Patents by Inventor Aaron Harsh

Aaron Harsh has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150227950
    Abstract: A system and methods for estimating network subscription coverage within or across various markets. The system generates estimates of viewers that subscribe to certain network subscription packages in various geographic markets. The estimates may be organized in different fashions, such as organized by households, by income or other demographic, etc. In some embodiments, the system iteratively scales an estimated viewership count in a given market based on existing subscription data across all the markets and demographic characteristics of the various markets. The system may also redistribute estimates based on market capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Vinson, Maria Loper, Aaron Harsh, Bruce Goerlich, Amir Yazdani, Jia Liu
  • Patent number: 9009749
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying tune data from set top boxes associated with televisions, video monitors, or other video playback devices that are likely powered off. In some embodiments, survival curves are constructed that predict a length of time before a video playback device is powered off after a tuning event. The survival curves are used to predict the likelihood that a video playback device is powered off. Viewership estimates made from tune data reported from set top boxes can be adjusted to take account of the video playback devices that are predicted to be powered off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Rentrak Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Harsh, Amir Yazdani, Michael Vinson, Bruce Goerlich
  • Patent number: 8930978
    Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments contemplate television viewing behavior data collected from a plurality of television set top boxes by using aggregation to detect an excess or a deficit in viewership for a group of television set top boxes. In some embodiments, a group of set top boxes can be associated with a particular television service provider, cable television head-end, or data warehouse. Additionally, some embodiments can clean television viewing behavior data by detecting and correcting aberrant viewership in a time series, e.g. based on a weekly or an approximately monthly frequency. In some embodiments, the aberrant viewership can be detected by calculating a minimum expected number of viewers for a day and comparing it to the actual number of households that reported viewers for that day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rentrak Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Vinson, Kim Hadfield, Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Maria Loper
  • Patent number: 8893165
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning television viewing behavior data collected from set top boxes by detecting and correcting various problems that can occur in the viewing data. Three problems that may be detected and corrected by the system include: overflows of memory buffers; inclusion of non-human generated tuning events; and presence of clock offsets. After cleaning the television viewing behavior data, the cleaned data may be used to analyze audience viewing behavior in a manner that achieves a higher degree of accuracy than can be achieved by using uncleaned television viewing behavior data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rentrak Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Hadfield, Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Maria Loper, Michael Vinson
  • Patent number: 8863166
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying tune data from set top boxes associated with televisions, video monitors, or other video playback devices that are likely powered off. In some embodiments, survival curves are constructed that predict a length of time before a video playback device is powered off after a tuning event. The survival curves are used to predict the likelihood that a video playback device is powered off. Viewership estimates made from tune data reported from set top boxes can be adjusted to take account of the video playback devices that are predicted to be powered off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Rentrak Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Harsh, Amir Yazdani, Michael Vinson, Bruce Goerlich
  • Publication number: 20140157293
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning television viewing behavior data collected from set top boxes by detecting and correcting various problems that can occur in the viewing data. Three problems that may be detected and corrected by the system include: overflows of memory buffers; inclusion of non-human generated tuning events; and presence of clock offsets. After cleaning the television viewing behavior data, the cleaned data may be used to analyze audience viewing behavior in a manner that achieves a higher degree of accuracy than can be achieved by using uncleaned television viewing behavior data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Rentrak Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Hadfield, Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Maria Loper, Michael Vinson
  • Publication number: 20140013345
    Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments contemplate television viewing behavior data collected from a plurality of television set top boxes by using aggregation to detect an excess or a deficit in viewership for a group of television set top boxes. In some embodiments, a group of set top boxes can be associated with a particular television service provider, cable television head-end, or data warehouse. Additionally, some embodiments can clean television viewing behavior data by detecting and correcting aberrant viewership in a time series, e.g. based on a weekly or an approximately monthly frequency. In some embodiments, the aberrant viewership can be detected by calculating a minimum expected number of viewers for a day and comparing it to the actual number of households that reported viewers for that day.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: RENTRAK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Vinson, Kim Hadfield, Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Maria Loper
  • Patent number: 8549551
