Methods and apparatus to determine audience viewing of recorded programs

• US 8,065,697 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Conklin, Charles, Koutsopanagos, Vasiliki, Milavsky, Joseph, Lee, Morris, Ramaswamy, Arun, Feininger, William A., Wright, David Howell
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirl; Joseph P
• Assistant Examiner(s): RABOVIANSKI, JIVKA A
• Application Number:
  US11/465,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20070050832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 725/10, 725/115
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/90 characterised by the use of signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4756 for rating content, e.g. scoring a recommended movie
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to determine audience viewing of recorded programs are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises displaying a previously recorded program on a display, determining a possible original broadcast time corresponding to the previously recorded program, determining program identifying information corresponding to the previously recorded program, and processing the possible original broadcast time information and the program identifying information to compare the previously recorded program with a known broadcast program.

Claims

1. A method to identify a time-shifted broadcast program, the method comprising:

using a preferential organization of measurement data corresponding to presentation of the time-shifted broadcast program by a time-shifting device, the preferential organization comprising;

determining whether the measurement data comprises a final distributor code corresponding to the time-shifted broadcast program;

determining first reporting data to identify the time-shifted broadcast program based on the final distributor code when the measurement data comprises the final distributor code; and

only when the measurement data does not comprise the final distributor code, determining second reporting data instead of the first reporting data to identify the time-shifted broadcast program, wherein determining the second reporting data comprises;

(a) determining a recording time corresponding to when the time-shifting device previously recorded the time-shifted program for later presentation, and a presenting time corresponding to when the time-shifting device later presented the time-shifted broadcast program that was previously recorded;

(b) processing the recording time and the presenting time for the time-shifted broadcast program to determine a possible broadcast time approximating when the time-shifted broadcast program was originally broadcast to the time-shifting device; and

(c) including the possible broadcast time in the second reporting data.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the final distributor code comprises at least one of an original broadcast time or an original broadcast channel identifier corresponding to the time-shifted broadcast program.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein determining the second reporting data further comprises:

determining a first set of times associated with possible recording of the time-shifted broadcast program; and

determining a second set of times associated with presenting the time-shifted broadcast program.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein determining the second reporting data further comprises determining a third set of times associated with current times indicating when the time-shifted broadcast program is presented.

5. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein determining the second reporting data further comprises determining a set of possible broadcast times based on a difference between the second set of times and the first set of times.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein determining the second reporting data further comprises determining a set of ON/OFF times of a time-shifting device.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein determining the second reporting data further comprises determining a set of operating state times of a time-shifting device.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein the set of operating state times corresponds to the time-shifting device being in at least one of a play state, a pause state, a rewind state or a fast-forward state.

9. A method a defined in claim 1 wherein determining the second reporting data further comprises determining at least one of an original broadcast channel identifier, a broadcast program name, a program content code or a program signature.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the original broadcast channel identifier comprises at least one of a broadcast channel number or a broadcast channel name.

11. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the program content code comprises at least one of an audio code or a video code.

12. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the program signature comprises at least one of an audio signature or a video signature.

13. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising determining ratings data based on content presentation data corresponding to the presentation of the time-shifted broadcast program.

14. A method as defined in claim 13 wherein the content presentation data comprises indications associated with at least one of playing, pausing, rewinding or fast-forwarding the time-shifted broadcast program.

15. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein determining the second reporting data further comprises:

determining a current time corresponding to presentation of the time-shifted broadcast program, the current time derived from a first clock source different from a second clock source used to derive the recording time and the presenting time; and

processing the recording time, the presenting time and the current time to determine the possible broadcast time.

16. A method as defined in claim 15 wherein the first clock source is a real-time clock source configured to provide current date and time information, and the second clock source is not a real-time clock source and is configured to provide only relative timing information.

17. A method as defined in claim 16 wherein processing the recording time, the presenting time and the current time to determine the possible broadcast time comprises:

subtracting the recording time from the presenting time to determine a relative time difference; and

subtracting the relative time difference from the current time to determine the possible broadcast time.

18. A method comprising:

using a preferential organization of measurement data corresponding to the presentation of the time-shifted broadcast program, the preferential organization comprising;

identifying the time-shifted broadcast program based on an original broadcast time when the measurement data comprises the original broadcast time, but when the measurement data does not comprise the original broadcast time, instead identifying the time-shifted broadcast program based on a set of possible broadcast times, the set of possible broadcast times being derived from (a) timing information associated with operation of a time-shifting device to record the time-shifted broadcast program for later presentation and operation of the time-shifting device to later present the time-shifted broadcast program that was previously recorded, and (b) real-time information provided by a clock source different from the time-shifting device, the set of possible broadcast times providing a window approximating when the time-shifted broadcast program was originally broadcast to the time-shifting device; and

identifying the time-shifted broadcast program based on an original broadcast channel identifier when the measurement data comprises the original broadcast channel identifier, but when the measurement data does not comprise the original broadcast channel identifier, instead identifying the time-shifted broadcast program based on program identification data included in the measurement data.

