US 12,271,449 B2
Methods and apparatus to credit unidentified media
James Petro, Dunedin, FL (US); Daniel Nelson, Tampa, FL (US); Raghuram Ranganathan, Tampa, FL (US); and Sandeep Tapse, Oldsmar, FL (US)
Assigned to The Nielsen Company (US), LLC, New York, NY (US)
Filed by The Nielsen Company (US), LLC, New York, NY (US)
Filed on Aug. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/408,174.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/217,060, filed on Jun. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0004628 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. G06F 21/16 (2013.01); G06F 16/435 (2019.01); H04N 21/43 (2011.01)
CPC G06F 21/16 (2013.01) [G06F 16/435 (2019.01); H04N 21/43 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus to credit unidentified media, the apparatus comprising:
a database updater to store a first group of signatures representative of unidentified media in a first database, the first group of signatures obtained from a first media meter that is to monitor a first media presentation device, the first group of signatures associated with a first media exposure category based on media source information associated with the first group of signatures, the media source information reported by the first media meter, wherein the media source information is to indicate a media source associated with the first group of signatures is at least one of an over-the-air antenna, a cable set top box, a satellite set top box or a tuner of the first media presentation device;
a source detection creditor to classify the first group of signatures in the first media exposure category based on the media source information and not being associated with a watermark, the first media exposure category to represent linear television broadcasts for at least one unknown television channel;
a media comparator to compare a second group of signatures with the first group of signatures, the second group of signatures obtained from a second media meter that is to monitor a second media presentation device; and
a reporter to credit media exposure represented by the second group of signatures to the first media exposure category in response to a determination that the second group of signatures matches the first group of signatures.