Methods and apparatus for audience data collection and analysis in a content delivery network
First Claim
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1. A method for anonymizing data collected by one or more computers in a data collection system of a content delivery network, said method comprising:
- collecting a first identifier data element, said first identifier data element uniquely identifying at least one client device in a first one of a plurality of households within said content delivery network;
determining a second identifier data element, said second identifier data element being descriptive of a geographic location associated with said at least one client device;
concatenating said first identifier data element and said second identifier data element to generate concatenated identifier elements automatically using a first computerized process;
converting digits of said concatenated identifier data elements to a first converted format yielding a first converted string of digits automatically using a second computerized process;
dividing said first converted string of digits into a plurality of first and second alternating segments automatically using a third computerized process, said first and second alternating segments each comprising n-bit data structures;
adjusting each of said plurality of first and second alternating segments to generate an adjusted plurality of segments by;
adding a first fixed value to said plurality of first segments and carrying an overflow to a plurality of adjacent segments automatically using a fourth computerized process; and
subtracting a second fixed value from said plurality of second segments automatically using a fifth computerized process;
converting said adjusted plurality of segments to a second converted format automatically using a sixth computerized process;
performing a first cryptographic hash of said second converted plurality of segments to produce one or more results automatically using a seventh computerized process; and
storing said one or more results on a computer readable storage apparatus for use in said anonymous data collection, said computer readable storage apparatus being in communication with said one or more computers of said data collection system.
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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.
311 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for anonymizing data collected by one or more computers in a data collection system of a content delivery network, said method comprising:
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collecting a first identifier data element, said first identifier data element uniquely identifying at least one client device in a first one of a plurality of households within said content delivery network; determining a second identifier data element, said second identifier data element being descriptive of a geographic location associated with said at least one client device; concatenating said first identifier data element and said second identifier data element to generate concatenated identifier elements automatically using a first computerized process; converting digits of said concatenated identifier data elements to a first converted format yielding a first converted string of digits automatically using a second computerized process; dividing said first converted string of digits into a plurality of first and second alternating segments automatically using a third computerized process, said first and second alternating segments each comprising n-bit data structures; adjusting each of said plurality of first and second alternating segments to generate an adjusted plurality of segments by; adding a first fixed value to said plurality of first segments and carrying an overflow to a plurality of adjacent segments automatically using a fourth computerized process; and subtracting a second fixed value from said plurality of second segments automatically using a fifth computerized process; converting said adjusted plurality of segments to a second converted format automatically using a sixth computerized process; performing a first cryptographic hash of said second converted plurality of segments to produce one or more results automatically using a seventh computerized process; and storing said one or more results on a computer readable storage apparatus for use in said anonymous data collection, said computer readable storage apparatus being in communication with said one or more computers of said data collection system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer readable apparatus comprising a non-transitory medium adapted to store a computer program for anonymizing data collected in a data collection system of a content delivery network, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed:
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collect a unique identifier data structure of a particular user of a network associated with at least one client device of a user; convert said unique identifier data structure to a first converted format which yields a first converted string of digits automatically using a first computerized process; divide said first converted string of digits into a plurality of odd n-bit segments alternating with a plurality of even n-bit segments automatically using a second computerized process; add a first fixed value to said plurality of even n-bit segments and carry overflow bits to a first adjacent odd segment automatically using a third computerized process to generate an adjusted plurality of even n-bit segments; subtract a second fixed value from said plurality of odd n-bit segments automatically using a fourth computerized process and borrow from a second adjacent even segment when needed to generate an adjusted plurality of odd n-bit segments; convert said adjusted plurality of odd n-bit segments and said adjusted plurality of even n-bit segments to a second converted format automatically using a fifth computerized process; and apply a cryptographic hash to said second converted format automatically using a sixth computerized process. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer implemented method for anonymizing data collected in a data collection system of a content delivery network, said method comprising:
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collecting at least one unique identifier data element associated with at least one subscriber device in a first one of a plurality of households, said at least one unique identifier data element comprising a plurality of digits; converting said plurality of digits to a first format yielding a converted string of digits automatically using a first computerized process; dividing said first format into a plurality of first and second alternating n-bit data structures automatically using a second computerized process; adding first fixed values to said plurality of first alternating n-bit data structures automatically using a third computerized process; subtracting second fixed values from said plurality of second alternating n-bit data structures and borrowing from an adjacent segment when necessary automatically using a fourth computerized process; converting said plurality of first and second alternating n-bit data structures to a second format automatically using a fifth computerized process; performing a cryptographic hash to said second format automatically using a sixth computerized process; and storing one or more results of said cryptographic hash on a computer readable storage apparatus for use in said anonymous data collection. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus configured to anonymize data collected in a data collection system of a content delivery network, said apparatus comprising:
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an interface; a storage apparatus; and a processor configured to execute at least one computer program thereon, said computer program comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed; obtain a unique identifier data element for at least one client device of a particular user of a network via said interface; convert said unique identifier data element to a first converted format, said first converted format comprising a first converted string of digits automatically using a first computerized process; divide said first converted string of digits into a plurality of odd n-bit segments alternating with a plurality of even n-bit segments automatically using a second computerized process; add a first fixed value to said plurality of even n-bit segments automatically using a third computerized process, and when overflow bits are present, carry said overflow bits to a first adjacent odd segment automatically using a fourth computerized process to generate an adjusted plurality of even n-bit segments; subtract a second fixed value from said plurality of odd n-bit segments automatically using a fifth computerized process, and when said second fixed value exceeds a value of specific ones of said plurality of odd n-bit segments, borrow from a second adjacent even segment automatically using a sixth computerized process to generate an adjusted plurality of odd n-bit segments; convert said adjusted plurality of odd n-bit segments and said adjusted plurality of even n-bit segments to a second converted format automatically using a seventh computerized process; and apply a cryptographic hash to said second converted format automatically using an eighth computerized process. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification