Patent classifications
H04H60/32
Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media devices
Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media devices are disclosed. An example network communications monitor includes network interface circuitry, computer readable instructions, and processor circuitry. The processor circuitry is to execute the computer readable instructions to detect, via the network interface circuitry, multiple network communications transmitted on a home network within the household, access panelist data that associates a panelist of the household with a panelist device of the panelist, determine, based on the panelist data, that one or more of the multiple network communications are associated with the panelist device, and cause storage of data identifying the one or more network communications in association with the panelist.
Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media devices
Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify media devices are disclosed. An example network communications monitor includes network interface circuitry, computer readable instructions, and processor circuitry. The processor circuitry is to execute the computer readable instructions to detect, via the network interface circuitry, multiple network communications transmitted on a home network within the household, access panelist data that associates a panelist of the household with a panelist device of the panelist, determine, based on the panelist data, that one or more of the multiple network communications are associated with the panelist device, and cause storage of data identifying the one or more network communications in association with the panelist.
DISPLAY DEVICE ON/OFF DETECTION METHODS AND APPARATUS
Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example display activity detectors disclosed herein are to extract regions from respective ones of captured video frames, the regions corresponding to a depiction of a display of a monitored media device Disclosed example display activity detectors are also to compute a distance metric that is to represent an amount a first one of the regions of a first one of the captured video frames differs from a corresponding second one of the regions of a second one of the captured video frames. Disclosed example display activity detectors are further to compare the distance metric to a threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.
DISPLAY DEVICE ON/OFF DETECTION METHODS AND APPARATUS
Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example display activity detectors disclosed herein are to extract regions from respective ones of captured video frames, the regions corresponding to a depiction of a display of a monitored media device Disclosed example display activity detectors are also to compute a distance metric that is to represent an amount a first one of the regions of a first one of the captured video frames differs from a corresponding second one of the regions of a second one of the captured video frames. Disclosed example display activity detectors are further to compare the distance metric to a threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.
BINARY TV
A binary TV system and a method for a binary TV system are provided. The binary TV system comprises a TV program managing module configured to acquire a user preference for TV programs, and generate messages of recommended actions to be performed by a TV; a content recommender module configured to analyze the user preference and generate a recommendation of TV programs matching the user preference; a channel monitoring module configured to monitor and recognize a current TV program a user is watching; an advertisements (Ads) detecting module configured to detect advertisements in a specific TV channel; and a TV controlling module configured to send the messages generated by the TV controlling module to the TV. The user and the TV is communicated with each other through a binary interaction.
Methods and apparatus to estimate population reach from different marginal rating unions
Example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate population reach for different unions based on marginal ratings. An example apparatus includes memory and processor circuitry to determine a population reach estimate of a union of time intervals for which media ratings data is available, the population reach estimate based on a pseudo universe estimate of a population audience corresponding to the union of the time intervals; determine a pseudo universe estimate of a recorded audience corresponding to the union of the time intervals; determine the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience based on the pseudo universe estimate of the recorded audience; and in response to a decision to update the pseudo universe estimate of the population audience to reduce an error of the population reach estimate output the population reach estimate of the union when the error of the population reach estimate satisfies a threshold.
Cross-party diagnostics
Techniques described herein improve viewer experience by leveraging the ability of a viewer's device to access an over-the-top (OTT) content via the device's multi-channel connections to an OTT content server. In an example embodiment, the device receives the OTT content via a first channel and performs cross-party diagnostic testing through a second channel. In this embodiment, a diagnostic app in the device compares measured signals in the first channel with a first set of threshold values and further compares acquired telemetry data in the second channel with a second set of threshold values. Based on the comparison results, the device determines the possible root cause of the interruption. Further, the device performs an in-depth diagnostic testing on a determined possible root cause (e.g., OTT content server) and sends an in-depth diagnostic report to a viewer.
Cross-party diagnostics
Techniques described herein improve viewer experience by leveraging the ability of a viewer's device to access an over-the-top (OTT) content via the device's multi-channel connections to an OTT content server. In an example embodiment, the device receives the OTT content via a first channel and performs cross-party diagnostic testing through a second channel. In this embodiment, a diagnostic app in the device compares measured signals in the first channel with a first set of threshold values and further compares acquired telemetry data in the second channel with a second set of threshold values. Based on the comparison results, the device determines the possible root cause of the interruption. Further, the device performs an in-depth diagnostic testing on a determined possible root cause (e.g., OTT content server) and sends an in-depth diagnostic report to a viewer.
Technique for usage forecasting in a switched digital video system
A plurality of digital video recorders are polled to extract data indicative of recordings scheduled thereon. The polling is carried out over a video content network by a component at a node in the video content network that is remote from the plurality of digital video recorders. At least a portion of the data is used to obtain a prediction of future switched digital video channel usage for the video content network. At least one network management activity is carried out on the video content network in response to the prediction of future switched digital video channel usage for the video content network.
Automatic content recognition with local matching
A media device and method execute computer instructions to: generate a first query fingerprint of media content; send the first query fingerprint to a server; and receive, from the server, an identification of a first channel being watched in response to the server finding a match to the first query fingerprint. The media device iteratively receives, from the server, a plurality of fingerprints generated from the media content in locations ahead of where the media content is being received; store the plurality of fingerprints in a local database of a computer-readable storage medium; and compare a second query fingerprint of the media content with the plurality of fingerprints to determine whether the media device remains set on the first channel, without continuously pinging the server. When the media device locally detects a non-match with the second query fingerprint, the process starts over with it finding a match at the server.