19. A method as defined in claim 18 wherein the original broadcast time is based on a final distributor code.

20. A method as defined in claim 18 wherein the set of possible broadcast times is based on a first set of times associated with possible recording of the time-shifted broadcast program and a second set of times associated with presenting the time-shifted broadcast program.

21. A method as defined in claim 20 wherein the set of possible broadcast times is further based on a third set of times associated with current times indicating when the time-shifted broadcast program is presented, the second set of times and the third set of times derived from different clock sources.

22. A method as defined in claim 20 wherein the set of possible broadcast times is based on a difference between the second set of times and the first set of times.

23. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the set of possible broadcast times is further based on a set of current times derived from a different clock source than the first set of times and the second set of times.

24. A method as defined in claim 18 wherein the original broadcast channel identifier is based on a final distributor code.

25. A method as defined in claim 24 wherein the original broadcast channel identifier comprises at least one of a broadcast channel number or a broadcast channel name.

26. A method a defined in claim 18 wherein the program identification data comprises at least one of an original broadcast channel identifier, a broadcast program name, and program content code or a program signature.

27. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

identify a time-shifted broadcast program based on an original broadcast time when measurement data corresponding to presentation of the time-shifted broadcast program comprises an original broadcast time, but when the measurement data does not comprise the original broadcast time, the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to instead identify the time-shifted broadcast program based on a set of possible broadcast times, the set of possible broadcast times being derived from (a) timing information associated with operation of a time-shifting device to record the time-shifted broadcast program for later presentation and operation of the time-shifting device to later present the time-shifted broadcast program that was previously recorded, and (b) real-time information provided by a clock source different from the time-shifting device, the set of possible broadcast times providing a window approximating when the time-shifted broadcast program was originally broadcast to the time-shifting device; and

identify the time-shifted broadcast program based on an original broadcast channel identifier when the measurement data comprises the original broadcast channel identifier, but when the measurement data does not comprise the original broadcast channel identifier, the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to instead identify the time-shifted broadcast program based on program identification data included in the measurement data.

28. A time-shifting device monitor comprising:

an input; and

a processor programmed to;

determine a set of possible broadcast times providing at least one window approximating when a time-shifted broadcast program was originally broadcast to a time-shifting device, the set of possible broadcast times determined using a preferential organization whereby timing information associated with recording and presenting the time-shifted broadcast program is preferred over timing information associated with the time-shifting device being ON or OFF, the set of possible broadcast times being determined from a first set of times associated with recording of the time-shifted broadcast program by the time-shifting device for later presentation and a second set of times associated with presenting of the previously recorded time-shifted broadcast program by the time-shifting device when the timing information associated with the recording and presenting of the time-shifted broadcast program by the time-shifting device is available, but when the timing information associated with the recording and presenting of the time-shifted broadcast program by the time-shifting device is not available, the set of possible broadcast times instead being determined from a third set of times associated with a time-shifting device being ON and a fourth set of times associated with the time-shifting device being OFF; and

determine a set of program identification data corresponding to the time-shifted broadcast program.

29. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 28 wherein the input is configured to interface with a bus of the time-shifting device.

30. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 28 wherein the input is configured to interface with a sensor.

31. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 30 wherein the sensor is configured to monitor an indicator of the time-shifting device.

32. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 31 wherein the sensor is configured to monitor at least one of a record light or a power light of the time-shifting device.

33. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 30 wherein the sensor is configured to monitor at least one of an output or an indicator of a presentation device.

34. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 33 wherein the sensor is configured to monitor a power light of the presentation device.

35. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 33 wherein the sensor is configured to monitor at least one of a speaker or a display of the presentation device.

36. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 28 wherein the input is configured to interface with at least one of an audio output or a video output of at least one of the time-shifting device or a presentation device.

37. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 28 wherein the processor is further configured to implement a time-shifting device state tracker.

38. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 37 wherein the time-shifting device state tracker is configured to detect an operating state of the time-shifting device.

39. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 37 wherein the time-shifting device state tracker is configured to detect data stored in the time-shifting device.

40. A time-shifting device monitor as defined in claim 28 wherein the processor is adapted to execute one or more software programs wherein at least one of the software programs is a multi-threaded program and wherein at least one of the threads of the multi-threaded program is adapted to calculate an elapsed time between a time of recording the time-shifted broadcast program and a time of presenting the time-shifted broadcast program.