Methods and apparatus for audience data collection and analysis in a content delivery network

• US 9,693,103 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Engel, Craig, Herrera, Ramon, Kin, Cory, Patel, Dipan, Saginaw, Johnathan, Cronk, Gary, Sami, Sohil, Tidwell, Justin, Anaya, Luis Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodchild, William
• Application Number:
  US14/304,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20140366051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 380200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0421 Anonymous communication, i.e. the party's identifiers are hidden from the other party or parties, e.g. using an anonymizer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/251 Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies details of learning user preferences for the retrieval of video data in a video database G06F16/739; computer systems using learning methods G06N3/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/4532 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 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for collection and processing of data relating to users of a content-delivery network. In one embodiment, the content delivery network is a cable or satellite or HFCu network, and the apparatus includes an architecture for routinely harvesting, parsing, processing, and storing data relating to the activities of the users (e.g., subscribers) of the network. In one variant, at least portions of the data are anonymized to protect subscriber privacy.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and analyzing of data relating to delivery of digital content via a digital network, said method comprising:

collecting a plurality of user activity data from one or more user devices in data communication with said digital network, said user activity data comprising data relating to usage or interaction by a user with said digital content via said one or more user devices, said plurality of user activity data collected via a collection entity in data communication with said network, each of said plurality of user activity data comprising at least a tune-in time for a user session;

receiving a plurality of digital reference data at said collection entity from a database in data communication with at least said collection entity, said digital reference data describing said digital content;

identifying one or more of said plurality of user activity data which lack a tune-out time corresponding to said tune-in time for said user session;

in response to said identification, excluding said identified one or more of said plurality of user activity data which lack said tune-out time;

correlating, via mapping logic stored on a storage device in data communication with said collection entity, at least a remaining portion of said user activity data to said reference data to create a plurality of viewing impressions, each of said remaining portion of said plurality of user activity data comprising said tune-out time corresponding to said tune-in time for said user session; and

transmitting said plurality of viewing impressions from said collection entity to an analysis entity for analysis thereof, said analysis entity in data communication with at least said collection entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of user activity data comprises tuning event data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

validating at least a portion of said plurality of user activity data;

anonymizing at least a portion of said plurality of user activity data; and

enriching at least a portion of said plurality of user activity data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said act of validating at least a portion of said data comprises ensuring a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a device associated with said plurality of user activity data comprises a MAC address of one of said one or more devices associated with said user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said act of anonymizing at least said portion of said plurality of user activity data comprises utilizing at least one obfuscation process to obfuscate said MAC address.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said act of enriching at least said portion of said plurality of user activity data comprises adding non-identifiable user-specific information to said plurality of user activity data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said analysis entity comprises a third party entity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said network comprises a managed network, and said analysis entity comprises a billing entity within said managed network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of user activity data further comprises information regarding one or more of:

a program viewed;

a start/end date/time of said program;

a tune-in event type;

a tune-out event type; and

an anonymized Media Access Control (MAC) address.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of identifying said one or more of said plurality of user activity data which lack said tune-out time corresponding to said tune-in time for said user session comprises:

calculating a duration of user inactivity after said start time; and

determining said duration of user inactivity is equal to or greater than a pre-determined threshold.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said act of identifying said one or more of said plurality of user activity data which lack said tune-out time corresponding to said tune-in time for said user session further comprises:

in response to determining said duration of user activity is equal to or greater than said pre-determined threshold, generating a forced tune-out time corresponding to said tune-in time for said user session; and

assigning an indicator of said forced tune-out time to each of said identified one or more of said plurality of user activity data which lack said tune-out time.

12. A method for managing digital data in an operator-managed digital content delivery network, said method comprising:

receiving a first plurality data at a collection entity in data communication with said managed digital content delivery network, said first plurality of data comprising a plurality of fields comprising data relating to a subscriber'"'"'s interaction with a plurality of content delivered thereto from at least one user device in data communication with said managed digital content delivery network;

determining validity of at least a portion of said first plurality of data so as to ensure said at least one user device from which said first plurality of data is received is associated with said subscriber;

in response to determining validity of said at least portion of said first plurality of data, parsing said validated portion of said first plurality of data to individual ones of said plurality of fields;

receiving a second plurality of data from a database in data communication with said managed digital content delivery network, said second plurality of data comprising reference data describing said plurality of content; and

processing said individual ones of said plurality of fields to generate a plurality of digital records correlating said individual ones of said plurality of fields to said reference data, said plurality of records correlating said individual ones of said plurality of fields to said reference data being utilized to describe a period of time in which said subscriber is presumed to be utilizing a particular one of said plurality of content at said at least one user device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting said plurality of records correlating said individual ones of said plurality of fields to said reference data to a computerized analysis entity configured to utilize information contained therein to derive viewing patterns.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting said plurality of records correlating said individual ones of said plurality of fields to said reference data to an analysis entity of said managed network configured to create at least one report describing behavior of said subscriber or a plurality of subscribers.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one report comprises a report of viewership of primary content contained within said particular one of said plurality of content for a plurality of user devices as a function of time, said plurality of user devices each associated with at least said subscriber, said at least one user device being one of said plurality of user devices.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one report comprises a report of viewership of secondary content contained within said particular one of said plurality of content for a plurality of user devices as a function of time, said plurality of user devices each associated with at least said subscriber, said at least one user device being one of said plurality of user devices.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one report comprises a report of video on demand (VOD) usage for a plurality of user devices, said plurality of user devices each associated with at least said subscriber, said at least one user device being one of said plurality of user devices.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one report comprises a report of trick mode operation of said at least one user device during playback of at least one of:

(i) primary content contained within said particular one of said plurality of content, and/or (ii) secondary content contained within said particular one of said plurality of content.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising implementing at least one error recovery mechanism in an instance where at least one other portion of said first plurality of data is determined to be not valid.

20. Apparatus for collection and analysis of data relating to delivery of content in a network, said apparatus comprising at least one collection entity comprising:

a first processor; and

a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a first computer program stored thereon, said first computer program configured to, when executed, cause said processor to;

collect a first plurality of data relating to a plurality of primary and secondary digital content delivered to a plurality of subscriber devices via said network; and

collect a second plurality of data relating to individual ones of a plurality of tuning events which occur at said plurality of subscriber devices, said plurality of subscriber devices each being associated with one or more of a plurality of subscribers, said second plurality of data comprising a plurality of fields;

determine validity of said second plurality of data;

in response to validation of at least a portion of said second plurality of data, parse said validated portion of said second plurality of data into individual ones of said plurality of fields; and

in response to invalidation of at least one other portion of said plurality of data relating to said individual ones of said plurality of tuning events, store said invalidated portion of said plurality of data relating to said individual ones of said plurality of tuning events in an error table.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising at least one analysis entity in data communication with said at least one collection entity, said at least one analysis entity comprising:

a second processor; and

a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a second computer program stored thereon, said second computer program configured to, when executed, cause said second processor to;

utilize said first plurality of data and said second plurality of data to correlate said plurality of tuning events to individual ones of said plurality of primary and secondary content; and

generate one or more reports configured to illustrate behaviors of said plurality of subscriber devices with respect to said primary and secondary content.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said first computer program is further configured to, when executed, cause said processor to:

anonymize said second plurality of data in order to obfuscate an identity of said plurality of subscriber devices from which said data is received.

23. Network apparatus for use in a network, comprising:

an interface configured to communicate with said network;

processing apparatus in communication with said interface; and

at least one storage device in communication with said processing apparatus, said storage device comprising a computer program which is configured to, when executed, cause said processing apparatus to;

obtain data relating to at least one of each primary and secondary content elements delivered to a plurality of client apparatus via said network;

collect a plurality of data relating to individual ones of a plurality of tuning events which occur at said plurality of client apparatus;

validate said plurality of collected data to identify one or more of a valid portion of said collected plurality of data and an invalid portion of said collected plurality of data;

in response to identification of said invalid portion of said collected plurality of data, implement at least one recovery mechanism to recycle said invalid portion of said collected plurality of data; and

in response to identification of said valid portion of said collected plurality of data, process said obtained data and said valid portion of said collected plurality of data so as to identify one or more correlations between said tuning events and said delivered primary and secondary content elements.