Generating audience analytics

• US 8,069,076 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cox Communications Incorporated (Cox Enterprises Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oddo, Anthony Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): LOFTIS, JOHNNA RONEE
• Application Number:
  US10/551,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20070011039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,806 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.29, 705/7.31
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/316 by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/46 for recognising users' preferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side

Abstract

The present invention is directed to generating audience analytics that includes providing a database containing a plurality of user input pattern profiles representing the group of users of terminal device, in which each user of the group is associated with one of the plurality of user input pattern profiles. A clickstream algorithm, tracking algorithm, neural network, Bayes classifier algorithm, or affinity-day part algorithm can be used to generate the user input pattern profiles. A user input pattern is detected based upon use of the terminal device by the current user and the user input pattern of the current user is dynamically matched with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database. The current user is identified based upon dynamic matching of the user input pattern generated by the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles. The present invention processes each user input pattern profile to identify a demographic type. A plurality of biometric behavior models are employed to identify a unique demographic type. Each user input pattern profile is compared against the plurality of biometric behavior models to match each user input pattern profile with one of the biometric behavior models such that each user input pattern profile is correlated with one demographic type. Audience analytics are then based upon the identified demographic types.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating audience analytics comprising:

providing, by a computer, a database containing a plurality of user input pattern profiles representing a group of users of a terminal device, wherein the computer communicates with the terminal device over a network, the network comprising one or more of the Internet and a nodal television distribution network, wherein each user of the group is associated with one of the plurality of user input pattern profiles;

using, by the computer, an affinity-day part algorithm to generate the plurality of user input pattern profiles by detecting user affinity types and time of day input data, the user affinity types and time of day input data each being represented in an affinity sub-profile, the affinity types corresponding to at least one of a television station, a programming genre, a language, and a movie;

assigning, by the computer, a weight to the generated plurality of user input pattern profiles, the assigned weight being greater than a weight associated with a plurality of existing user input pattern profiles, by applying a decay factor to the plurality of existing user input pattern profiles;

detecting, by the computer, a user input pattern based upon use of the terminal device by a current user;

dynamically matching, by the computer, the user input pattern of the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database

identifying, by the computer, the current user based upon dynamic matching of the user input pattern generated by the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles;

processing, by the computer, each user input pattern profile to identify a demographic type;

providing, by the computer, a plurality of biometric behavior models wherein each biometric behavior model identifies a unique demographic type;

comparing, by the computer, each user input pattern profile against the plurality of biometric behavior models to match each user input pattern profile with one of the biometric behavior models such that each user input pattern profile is correlated with one demographic type; and

generating, by the computer, an audience analytic based upon the identified demographic types.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input pattern of the current user comprises clickstream data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the clickstream data relates to particular Web sites visited by the user or the duration of visits to the Web sites.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the database providing step comprises generating a user input pattern profile for each user based upon clickstream data generated by the user when using the terminal device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the user input pattern comprises one or more of user keystroke data, mouse usage data and remote control usage data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the terminal device comprises one of a computer and a set top box.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting one or more of targeted content and targeted advertising to the user in accordance with the dynamically-matched user input pattern profile.

8. A computer-implemented method of generating audience analytics comprising:

providing, by a computer, a database containing a plurality of user input pattern profiles representing a group of users of a terminal device, wherein the computer communicates with the terminal device over a network, the network comprising one or more of the Internet and a nodal television distribution network, wherein each user of the group is associated with one of the plurality of user input pattern profiles;

using an affinity-day part algorithm to generate the plurality of user input pattern profiles by detecting user affinity types and time of day input data, the user affinity types and time of day input data each being represented in an affinity sub-profile, the affinity types corresponding to at least one of a television station, a programming genre, a language, and a movie;

assigning a weight to the generated plurality of user input pattern profiles, the assigned weight being greater than a weight associated with a plurality of existing user input pattern profiles, by applying a decay factor to the plurality of existing user input pattern profiles;

detecting a user input pattern based upon use of the terminal device by a current user;

dynamically matching the user input pattern of the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database, wherein dynamically matching the user input pattern comprises comparing a partial user input, as a current user input comprising the partial user input is being generated by the current user, with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database;

identifying the current user based upon dynamic matching of the user input pattern generated by the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles;

processing each user input pattern profile to identify a demographic type;

providing a plurality of biometric behavior models wherein each biometric behavior model identifies a unique demographic type;

comparing each user input pattern profile against the plurality of biometric behavior models to match each user input pattern profile with one of the biometric behavior models such that each user input pattern profile is correlated with one demographic type; and

generating an audience analytic based upon the identified demographic types.

9. A system for generating audience analytics, the system comprising:

means for providing a database containing a plurality of user input pattern profiles representing a group of users of a terminal device, wherein each user of the group is associated with one of the plurality of user input pattern profiles;

means for using an affinity-day part algorithm to generate the plurality of user input pattern profiles by detecting user affinity types and time of day input data, the user affinity types and time of day input data each being represented in an affinity sub-profile, the affinity types corresponding to at least one of a television station, a programming genre, a language, and a movie;

means for assigning a weight to the generated plurality of user input pattern profiles, the assigned weight being greater than a weight associated with a plurality of existing user input pattern profiles, by applying a decay factor to the plurality of existing user input pattern profiles;

means for detecting a user input pattern based upon use of the terminal device by a current user;

means, responsive to the means for detecting the user input pattern, for dynamically matching the user input pattern of the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database, wherein dynamically matching the user input pattern comprises comparing a partial user input, as a current user input comprising the partial user input is being generated by the current user, with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database;

means for identifying the current user based upon dynamic matching of the user input pattern generated by the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles;

means for processing each user input pattern profile to identify a demographic type;

means for providing a plurality of biometric behavior models wherein each biometric behavior model identifies a unique demographic type;

means for comparing each user input pattern profile against the plurality of biometric behavior models to match each user input pattern profile with one of the biometric behavior models such that each user input pattern profile is correlated with one demographic type;

and means for generating an audience analytic based upon the identified demographic types.

10. A system for generating audience analytics, the system comprising:

means for providing a database containing a plurality of user input pattern profiles representing a group of users of a terminal device, wherein each user of the group is associated with one of the plurality of user input pattern profiles, wherein the plurality of user input pattern profiles are generated from an affinity-day part algorithm by detecting user affinity types and time of day input data, the user affinity types and time of day input data each being represented in an affinity sub-profile, the affinity types corresponding to at least one of a television station, a programming genre, a language, and a movie;

means for assigning a weight to the generated plurality of user input pattern profiles, the assigned weight being greater than a weight associated with a plurality of existing user input;

means for detecting a user input pattern based upon use of the terminal device by a current user;

means, responsive to the means for detecting the user input pattern, for dynamically matching the user input pattern of the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles contained in the database;

means for identifying the current user based upon dynamic matching of the user input pattern generated by the current user with one of the user input pattern profiles;

means for processing each user input pattern profile to identify a demographic type;

means for providing a plurality of biometric behavior models wherein each biometric behavior model identifies a unique demographic type;

means for comparing each user input pattern profile against the plurality of biometric behavior models to match each user input pattern profile with one of the biometric behavior models such that each user input pattern profile is correlated with one demographic type; and

means for generating an audience analytic based upon the identified demographic types.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the terminal device comprises a computer.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the terminal device comprises a television set top box.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the steps are implemented in a computer, and the computer communicates with the terminal device over a network.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the network comprises the Internet.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the network comprises a nodal television distribution network.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising transmitting targeted content to the current user in accordance with the dynamically-matched user input pattern profile.

17. The system of claim 10 further comprising transmitting targeted advertising to the current user in accordance with the dynamically-matched user input pattern profile.