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning television viewing behavior data collected from set top boxes by detecting and correcting various problems that can occur in the viewing data. Three problems that may be detected and corrected by the system include: overflows of memory buffers; inclusion of non-human generated tuning events; and presence of clock offsets. After cleaning the television viewing behavior data, the cleaned data may be used to analyze audience viewing behavior in a manner that achieves a higher degree of accuracy than can be achieved by using uncleaned television viewing behavior data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Rentrak Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Hadfield, Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Marla Loper, Michael Vinson
  • Publication number: 20130014148
    Abstract: A method cleans television viewing behavior data collected from a plurality of television set top boxes by using aggregation to detect an excess or a deficit in viewership for a group of television set top boxes. In various aspects, the group of set top boxes may be associated with a particular television service provider, cable television head-end, or data warehouse. Additionally, the method can clean television viewing behavior data by detecting and correcting aberrant viewership in a time series, that is based on a weekly or an approximately monthly frequency. The aberrant viewership can be detected by calculating a minimum expected number of viewers for a day, and comparing it to the actual number of households that reported viewers for that day.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Vinson, Kim Hadfield, Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Maria Loper
  • Publication number: 20130014147
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning television viewing behavior data collected from set top boxes by detecting and correcting various problems that can occur in the viewing data. Three problems that may be detected and corrected by the system include: overflows of memory buffers; inclusion of non-human generated tuning events; and presence of clock offsets. After cleaning the television viewing behavior data, the cleaned data may be used to analyze audience viewing behavior in a manner that achieves a higher degree of accuracy than can be achieved by using uncleaned television viewing behavior data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Kim Hadfield, Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Marla Loper, Michael Vinson
  • Publication number: 20120260280
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying tune data from set top boxes associated with televisions, video monitors, or other video playback devices that are likely powered off. In some embodiments, survival curves are constructed that predict a length of time before a video playback device is powered off after a tuning event. The survival curves are used to predict the likelihood that a video playback device is powered off. Viewership estimates made from tune data reported from set top boxes can be adjusted to take account of the video playback devices that are predicted to be powered off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Aaron Harsh, Amir Yazdani, Michael Vinson, Bruce Goerlich
  • Publication number: 20090240572
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a business transaction reporting system for use in tracking revenue from entertainment commodities distributed by one or more distribution parties. The distribution of the entertainment commodities is conducted through a plurality of entities that are independent from the distribution parties. In the embodiment, at least two of the entities are independent from one another. The system includes a plurality of point-of-sale (POS) computers operated at a plurality of locations. Each computer is operated by one of the independent entities and each POS computer hosts an application for recording entertainment unit transactions related to the entertainment commodities. The system further includes a central host computer system coupled to the POS computers to receive an accounting of the entertainment unit transactions, and a database configured to store, process, and report on the entertainment unit transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Rentrak Corporation
    Inventors: Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Loren Clevenger, Andrej Czapszys, Matt Smiley, Mike Johnson
  • Publication number: 20060122877
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring consumption of entertainment commodities distributed through at least two distribution channels by at least one distribution network operator to one or more media receivers. The methods include collecting consumption data from at least one distribution network operator. The at least one distribution network operator distributes entertainment commodities through at least a first distribution channel and a second distribution channel. The collected consumption data relates to entertainment commodities distributed through at least the first distribution channel and the second distribution channel. The collected consumption data includes at least one inconsistency. The collected consumption data is loaded into a computerized database adapted to store, process, and report on consumption. Cleaned consumption data is produced by reconciling consumption data inconsistencies. A consumption data report is based at least in part on the cleaned consumption data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Amir Yazdani, Ken Papagan, Cathy Hetzel, Aaron Harsh, Chris Behnke
  • Publication number: 20050038706
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a business transaction reporting system for use in tracking revenue from entertainment commodities distributed by one or more distribution parties. The distribution of the entertainment commodities is conducted through a plurality of entities that are independent from the distribution parties. In the embodiment, at least two of the entities are independent from one another. The system includes a plurality of point-of-sale (POS) computers operated at a plurality of locations. Each computer is operated by one of the independent entities and each POS computer hosts an application for recording entertainment unit transactions related to the entertainment commodities. The system further includes a central host computer system coupled to the POS computers to receive an accounting of the entertainment unit transactions, and a database configured to store, process, and report on the entertainment unit transactions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Amir Yazdani, Aaron Harsh, Loren Clevenger, Andrej Czapszys, Matt Smiley, Mike Johnson