METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUDIENCE DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS IN A CONTENT DELIVERY NETWORK
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for anonymizing data collected in a data collection system, said method comprising:
- collecting a first identifier, said first identifier uniquely identifying a first one of a plurality of households;
determining a second identifier, said second identifier being descriptive of a geographic location associated with said first household;
concatenating said first and second identifiers;
converting digits of said concatenated identifiers to a first converted format yielding a first converted string of digits;
dividing said first converted string of digits into a plurality of first and second alternating segments;
adjusting each of said plurality of first and second alternating segments by;
adding a first fixed value to said plurality of first segments; and
subtracting a second fixed value from said plurality of second segments;
converting said adjusted plurality of segments to a second converted format;
performing a cryptographic hash of said second converted plurality of segments to produce one or more results; and
storing said one or more results on a computer readable storage apparatus.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for collection and processing of data relating to users of a content-delivery network. In one embodiment, the content delivery network is a cable or satellite or HFCu network, and the apparatus includes an architecture for routinely harvesting, parsing, processing, and storing data relating to the activities of the users (e.g., subscribers) of the network. In one variant, at least portions of the data are anonymized to protect subscriber privacy.
185 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for anonymizing data collected in a data collection system, said method comprising:
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collecting a first identifier, said first identifier uniquely identifying a first one of a plurality of households; determining a second identifier, said second identifier being descriptive of a geographic location associated with said first household; concatenating said first and second identifiers; converting digits of said concatenated identifiers to a first converted format yielding a first converted string of digits; dividing said first converted string of digits into a plurality of first and second alternating segments; adjusting each of said plurality of first and second alternating segments by; adding a first fixed value to said plurality of first segments; and subtracting a second fixed value from said plurality of second segments; converting said adjusted plurality of segments to a second converted format; performing a cryptographic hash of said second converted plurality of segments to produce one or more results; and storing said one or more results on a computer readable storage apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for anonymizing data collected in a data collection system, said method comprising:
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collecting a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to a first device within a first one of a plurality of households, said MAC address comprising a string of digits; converting said string of digits to a first format; dividing said converted string of digits into a plurality of first and second segments; adding a first fixed value to said plurality of first segments; subtracting a second fixed value from said plurality of second segments; converting said plurality of first and second segments to a second format; performing a cryptographic hash of said first and second plurality of segments; and storing results of said cryptographic hash on a computer readable storage apparatus.
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9. A method for providing anonymized data in a data collection system, said data collection system comprising a plurality of users, one of said plurality of users being associated with at least one client device, said method comprising:
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performing a first anonymization of a plurality of user-specific information to obtain a first result, said user-specific information being unique to said one of said plurality of users; performing a second anonymization of a plurality of device-specific information to obtain a second result, said device-specific information being unique to said at least one client device associated to said one of said plurality of users; collecting one or more data records relating to tuning events occurring at least one client device; enriching said one or more data records by attaching said first result and said second result thereto; and transmitting said enriched one or more data records to a network entity. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer readable apparatus comprising a medium adapted to store a computer program, said computer program which is configured to, when executed:
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collect a unique identifier of a particular user of a network; convert said unique identifier to a first converted format yielding a first converted string of digits; divide said first converted string of digits into a plurality of segments; adjust a value of each of said plurality of segments; convert said adjusted plurality of segments to a second converted format; and apply a cryptographic hash of said second converted format. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer readable apparatus comprising a medium adapted to store a computer program, said computer program which is configured to, when executed:
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perform a first anonymization of information specific to a user associated with a network client device to obtain a first result; collect one or more data records relating to tuning events occurring at said device; append said first result to said one or more records; and transmit said appended one or more data records to a network entity. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for anonymizing data collected in a data collection system, said method comprising:
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collecting at least one unique identifier associated with a first one of a plurality of households, said at least one unique identifier comprising a plurality of digits; converting said plurality of digits to a first format; dividing said plurality of digits into a series of alternating n-bit segments; adding first fixed values and subtracting second fixed values to respective ones of said alternating n-bit segments of converted digits; converting said alternating n-bit segments to a second format; and performing a cryptographic hash of said alternating n-bit segments - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification