Methods and apparatus for metering computer-based media presentation

• US 9,209,917 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Donald, James Lawrence, Wright, David Howell
• Primary Examiner(s): Wathen, Brian W
• Application Number:
  US12/055,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,813 Days
• Field of Search: 725/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/542 Intercept
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/372 Programme
• 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 60/45 for identifying users

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for metering the presentation of computer-based media presentation are disclosed. An example disclosed method performed by a computer that is configured to execute an operating system and a media presentation program comprises modifying the media presentation program to re-direct a function call made to the operating system by the media presentation program, and processing the re-directed function call to determine media presentation information.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer that is configured to execute an operating system and a media presentation program, the method comprising:

identifying, in a table of functions, a function to cause requested text to be displayed on a display associated with the computer, the function utilized by the media presentation program to display information identifying a media presentation;

modifying the table of functions to cause calls to the function to be re-directed;

forwarding a re-directed call to the function to an application programming interface provided by the operating system to cause text identified in the re-directed call to be displayed;

comparing the text identified in the re-directed call to a character string corresponding to information of interest to determine if the text identified in the re-directed call includes a viewing parameter of interest;

passing the viewing parameter of interest to a meter when the text identified in the re-directed call includes the viewing parameter of interest; and

processing the viewing parameter of interest to determine media presentation information to monitor media presentation program viewing by;

decoding the viewing parameter of interest;

acquiring data that is associated with the viewing parameter of interest from the operating system; and

creating a log entry based on the decoded viewing parameter of interest and the acquired data.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further including modifying an address of the media presentation program to re-direct the call.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the address is stored in a table entry of the media presentation program.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the table entry is an IMPORT TABLE entry.

5. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein modifying the address includes replacing the address with a second address of a function provided by a monitoring program.

6. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the viewing parameter is a channel number to be displayed on the display associated with the computer.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the re-directed call is forwarded to the application programming interface independent of the comparison of the text identified in the re-directed call to the character string corresponding to the information of interest.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, further including processing the media presentation information to determine a media consumption statistic.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, further including providing the media presentation information to a processing server.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media presentation information is at least one of a channel number, a channel name, a content name, a program name, a stream name, a file name, a time-of-day, a day-of-week, an original broadcast time, an original transmission time, a record time, or a user identification.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the re-directed call is a call to a DrawText( ) function to display the information identifying the media presentation on the display associated with the computer.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media presentation program, when executed, emits at least one of a television program, a video, a movie, an audio file, an audio stream, text, a commercial, or an image.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media presentation program, when executed, receives media from at least one of an antenna, a satellite receiver, a cable receiver, a digital video disc, a compact disc, or an Internet based site.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call is re-directed at the media presentation program from a first function provided by the operating system to a second function provided by a monitoring program.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, further including configuring the computer to execute a monitoring program, the monitoring program to modify the media presentation program and process a copy of the re-directed call.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer is at least one of a personal computer, a handheld computing device, a personal digital assistance, a workstation, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a media player, a television, a digital video recorder, or a digital versatile disc player.

30. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the character string includes at least a channel name, a channel number or a television program name.

17. A media presentation metering system comprising:

a plurality of computers including;

an operating system;

a media presentation program; and

a monitoring program including a handler to;

identify, in a table of functions, a function to cause requested text to be displayed on a display associated with the computers, the function utilized by the media presentation program to display information identifying a media presentation;

modify the table of functions to cause calls to the function to be re-directed;

forward a re-directed call to the function to an application programming interface provided by the operating system to cause text identified in the re-directed call to be displayed;

compare the text identified in the re-directed call to a character string corresponding to information of interest to determine if the text identified in the re-directed call includes a viewing parameter of interest;

generate an event to include the viewing parameter of interest when the text identified in the re-directed call includes the viewing parameter of interest; and

record parameters characteristic of presentation of media included in the event by;

decoding the viewing parameter of interest from the event;

acquiring data that is associated with the viewing parameter of interest from the operating system; and

creating a log entry based on the decoded viewing parameter of interest and the acquired data; and

a server to process the recorded parameters to determine media presentation statistics.

29. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 17, wherein the re-directed call is a call to a DrawText( )function to display the information identifying the media presentation on the display associated with the computer.

31. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 17, wherein the monitoring program includes:

a meter to process the event to determine media presentation information.

32. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 31, wherein the handler includes:

a modifier to modify the media presentation program to re-direct the call to the function to the monitoring program; and

a re-director to direct a re-directed call to the meter.

33. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 32, wherein the re-director is to direct the re-directed call to the application programming interface independent of the handler determining if the text identified in the re-directed call includes the viewing parameter of interest.

34. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 31, wherein the handler is to modify an address of the media presentation program.

35. A media presentation metering system as defined in claim 17, wherein the monitoring program is to provide the recorded parameters to the server.

18. An apparatus to meter a computer that is configured to execute an operating system and a media presentation program, the apparatus comprising:

a handler to;

identify, in a table of functions, a function to cause requested text to be displayed on a display associated with the computer, the function utilized by the media presentation program to display information identifying a media presentation;

modify the table of functions to cause calls to the function to be re-directed;

forward a re-directed call to the function to an application programming interface provided by the operating system to cause text identified in the re-directed call to be displayed;

compare the text identified in the re-directed call to a character string corresponding to information of interest to determine if the text identified in the re-directed call includes a viewing parameter of interest; and

generate an event to include the viewing parameter of interest when the text identified in the re-directed call includes the viewing parameter of interest; and

a meter to process the event to determine media presentation information to monitor media program presentation viewing by;

extracting the viewing parameter of interest from the event;

decoding the viewing parameter of interest;

acquiring data that is associated with the viewing parameter of interest from the operating system; and

creating a log entry based on the decoded viewing parameter of interest and the acquired data.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the handler includes:

a modifier to modify the media presentation program; and

a re-director to direct the re-directed call to the meter.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein, the re-director is to direct the re-directed call to the application programming interface independent of the handler comparing the text identified in the re-directed call the character string corresponding to the information of interest to determine if the text identified in the re-directed call includes the viewing parameter of interest.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the handler is to modify an address of the media presentation program to cause the media presentation program to re-direct the call to the handler.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the address is stored in a table entry of the media presentation program.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the handler is to replace the address with a second address of a function provided by a monitoring program.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the viewing parameter of interest is a channel number to be displayed on the display associated with the computer.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the meter is to provide the media presentation information to a processing server.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the media presentation information is at least one of a channel number, a channel name, a content name, a program name, a stream name, a file name, a time-of-day, a day-of-week, an original broadcast time, an original transmission time, a record time, or a user identification.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the re-directed call is a call to a DrawText( )function to display the information identifying the media presentation on the display associated with the computer.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the computer is at least one of a personal computer, a handheld computing device, a personal digital assistance, a workstation, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a media player, a television, a digital video recorder, or a digital versatile disc player.