System and Method for Set Top Viewing Data

• US 20110289524A1
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CSC Holdings LLC (Altice USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martone, Laurie, TONER, Gemma, Moraghan, Colleen, Hoyos, Alejandro A., Bansal, Rohit, McKenna, John P., Neill, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 9,071,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416

Abstract

In a video delivery context, collection and analysis of viewing data can provide insight into viewer interaction with video and the Internet. The viewing data can be transmitted in a controlled manner to a data repository. The system can selectively target specific viewers/households to obtain viewing data, which can be combined with demographics, anonymized, and encrypted. Embodiments enable precision selection of media opportunities, by determining detailed characteristics associated with broadcasts including movement of audiences and specific viewer behavior, such as visits to websites on the Internet. The effective yield of broadcasts, including promotional spots and advertisements, can be determined and predicted based on concrete data at a level of detail down to individual viewers. Accordingly, embodiments enable improvement of the effectiveness and return on investment for programming, promotional spots, and advertisements.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

periodically monitoring data representing actions taken relative to media;

combining the data with attributes; and

analyzing the combined data to determine patterns.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises interaction with the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the data associated with a mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the data associated with a television.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising centrally collecting the data by a data repository.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the data on a set-top-box in memory.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting the data from the set-top box periodically to a data repository.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting the data from the set-top box based on storing a threshold amount of data in the memory.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting the data from the set-top box based on a transmission triggering event.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting the data from the set-top box at random intervals.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising collecting the data on a distributed basis from a plurality of set top boxes.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting the plurality of set top boxes based on the attributes.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising randomly selecting the plurality of set top boxes from a percentage of total set top boxes.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting the plurality of set top boxes based on a Boolean combination of factors.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising broadcasting a configuration file to a plurality of set top boxes, wherein the configuration file informs each set top box how to monitor and upload data.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a dwelling time associated with a duration of an activity.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises commands received by a set top box.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said commands relate to viewing the media.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein viewing the media includes changing a channel.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein viewing the media includes accessing a website.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising collecting data about equipment connected to the set-top box.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting data about equipment used for the actions taken relative to the media.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising anonymizing the combined data.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a sample configuration of data sources to monitor;

and collecting the data from the sample configuration.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining if the sample configuration includes desired combined data;

and selecting a new sample configuration based on the determining.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining and selecting the new sample configuration in near real-time.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining audience composition and behavior based on the combined data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein behavior includes tuneaways associated with the media over time.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein behavior includes Internet activity associated with the media over time.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein behavior includes loyalty to a given type of media.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising timestamping the data;

and correlating the timestamps with media content logs.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the combined data includes determining a time slot that will optimize an advertiser'"'"'s exposure to a specific demographic.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the combined data includes determining the presence of target data specified by an advertiser in satisfaction of a proof of performance.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the combined data includes determining a yield of combined data associated with target data specified by an advertiser.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the combined data includes determining a first set of actions relative to promotional media over time;

and determining a second set of actions taken relative to promoted media corresponding to the promotional media.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising determining a yield of the promotional media.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising determining the yield associated with an insertion day and time placement mix of media.

38. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an expected yield of media based on media content and an insertion day and time placement mix.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the attributes are demographic attributes.

40. A method, comprising:

receiving a configuration file, wherein the configuration file informs how to monitor and upload data;

periodically monitoring data representing actions taken relative to media, including interaction with the Internet and media displayed on a television, wherein the data comprises a dwelling time associated with a duration of an activity;

storing the data in memory, wherein the data has an associated timestamp;

transmitting the data periodically to a data repository; and

analyzing the data to determine patterns.

41. A method, comprising:

selecting a plurality of set top boxes from within a service-provider managed network based on targeted attributes;

monitoring data according to a configuration file broadcast to the plurality of set top boxes, the data representing actions taken relative to media at the plurality of set top boxes; and

analyzing the data and targeted attributes to determine a predicted yield for potential targeted attributes and media.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

a set top box for monitoring and transmitting data according to a configuration file received from a service-provider managed network, the data representing actions taken relative to media;

wherein the configuration file instructs the set top box to monitor the data based on targeted attributes associated with the set top box, and transmit the data to a data repository based on monitoring a triggering event.