Methods and apparatus to adaptively select sensor(s) to gather audience measurement data based on a variable system factor and a quantity of data collectible by the sensors

• US 9,088,821 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Mears, Paul M., Ramaswamy, Arun
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US14/027,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20140020007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 348/180, 705/14.44, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/50 characterised by the use of watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/90 characterised by the use of signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• 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 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/241 Operating system [OS] processes, e.g. server setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• 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 21/25891 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 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 : Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 : directed to client
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to adaptively gather audience information data are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus monitor system factor(s) and select one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors positioned to gather audience measurement data based on the monitored factor(s). Thus, the disclosed methods and apparatus adapt to the conditions they face by selecting an amount and/or type of audience measurement data they gather.

Claims

1. A method of gathering audience measurement data comprising:

determining a preference order of a plurality of sensors located to develop audience measurement data at a monitored site;

estimating available bandwidth of a communication channel between the monitored site and a remote site;

determining one or more of the plurality of sensors at the monitored site which are outputting valid data at the time of the estimate of available bandwidth;

determining a measure of an amount of data that can currently be gathered per unit of time by the one or more sensors outputting valid data;

determining a measure of an amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel based on the estimate of available bandwidth;

utilizing the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel to determine if a storage device at the remote site has available capacity to store at least a subset of the data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data; and

isolating at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data according to the preference order based on the measure of the amount of data that can currently be gathered by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel, and the available capacity of the storage device.

2. The method of claim 1, further including determining whether a second storage device at the monitored site has available capacity to buffer the data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data.

3. The method of claim 2, further including calculating, based on the estimate of available bandwidth and the measure of the amount of data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, an expected rate of growth of data buffered via the second storage device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the isolating of the at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data further includes removing the at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data having a lowest preference value in the preference order from the one or more sensors outputting valid data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a next sensor having a next lowest preference value in the preference order is removed from the one or more sensors outputting valid data until the data output by one or more remaining sensors outputting valid data is within the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel and within the available capacity of the storage device.

6. The method of claim 1, further including bringing an isolated sensor out of isolation based on a change in at least one of:

a) the determination of which of the plurality of sensors at the monitored site are outputting valid data, b) the measure of the amount of data that can currently be gathered by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, c) the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel, and d) the available capacity of the storage device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the isolating of the at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data further comprises at least one of ignoring and discarding data output by the isolated sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, further including adjusting an available bandwidth on the communication channel based on a processing speed of a processor to process data at the remote site.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of:

(a) an audio code sensor, (b) a video code sensor, (c) an audio signature sensor, (d) a video signature sensor, (e) a software meter sensor, (f) a digital bitstream sensor;

(g) an on-screen display sensor;

(h) an AMOL decoder;

(i) an audio watermarking sensor; and

(j) a video watermarking sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the preference order of the plurality of sensors is based on a fixed system factor including at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication channel;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

11. A computer readable storage device or storage disc comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to at least:

estimate available bandwidth of a communication channel between a monitored site and a remote site, the monitored site comprising a plurality of sensors located to develop audience measurement data at the monitored site;

identify one or more of the plurality of sensors at the monitored site which are outputting valid data at the time of the estimate of available bandwidth;

determine a measure of an amount of data that can currently be gathered per unit of time by the one or more sensors outputting valid data;

determine a measure of an amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel based on the estimate of available bandwidth;

utilize the measure of an amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel to determine if a storage device at the remote site has available capacity to store at least a subset of the data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data; and

isolate at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data based on a preference order associated with the sensors, the measure of the amount of data that can currently be gathered by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel, and the available capacity of the storage device.

12. The storage device or storage disc of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to determine whether a second storage device at the monitored site has available capacity to buffer the data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data.

13. The storage device or storage disc of claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to calculate, based on the estimate of available bandwidth and the measure of the amount of data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, an expected rate of growth of data buffered via the second storage device.

14. The storage device or storage disc of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to isolate the at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data by removing the at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data having a lowest preference value in the preference order from the one or more sensors outputting valid data.

15. The storage device or storage disc of claim 14, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to remove a next sensor having a next lowest preference value in the preference order from the one or more sensors outputting valid data until the data output by the one or more remaining sensors outputting valid data is within the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel and within the available capacity of the storage device.

16. The storage device or storage disc of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to bring an isolated sensor out of isolation based on a change in at least one of:

of a) the determination of which of the plurality of sensors at the monitored site are outputting valid data, b) the measure of the amount of data that can currently be gathered by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, c) the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel, and d) the available capacity of the storage device.

17. The storage device or storage disc of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to isolate the at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data by at least one of ignoring and discarding data output by the isolated sensor.

18. The storage device or storage disc of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to adjust an available bandwidth on the communication channel based on a processing speed of a processor to process data at the remote site.

19. The storage device or storage disc of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of:

(a) an audio code sensor, (b) a video code sensor, (c) an audio signature sensor, (d) a video signature sensor, (e) a software meter sensor, (f) a digital bitstream sensor;

(g) an on-screen display sensor;

(h) an AMOL decoder;

(i) an audio watermarking sensor; and

(j) a video watermarking sensor.

20. The storage device or storage disc of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors is organized according to the preference order based on a fixed system factor including at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication channel;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

21. A system to gather audience measurement data comprising:

a bandwidth sensor to estimate available bandwidth of a communication channel between a monitored site and a remote site, the monitored site including a plurality of sensors located to develop audience measurement data at the monitored site;

a sensor tester to identify one or more of the plurality of sensors at the monitored site which are outputting valid data at the time of the estimate of available bandwidth;

an output measuring unit to determine a measure of an amount of data per unit of time that can currently be gathered by the one or more sensors which are outputting valid data;

the bandwidth sensor to determine a measure of an amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel based on the estimate of available bandwidth;

a storage monitor to utilize the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel to determine if a storage device at the remote site has available capacity to store at least a subset of the data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data; and

a switch to isolate at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data based on a preference order associated with the sensors, the measure of the amount of data that can currently be gathered by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel, and the available capacity of the storage device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the storage monitor is to determine whether a second storage device at the monitored site has available capacity to buffer the data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the storage monitor is to calculate, based on the estimate of available bandwidth and the measure of the amount of data output by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, an expected rate of growth of data buffered via the second storage device.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the switch is to isolate the at least one of the sensors outputting valid data by removing the at least one of the one or more sensors outputting valid data having a lowest preference value in the preference order from the set of one or more sensors outputting valid data.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the switch is to isolate the at least one of the sensors outputting valid data by removing a next sensor having a next lowest preference value in the preference order from the one or more sensors outputting valid data until the data output by the one or more remaining sensors outputting valid data is within the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel and within the available capacity of the storage device.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the switch is to bring an isolated sensor out of isolation based on a change in at least one of:

of a) the determination of which of the plurality of sensors at the monitored site are outputting valid data, b) the measure of the amount of data that can currently be gathered by the one or more sensors outputting valid data, c) the measure of the amount of data that can currently be transmitted over the communication channel, and d) the available capacity of the storage device.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the switch is to isolate the at least one of the sensors outputting valid data by at least one of ignoring and discarding data output by the isolated sensor.

28. The system of claim 21, further including a processing speed tester to adjust an available bandwidth on the communication channel based on a processing speed of a processor at the remote site.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one of:

(a) an audio code sensor, (b) a video code sensor, (c) an audio signature sensor, (d) a video signature sensor, (e) a software meter sensor, (f) a digital bitstream sensor;

(g) an on-screen display sensor;

(h) an AMOL decoder;

(i) an audio watermarking sensor; and

(j) a video watermarking sensor.

30. The system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of sensors is organized according to the preference order based on a fixed system factor including at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.