System and method for scalable, high accuracy, sensor and ID based audience measurement system based on distributed computing architecture

• US 9,635,405 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Showfer Media LLC
• Original Assignee: WebTuner Corp.
• Inventors: Zaslavsky, Eduard, Vaysman, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MUSHFIKH I
• Application Number:
  US13/474,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 725 9- 36
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• 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 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44016 involving splicing one content stream with another content stream, e.g. for substituting a video clip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• 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 21/44226 on social networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Dynamic television audience measurement systems (AMS) and methods are disclosed. The system comprises a central level AMS sub-system, a local node level AMS sub-system, a plurality of client level AMS sub-systems, and a plurality of display devices, each monitored by a client level AMS sub-system. The central level AMS sub-system receives panel definitions from panel requestors and transmits the panel definitions to and receives a merged viewership report from the local node level AMS sub-system. The local node level AMS sub-system receives panel definitions from and transmits the merged viewership report to the central level AMS sub-system, transmits the panel definitions to and receives viewership reports from the plurality of client level AMS sub-systems, and merges the viewership reports into the merged viewership report. Each client level AMS sub-systems receives panel definitions from and transmits the viewership report to the local node level AMS sub-system and compiles the viewership report.

Claims

1. A dynamic television audience measurement system (AMS), comprising:

a central level AMS sub-system;

a local node level AMS sub-system in communication with the central level AMS subsystem;

a plurality of client device level AMS sub-systems, each client device level AMS sub-system in communication with the local node level AMS sub-system, a client device, and a display device; and

a plurality of display devices, wherein each display device is monitored by a client level AMS sub-system, wherein the central level AMS sub-system receives panel definitions from panel requestors, merges the panel definitions, transmits the merged panel definitions to at least one local node level AMS sub-system, receives merged viewership report from the at least one local node level AMS sub-system comprising asynchronously collected monitoring criteria, and recombines at least a portion of the asynchronously collected monitoring criteria into at least one consolidated report for each panel requestor,

wherein the local node level AMS sub-system receives merged panel definitions from the central level AMS sub-system, generates client level specific configurations messages for at least a portion of the plurality of client level AMS subsystems according to the merged panel definitions, transmits configuration messages to a portion of the plurality of client level AMS sub-systems, receives viewership reports comprising the asynchronously collected monitoring criteria from at least a portion of the client level AMS sub-systems, merges at least a portion of the asynchronously collected monitoring criteria into a merged viewership report for at least one received merged panel definition, transmits the merged viewership report to the central level AMS sub-system, monitors upstream and downstream loads, and optimizes bandwidth based on the monitored upstream and downstream loads; and

wherein each of the plurality of client level AMS sub-systems receives client level specific configurations messages from the local node level AMS sub-system according to the merged panel definitions, asynchronously collects information from both the client device and the display device for at least one configuration message, compiles the viewership reports comprising the asynchronously collected monitoring criteria as the information collected from both the client device and the display device for at least one client level specific configurations message, and transmits the viewership report to the local node level AMS sub-system.

2. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 1, wherein the central level AMS sub-system is maintained by a broadcaster, pay TV service operator, broadband TV service operator, or advertisement agency.

3. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 1, wherein the local node level AMS sub-system is maintained by a cable company, a satellite TV company, a broadband TV company, or an internet service provider.

4. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 1, wherein each client level AMS sub-system is stored on a set top box, a TV, a computer, a tablet, a smartphone, or a streaming media device.

5. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 1, wherein the panel definitions comprise criteria to be monitored by each client level AMS subsystem.

6. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 5, wherein the criteria to be monitored are chosen from the group comprising target audience, media content, data to be collected, schedule for data collection, and rate of data collection.

7. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 6, wherein the target audience comprises at least one of viewer location, viewer demographic characteristics, viewer social characteristics, viewer socioeconomic characteristics, viewer housing characteristics, and viewer purchasing profile characteristics.

8. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 6, wherein the media content comprises at least one of the source of the content, the advertisements displayed, the programs displayed, the channels, and the media packages purchased.

9. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 6, wherein the data to be collected is chosen from at least one of remote control button presses, messages and events received from client device, and messages and events received from rendering device.

10. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 6, wherein the schedule for data collection comprises at least one of start date and time, end date and time, and recurrence of data collection.

11. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 6, wherein the rate of data collection comprises at least one of reporting frequency, reporting granularity, and format of the reporting data.

12. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 5, wherein the central level AMS sub-system obtains and stores at least one of subscriber information, demographic information, socioeconomic data, national programming schedules, and national advertising data.

13. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 12, further comprising multiple a local node level AMS sub-systems, wherein the central level AMS subsystem determines which local node level AMS sub-systems to transmit the panel definitions to based on the criteria to be monitored and the data stored at the central level AMS sub-system.

14. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 13, wherein the central level AMS sub-system compiles the merged viewership reports from each local node level AMS sub-system.

15. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 13, wherein the local node level AMS sub-system determines which of the plurality of plurality of client level AMS sub-systems to transmit the panel definitions to based on the criteria to be monitored and the data stored at the central level AMS sub-system.

16. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 1, wherein at least one of a broadcaster subsystem and a service provider subsystem couples an identifier (ID) to at least one of a program or an advertisement.

17. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 16, wherein the ID is at least one of ISCI, Ad-ID, UMID, ISAN, V-ISAN, ADI, or TID.

18. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the broadcaster subsystem and the service provider sub-system couples metadata to at least one of a program or an advertisement.

19. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 18, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a start flag or an end flag.

20. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 16, wherein each client level AMS sub-system monitors and records events based on the panel definitions.

21. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 20, wherein the monitored events are at least one of channel watched, program watched, advertisement watched, remote control button pressed, viewer'"'"'s brainwaves, viewer'"'"'s body movements, viewer'"'"'s speech, and changes in viewer'"'"'s pupil size, temperature, pulse rate, perspiration, breathing, or blood pressure.

22. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 20, wherein the events are recorded with the ID of the program or advertisement that is being viewed at the time of the event.

23. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 20, wherein the client level AMS sub-system adjusts the playback of the content based on the monitored events.

24. The dynamic television audience measurement system of claim 23, wherein the adjustments to the playback of the content are chosen from changing the volume and turning off the display device.

25. A method of dynamically measuring a television audience with

an audience measurement system (AMS), comprising:

receiving panel definitions from panel requestors at a central level AMS sub-system;

merging the panel definitions at the central level AMS sub-system;

transmitting the merged panel definitions from the central level AMS sub-system to at least one local node level AMS sub-system;

receiving the merged panel definitions at local node level AMS sub-system;

generating client level specific configurations messages for at least a portion of the plurality of client level AMS sub-systems according to the merged panel definitions,

transmitting configuration messages according from the local node level AMS sub-system to a plurality of client level AMS sub-systems according to the merged panel definitions;

monitoring upstream and downstream load and optimizing bandwidth based on the monitored upstream and downstream load at the local node level AMS subsystem;

receiving at each of the client level AMS subsystem client level specific configurations messages from the local node level AMS subsystem according to the merged panel definitions;

asynchronously collecting information from both a client device and a display device coupled to each client level AMS sub-system for at least one client level specific configurations message;

compiling a viewership report comprising asynchronously collected monitoring criteria as the information collected from both the client device and the display device for at least one client level specific configurations message at each of the client level AMS subsystems;

transmitting each of the viewership reports from the client level AMS sub-systems to the local node level AMS sub-system;

receiving the viewership reports comprising the asynchronously collected monitoring criteria at the local node level AMS sub-system;

merging at least a portion of the asynchronously collected monitoring criteria into a merged viewership report for at least one received merged panel definition at the local node level AMS sub-system;

transmitting the merged viewership report from the local node level AMS sub-system to the central level AMS sub-system;

receiving the merged viewership report at the central level AMS subsystem; and

recombining at least a portion of the asynchronously collected monitoring criteria into at least one consolidated report for each panel requestor at the central level AMS subsystem.

26. The method claim 25, wherein the central level AMS sub-system is maintained by a broadcaster, pay TV service operator, broadband TV service operator, or advertisement agency.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the local node level AMS sub-system is maintained by a cable company, a satellite TV company, a broadband TV company, or an internet service provider.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein each client level AMS sub-system is stored on a set top box, a TV, a computer, a tablet, a smartphone, or a streaming media device.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the panel definitions comprise criteria to be monitored by each client level AMS sub-system.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the criteria to be monitored are chosen from the group comprising target audience, media content, data to be collected, schedule for data collection, and rate of data collection.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the target audience comprises at least one of viewer location, viewer demographic characteristics, viewer social characteristics, viewer socioeconomic characteristics, viewer housing characteristics, and viewer purchasing profile characteristics.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the media content comprises at least one of the source of the content, the advertisements displayed, the programs displayed, the channels, and the media packages purchased.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the data to be collected is chosen from at least one of rate of data collection, remote control button presses, messages and events received from client device, and messages and events received from rendering device.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the schedule for data collection comprises at least one of start date and time, end date and time, and recurrence of data collection.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the rate of data collection comprises at least one of reporting frequency, reporting granularity, and format of the reporting data.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the central level AMS sub-system obtains and stores at least one of subscriber information, demographic information, socioeconomic data, national programming schedules, and national advertising data.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein there are multiple local node level AMS sub-systems, further comprising the central level AMS sub-system determining which local node level AMS sub-systems to transmit the panel definitions to based on the criteria to be monitored and the data stored at the central level AMS sub-system.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the central level AMS subsystem compiling the merged viewership reports from each local node level AMS subsystem.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the local node level AMS subsystem determining which of the plurality of plurality of client level AMS subsystems to transmit the panel definitions to based on the criteria to be monitored and the data stored at the central level AMS sub-system.

40. The method of claim 25, further comprising at least one of a broadcaster subsystem and a service provider subsystem coupling an identifier (ID) to at least one of a program or an advertisement.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the ID is at least one of ISCI, Ad-ID, UMID, ISAN, V-ISAN, ADI, or TID.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising at least one of the broadcaster subsystem and the service provider subsystem coupling metadata to at least one of a program or an advertisement.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a start flag or an end flag.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein each client level AMS sub-system monitors and records events based on the panel definitions.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the monitored events are at least one of channel watched, program watched, advertisement watched, remote control button pressed, viewer'"'"'s brainwaves, viewer'"'"'s body movements, viewer'"'"'s speech, and changes in viewer'"'"'s pupil size, temperature, pulse rate, perspiration, breathing, or blood pressure.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the events are recorded with the ID of the program or advertisement that is being viewed at the time of the event.

47. The method of claim 44, further comprising the client level AMS subsystem adjusting the playback of the content based on the monitored events.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the adjustments to the playback of the content are chosen from changing the volume and turning off the display device.