to re-direct a function call made to the operating system by the media presentation program; and

processing the re-directed function call to determine media presentation information.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein modifying the media presentation program to re-direct the function call made to the operating system by the media presentation program comprises modifying an address associated with the function call.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the address is stored in a table entry of the media presentation program that is associated with the function call.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the table entry is an IMPORT TABLE entry.

5. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein modifying the address associated with the function call comprises replacing the address with a second address of a function provided by a monitoring program.

6. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the function call is associated with displaying text on a display associated with the computer.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein processing the re-directed function call to determine the media presentation information comprises:

extracting a parameter from the function call; and

passing the function call to the operating system.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising processing the media presentation information to determine a media consumption statistic.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising providing the media presentation information to a processing server.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media presentation information is at least one of a channel number, a channel name, a content name, a program name, a stream name, a file name, a time-of-day, a day-of-week, an original broadcast time, an original transmission time, a record time, or a user identification.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the function call is associated with displaying text on a display associated with the computer.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media presentation program, when executed, emits at least one of a television program, a video, a movie, an audio file, an audio stream, text, a commercial, or an image.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media presentation program, when executed, receives media from at least one of an antenna, a satellite receiver, a cable receiver, a digital video disc, a compact disc, or an Internet based site.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the function call is re-directed from a first function provided by the operating system to a second function provided by a monitoring program.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising configuring the computer to execute a monitoring program, the monitoring program to modify the media presentation program and process the re-directed function call.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer is at least one of a personal computer, a handheld computing device, a personal digital assistance, a workstation, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a media player, a television, a digital video recorder, or a digital versatile disc player.

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29. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the handler comprises:

a modifier to modify the media presentation program; and

a re-director to direct the re-directed function call to the meter.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 29, wherein, the re-director is configured to direct the re-directed function call to the operating system.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the handler is configured to modify an address associated with the function call.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the address is stored in a table entry of the media presentation program that is associated with the function call.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the handler is configured to replace the address with a second address of a function provided by a monitoring program.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the function call is associated with displaying text on a display associated with the computer.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the meter is configured to process the re-directed function call to determine the media presentation information by:

extracting a parameter from the function call; and

passing the function call to the operating system.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the meter is configured to provide the media presentation information to a processing server.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the media presentation information is at least one of a channel number, a channel name, a content name, a program name, a stream name, a file name, a time-of-day, a day-of-week, an original broadcast time, an original transmission time, a record time, or a user identification.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the function call is associated with displaying text on a display associated with the computer.

39. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the computer is at least one of a personal computer, a handheld computing device, a personal digital assistance, a workstation, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a media player, a television, a digital video recorder, or a digital versatile disc player.

41. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 39, wherein the monitoring program comprises:

a handler to modifying a media presentation program to re-direct a function call made to an operating system by the media presentation program; and

a meter to process the re-directed function call to determine media presentation information.

42. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 41, wherein the handler comprises:

a modifier to modify the media presentation program; and

a re-director to direct the re-directed function call to the meter.

43. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 42, wherein, the re-director is configured to direct the re-directed function call to the operating system.

44. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 41, wherein the handler is configured to modify an address associated with the function call.

45. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 39, wherein the monitoring program is configured to provide the recorded parameters to the server.

47. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 39, wherein the monitoring program is configured to process the re-directed function call to determine the media presentation information by:

extracting a parameter from the function call; and

passing the function call to the operating system.

28. An apparatus to meter a computer that is configured to execute an operating system and a media presentation program, the apparatus comprising:

a handler to modifying a media presentation program to re-direct a function call made to an operating system by the media presentation program; and

a meter to process the re-directed function call to determine media presentation information.

40. A media presentation metering system comprising:

a plurality of computers comprising;

an operating system;

a media presentation program; and

a monitoring program configured to modify the media presentation program to cause a function call initiated by the media presentation program and directed to the operating system to be re-directed to the monitoring program, and to record parameters characteristic of presentation of media; and

a server configured to process the recorded parameters to determine media presentation statistics.

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