Methods and Apparatus to Identify Users of Handheld Computing Devices

• US 20130232142A1
• Filed: 03/01/2012
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Christen, Cooper, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,519,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to identify users of handheld computing devices are disclosed. An example method includes generating, via a logic circuit, a first handling pattern indicative of a manner in which a handheld computing device is moved while the handheld computing device is presenting media; and storing the first handling pattern and corresponding user identification information in a database, handling patterns stored in the database to identify users of the handheld computing device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating, via a logic circuit, a first handling pattern indicative of a manner in which a handheld computing device is moved while the handheld computing device is presenting media; and

storing the first handling pattern and corresponding user identification information in a database, handling patterns stored in the database to identify users of the handheld computing device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first handling pattern is generated at a first time, and the user identification information is received in response to a prompt triggered by a detection of the first handling pattern at a second time later than the first time.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising storing a type of media in connection with the first handling pattern, the type of media corresponding to a piece of media that triggered the generation of the first handling pattern.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first handling pattern is generated at a first time, and further comprising interpreting sensor data collected by sensors native to the handheld computing device at a second time later than the first time as corresponding to the first handling pattern.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising, in response to detecting the correspondence between the sensor data and the first handling pattern, generating a prompt for display on the handheld computing device requesting confirmation of the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, further comprising storing a verification indication in connection with the first handling pattern when the first handling pattern is verified via the prompt.

7. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising generating a confidence value for the first handling pattern and, when the confidence value meets or exceeds a threshold, outputting the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising associating the output user identification information with media presented on the handheld computing device at the second time.

9. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising incorporating a media type match into the confidence value, the media type match corresponding to a similarity between a first type of media corresponding to a first piece of media that triggered the generation of the first handling pattern and a second type of media corresponding to a second piece of media that is presented at the second time.

10. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising incorporating a verification of the first handling pattern as attributable to the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern, the verification provided by a user in response to a prompt.

11. A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

generate a first handling pattern indicative of a manner in which a handheld computing device is moved while the handheld computing device is presenting media; and

store the first handling pattern and corresponding user identification information in a database, handling patterns stored in the database to identify users of the handheld computing device.

12. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the first handling pattern is generated at a first time, and the user identification information is received in response to a prompt triggered by a detection of the first handling pattern at a second time later than the first time.

13. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to store a type of media in connection with the first handling pattern, the type of media corresponding to a piece of media that triggered the generation of the first handling pattern.

14. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the first handling pattern is generated at a first time, and wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to interpret sensor data collected by sensors native to the handheld computing device at a second time later than the first time as corresponding to the first handling pattern.

15. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed cause the machine to, in response to detecting the correspondence between the sensor data and the first handling pattern, generate a prompt for display on the handheld computing device requesting confirmation of the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern.

16. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to store a verification indication in connection with the first handling pattern when the first handling pattern is verified via the prompt.

17. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to generate a confidence value for the first handling pattern and, when the confidence value meets or exceeds a threshold, output the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern.

18. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to associate the output user identification information with media presented on the handheld computing device at the second time.

19. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to incorporate a media type match into the confidence value, the media type match corresponding to a similarity between a first type of media corresponding to a first piece of media that triggered the generation of the first handling pattern and a second type of media corresponding to a second piece of media that is presented at the second time.

20. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to incorporate a verification of the first handling pattern as attributable to the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern, the verification provided by a user in response to a prompt.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor, to generate a first handling pattern indicative of a manner in which a handheld computing device is moved while the handheld computing device is presenting media; and

a database to store the first handling pattern and corresponding user identification information in a database, handling patterns stored in the database to identify users of the handheld computing device.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the processor is to generate the first handling pattern by interpreting a signal associated with an accelerometer of the handheld computing device while the handheld computing device is presenting media.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the processor is to generate the first handling pattern by interpreting a signal associated with a tilt sensor of the handheld computing device while the handheld computing device is presenting media.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the processor is to generate the first handling pattern by determining a path of movement of the handheld computing device while the handheld computing device is presenting media.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the processor is to generate the first handling pattern by determining a rhythm of movements of the handheld computing device while the handheld computing device is presenting media.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the first handling pattern is generated at a first time, and further comprising a requester to generate a prompt triggered by a detection of the first handling pattern at a second time later than the first time, wherein the user identification information is received from a current user via the prompt.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the database is to store a type of media in connection with the first handling pattern, wherein the type of media corresponds to a piece of media that triggered the generation of the first handling pattern.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the first handling pattern is generated at a first time, and further comprising a recognizer to interpret sensor data collected by sensors native to the handheld computing device at a second time later than the first time as corresponding to the first handling pattern.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, further comprising a requester to, in response to detecting the correspondence between the sensor data and the first handling pattern, generate a prompt for display on the handheld computing device requesting confirmation of the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 29, wherein the database is to store a verification indication in connection with the first handling pattern when the first handling pattern is verified via the prompt.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, further comprising a calculator to generate a confidence value for the first handling pattern and, when the confidence value meets a threshold, output the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the user identification information is to be associated with media presented on the handheld computing device at the second time.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the calculator is to incorporate a media type match into the confidence value, wherein the media type match corresponds to a similarity between a first type of media corresponding to a first piece of media that triggered the generation of the first handling pattern and a second type of media corresponding to a second piece of media that is presented at the second time.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the calculator is to incorporate a verification of the first handling pattern as attributable to the user identification information stored in connection with the first handling pattern, wherein the verification is provided by a user in response to a prompt.