METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN AN AREA

• US 20140282641A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Cave, Mark Richard, Fry, Ranney Harrold
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/302 gathering intelligence information for situation awareness or reconnaissance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25883 being end-user demographical data, e.g. age, family status or address arrangements for identifying locations of users in broadcast systems H04H60/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/122 Counter-measures against attacks; Protection against rogue devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/61 Time-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine the number of people in an area. An example method includes collecting media identification information corresponding to media presented at a location, responding to a received request to register a mobile device with a base station by storing device identification information for the mobile device at the base station, timestamping the device identification information, determining a number of mobile devices located in an area based on the stored device identification information, and identifying a number of persons exposed to the media based on the media identification information and the device identification information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

collecting media identification information corresponding to media presented at a location;

responding to a received request to register a mobile device with a base station by storing device identification information for the mobile device at the base station;

timestamping the device identification information;

determining a number of mobile devices located in an area based on the stored device identification information; and

identifying a number of persons exposed to the media based on the media identification information and the device identification information.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting a communication timeout associated with a first log entry of the base station;

and providing data corresponding to the first log entry to a data collection facility.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising changing an identity of the base station to cause the mobile device to attempt to register with the base station.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the base station comprises at least one of a femtocell, a microcell, a picocell, a standard mobile base station, or a router.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device automatically attempts to register with the base station.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the device identification information comprises at least one of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, a device telephone number, a device name, a device address, or an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity number.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a media detector to collect media identification information corresponding to media presented at a location;

a registration manager to respond to a received request to register a mobile device with a base station by storing device identification information for the mobile device at the base station;

a timestamper to timestamp the device identification information;

a controller to determine a number of mobile devices located in an area based on the stored device identification information and to identify a number of persons exposed to the media based on the media identification information and the device identification information.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the registration manager is to detect a communication timeout associated with a first log entry of the base station and provide data corresponding to the first log entry to a data collection facility.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a configuration changer to change an identity of the base station to cause the mobile device to attempt to register with the base station.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the base station comprises a femtocell, a microcell, a picocell, a standard mobile base station, or a router.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the mobile device automatically attempts to register with the base station.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the device identification information comprises at least one of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, a device telephone number, a device name, a device address, or an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity number.

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

collect media identification information corresponding to media presented at a location;

respond to a received request to register a mobile device with a base station by storing device identification information for the mobile device at the base station;

timestamp the device identification information;

determine a number of mobile devices located in an area based on the stored device identification information; and

identify a number of persons exposed to the media based on the media identification information and the device identification information.

14. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed cause the machine to detect a communication timeout associated with a first log entry of the base station;

and providing data corresponding to the first log entry to a data collection facility.

15. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the instructions when executed cause the machine to change an identity of the base station to cause the mobile device to attempt to register with the base station.

16. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the base station comprises a femtocell, a microcell, a picocell, a standard mobile base station, or a router.

17. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the mobile device automatically attempts to register with the base station.

18. A storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the device identification information comprises at least one of an International Mobile Subscriber Identity, a device telephone number, a device name, a device address, or an International Mobile Station Equipment Identity number.