Online syndicated content feed metrics
First Claim
1. A method of identifying a likely unique subscriber to an online syndicated content feed, the method comprising:
- automatically obtaining data which represent feed polling events, the data comprising signals corresponding to feed polling operations which are performed on behalf of at least two subscribers to the online syndicated content feed, each feed polling event having an occurrence time and also having at least one client value; and
automatically grouping at least a subset of the obtained feed polling events into a group which corresponds to the likely unique subscriber using occurrence times and predictability of feed polling events by locating a group of feed polling events which have predictable occurrence times in relation to one another and also share at least one client value with one another, and thus are likely performed on behalf of the unique subscriber;
whereby through operation of a digital processing unit in controlled interaction with a computer-readable medium the method automatically identifies the likely unique subscriber by using the located group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Tools and techniques are provided to help estimate the number of unique subscribers to an RSS, Atom, or other online syndicated content feed. Methods, systems, and other embodiments separate feed polling events into groups based at least partially on regularity in their times of occurrence. Grouping of polling events may also be based on client values, such as a client'"'"'s IP address or user agent identification. Each located group corresponds to one likely subscriber in an estimation of the total number of subscribers to the feed. The use of occurrence times and client header values may be combined with unique URLs, cookies, and other tools to further refine readership estimates.
95 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of identifying a likely unique subscriber to an online syndicated content feed, the method comprising:
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automatically obtaining data which represent feed polling events, the data comprising signals corresponding to feed polling operations which are performed on behalf of at least two subscribers to the online syndicated content feed, each feed polling event having an occurrence time and also having at least one client value; and automatically grouping at least a subset of the obtained feed polling events into a group which corresponds to the likely unique subscriber using occurrence times and predictability of feed polling events by locating a group of feed polling events which have predictable occurrence times in relation to one another and also share at least one client value with one another, and thus are likely performed on behalf of the unique subscriber; whereby through operation of a digital processing unit in controlled interaction with a computer-readable medium the method automatically identifies the likely unique subscriber by using the located group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A feed metrics system capable of estimating the number of unique subscribers to an online syndicated content feed by at least counting distinct groups of feed polling events, comprising:
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a data obtaining means for obtaining data which represent feed polling events, the data obtaining means comprising computer processing and memory hardware configured by software, the data comprising signals which configure a memory and correspond to feed polling operations which are performed on behalf of at least two subscribers to the online syndicated content feed, each feed polling event having an occurrence time and also having at least one client value; a group locating means for grouping at least a subset of the obtained feed polling events into a group which corresponds to a likely unique subscriber using occurrence times and predictability of feed polling events by locating a group of feed polling events which have predictable occurrence times in relation to one another and also share at least one client value with one another, and thus are likely performed on behalf of the unique subscriber; and a counting means for counting a plurality of distinct groups which are located with the group locating means; whereby the system identifies the unique subscriber using a group located by the group locating means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable storage medium which is configured to work in conjunction with a processor to perform a process for estimating the number of unique subscribers to an online syndicated content feed, the method comprising:
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automatically obtaining data which represent feed polling events, the data comprising signals corresponding to feed polling operations which are performed on behalf of at least two subscribers to the online syndicated content feed, each feed polling event having an occurrence time and at least one client value; and automatically grouping at least a subset of the obtained feed polling events into groups which correspond to respective likely unique subscribers using occurrence times and predictability of feed polling events by locating a plurality of groups of the feed polling events, each such group being characterized in that events in that group have predictable occurrence times in relation to one another and also share at least one client value with one another; whereby the method identifies unique subscribers and estimates the number of unique subscribers based at least in part on the number of groups thus located. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A process for estimating feed readership, comprising:
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receiving a feed server logfile with polling event times and at least one client value at a feed metrics system for analysis; automatically grouping feed polling events into groups which correspond to respective likely unique subscribers using occurrence times and predictability of feed polling events by locating a plurality of groups of the feed polling events, each such group being characterized in that events in that group have predictable occurrence times in relation to one another and also share at least one client value with one, another; and through operation of a digital processing unit, in controlled interaction with a computer-readable medium of the feed metrics system, automatically identifying unique subscribers with located groups and sending a readership estimation based on and referring to the grouped feed polling events and the identified unique subscribers.
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Specification