SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS TO IDENTIFY MEDIA PRESENTATION DEVICES

• US 20130159499A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Besehanic, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 9,331,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media presentation devices are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a domain name service query from a first device at a server, the first device and a second device being associated with a same public Internet protocol address. The first device is identified as originating the domain name service query based on an identity of the server. The first device is credited with accessing content associated with a domain name identified in the domain name service query.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring network activity, the method comprising:

receiving a domain name service query from a first device at a server, the first device and a second device being associated with a same public Internet protocol address;

identifying the first device as originating the domain name service query based on an identity of the server; and

crediting the first device with accessing content associated with a domain name identified in the domain name service query.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the second device is not credited with exposure to the content.

3. The method as described in claim 2, wherein crediting the first device comprises storing the identity of a panelist and an identity of the first device in association with the content.

4. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising transmitting a response to the first device in response to receiving the domain name service query.

5. The method as described in claim 4, further comprising generating the response by resolving an Internet protocol address associated with the domain name identified in the domain name service query.

6. The method as described in claim 4, wherein the response is a domain name service redirect message.

7. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising instructing the first device to send domain name service queries to the server.

8. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the first and second devices are associated with a same panelist, and further comprising:

associating the second device of the panelist with a second server; and

identifying the second device when a second domain name service query is received at the second server.

9. The method as described in claim 8, further comprising receiving registration data from the panelist indicating the association of the panelist with the first and second devices.

13. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the server is a pseudo-DNS server.

14. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the server is a DNS server.

10-12. -12. (canceled)

15. An apparatus to measure network activity, the apparatus comprising:

a first query processor to receive a first domain name service query from a first media presentation device;

a second query processor to receive a second domain name service query from a second media presentation device;

an associator to associate the first and second domain name service queries with a respective one of the first and second media presentation devices based on which of the first and second query processors received the domain name service query;

a crediter to credit the respective one of the first and second media presentation devices with access to content associated with a domain name requested in the respective first and second domain name service queries.

16. The apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein crediting the first and second devices comprises storing an identifier of the content in association with an identity of the first and second device.

17. The apparatus as described in claim 15, further comprising a registrar to receive registration information from a panelist, the registration information indicating an association of the panelist with the first and second media presentation devices.

18. The apparatus as described in claim 17, further comprising a data store to store an association of the panelist with the originating Internet protocol address, an association of the panelist with the first and second media presentation devices, and an association of respective ones of the first and second media presentation devices with respective ones of the first and second query processors.

22. The apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the query processor is further to transmit a response to the domain name service query.

24. The apparatus as described in claim 15, further comprising a crediting data store to receive exposure data generated by the crediter.

25. The apparatus as described in claim 15, wherein the crediter is to credit the media exposure measurement location with exposure to the domain name requested in the domain name service query via the media presentation device.

19-21. -21. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A tangible machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

receive a domain name service query from a first device at a server, the first device and a second device being associated with a same public Internet protocol address;

identify the first device as originating the domain name service query based on an identity of the domain name service server; and

credit the first device with accessing content associated with a domain name identified in the domain name service query.

29. The machine-readable medium as described in claim 28, wherein the second device is not credited with exposure to the content.

30. The machine-readable medium as described in claim 29, wherein crediting the first device comprises storing the identity of a panelist and an identity of the first device in association with the content.

31. The machine-readable medium as described in claim 28, further comprising instructions which, when executed, cause the machine to at least transmit a response to the first device in response to receiving the domain name service query.

32. The machine-readable medium as described in claim 31, further comprising instructions which, when executed, cause the machine to at least generate the response by resolving an Internet protocol address associated with the domain name identified in the domain name service query.

33. The machine-readable medium as described in claim 31, wherein the response is a domain name service redirect message.

34. The machine-readable medium as described in claim 28, further comprising instructions which, when executed, cause the machine to at least program the first device to send domain name service queries to the server.

35. The machine-readable medium as described in claim 28, wherein the first and second devices are associated with the same panelist, and further comprising instructions which, when executed, cause the machine to at least:

associate the second device of the panelist with a second server; and

identify the second device when a second domain name service query is received at the second server.

36. The machine-readable medium as described in claim 35, further comprising instructions which, when executed, cause the machine to at least receive registration data from the panelist indicating the association of the panelist with the first and second devices.

37-47. -47. (canceled)