METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING VIEWING INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH A DIGITAL MEDIA DEVICE

• US 20070186229A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Conklin, Charles, Milavsky, Joseph, Nielsen, Christen
• Granted Patent: US 8,505,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/23 using cryptography, e.g. encryption, authentication, key distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device are disclosed. In an example method, data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device is monitored. Event information associated with the digital media device is extracted from the data and the viewing information is identified based on the event information.

Claims

1. A method for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device comprising:

monitoring data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device;

extracting event information associated with the digital media device from the data; and

identifying the viewing information based on the event information, wherein identifying the viewing information based on the event information comprises identifying at least one of a channel tuned to by the digital media device or a tuning source associated with the channel.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein monitoring the data conveyed via the data bus comprises monitoring for a data packet having a characteristic.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein monitoring the data conveyed via the data bus comprises monitoring for at least one of a predefined-size data packet or a data packet having one of encrypted data or unencrypted data conveyed via the data bus.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein extracting the event information associated with the digital media device from the data comprises extracting a sequence of events record from the data.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein identifying the viewing information based on the event information further comprises identifying at least one of program information, operating mode information, or recording information.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the program information comprises at least one of a title, a filename, or duration associated with a program.

7. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the operating mode information comprises a time-shift speed associated with the digital media device corresponding to at least one of a play mode, a stop mode, a pause mode, a fast forward mode, a rewind mode, or a slow play mode.

8. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the recording information comprises at least one of a single recording mode or a repeated recording mode associated with a program.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus uses at least one of a serial configuration or a parallel configuration.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus operates in accordance with an integrated drive electronics standard.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one of a magnetic storage medium, a solid state storage medium, or an optical storage medium.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the digital media device comprises at least one of a set top box or a digital video recording device.

13. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising transmitting the viewing information to a data collection facility.

14. An apparatus for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device comprising:

a monitor communicatively coupled to a data bus and configured to monitor data conveyed between a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device via the data bus;

an extractor coupled to the monitor and configured to extract event information associated with the digital media device from the data, wherein extracting the event information comprises extracting a sequence of events record; and

an identifier coupled to the extractor and configured to identify the viewing information based on the event information.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the monitor is configured to monitor for a data packet having a characteristic.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the monitor is configured to monitor for at least one of a predefined-size data packet or a data packet having one of encrypted data or unencrypted data conveyed via the data bus.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the viewing information comprises at least one of channel information, program information, operating mode information, or recording information.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the channel information comprises at least one of a channel tuned to by the digital media device or a tuning source associated with the channel.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the program information comprises at least one of a title, a filename, or duration associated with a program.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the time-shift mode information comprises a time-shift speed associated with the digital media device corresponding to at least one of a play mode, a stop mode, a pause mode, a fast forward mode, a rewind mode, or a slow play mode.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the recording information comprises at least one of a single recording event or a repeated recording event.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the data bus uses at least one of a serial configuration or a parallel configuration.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one of a magnetic storage medium, a solid state storage medium, or an optical storage medium.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the digital media device comprises at least one of a set top box or a digital video recording device.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 further comprising a communication interface configured to transmit the viewing information to a data collection facility.

26. A machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed, cause a machine to:

monitor data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with a digital media device;

extract event information associated with the digital media device from the data; and

identify viewing information associated with the digital media device based on the event information by identifying at least one of a channel tuned to by the digital media device or a tuning source associated with the channel.