Patents by Inventor Dan Nelson

Dan Nelson 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: 20240119187
    Abstract: A field data capture system is disclosed. Comprising one or more computers comprising of a first computers having a processor, a memory, a communication hardware and a data storage. said first computers capable of storing and modifying a SLMS data records. a device application stored in said memory and execute in said processor of said first computers. said device application is configured for receiving, modifying and storing as an SLMS data records of an input of one or more starting points, one or more lines, one or more equipment arranged on said one or more lines, and one or more end points. said device application is configured for receiving one or more symbols, analyzing said one or more symbols, displaying a match for said one or more symbols, receiving a confirmation or rejection of said match, receiving one or more variables with said one or more symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Dan Miller, Ronald Nelson
  • Publication number: 20240080436
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, Dan Nelson
  • Patent number: 11924486
    Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein are to cause meter software to be provided to a compute device, the meter software executable by the compute device to monitor use of the compute device associated with presentation of media. Disclosed example solutions are also to collect demographic data of a user associated with the compute device, the demographic data collected from a source different from the compute device. Disclosed example solutions are further to obtain meter data from the compute device, the meter data generated by the meter software, and associate the meter data with the demographic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: David Howell Wright, Arun Ramaswamy, Dan Nelson, Glen Vilches
  • Patent number: 11831863
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, Dan Nelson
  • Patent number: 11784737
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed selectively generating and storing hashed reference signatures. An example method disclosed herein determining whether watermark coverage of a first media segment satisfies a dropout constraint, the first media segment corresponding to a first monitoring time interval of a media source feed and, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment does not satisfy the dropout constraint hashing first media signatures associated with the first media segment to generate corresponding first hashed signatures and generating first reference data for the first media segment, the first reference data including the first hashed signatures and the first media signatures. The example method further includes, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment satisfies the dropout constraint, generating second reference data for the first media segment, the second reference data including the first media signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Publication number: 20230141256
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, Dan Nelson
  • Publication number: 20230089158
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed selectively generating and storing hashed reference signatures. An example method disclosed herein determining whether watermark coverage of a first media segment satisfies a dropout constraint, the first media segment corresponding to a first monitoring time interval of a media source feed and, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment does not satisfy the dropout constraint hashing first media signatures associated with the first media segment to generate corresponding first hashed signatures and generating first reference data for the first media segment, the first reference data including the first hashed signatures and the first media signatures. The example method further includes, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment satisfies the dropout constraint, generating second reference data for the first media segment, the second reference data including the first media signatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Publication number: 20230068985
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to optimize reference signature matching using watermark matching. An example disclosed herein includes selecting first unhashed reference signatures to evaluate for a second time segment of monitoring data based on watermark coverage of a first time segment of the monitoring data, the monitoring data obtained from a meter monitoring media presented by a media device and comparing the first unhashed reference signatures with first unhashed monitored signatures from the second time segment of the monitoring data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 11575455
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to reduce false positive signature matches due to similar media segments in different reference media assets are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a signature matcher to compare monitored media signatures with a library of reference media signatures, the monitored media signatures associated with monitored media, the library of reference media signatures including sequences of reference signatures associated with respective reference media assets. Disclosed example apparatus also include a match information identifier to identify a number of different matched reference media assets associated with ones of the sequences of reference media signatures that match a sequence of matched monitored media signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: David H. Wright, Dan Nelson, Raghuram Ranganathan, Derrick McCulley
  • Patent number: 11546579
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, Dan Nelson
  • Publication number: 20220385961
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to identify candidates for media asset qualification. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a media creditor to determine whether to credit a first media asset to linear media or non-linear media, the non-linear media including subscription video on demand (SVOD). Disclosed example apparatus also include a media asset candidate controller to: classify the first media asset as a non-candidate for media asset qualification in response to the first media asset being credited to the linear media or the non-linear media. In some examples, the media asset candidate controller is to determine whether to classify the first media asset as a candidate for media asset qualification based on whether the first media asset remains uncredited by the media creditor and the first media asset overlaps a streaming period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Raghuram Ranganathan, David Howell Wright, James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross
  • Publication number: 20220345763
    Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein are to cause meter software to be provided to a compute device, the meter software executable by the compute device to monitor use of the compute device associated with presentation of media. Disclosed example solutions are also to collect demographic data of a user associated with the compute device, the demographic data collected from a source different from the compute device. Disclosed example solutions are further to obtain meter data from the compute device, the meter data generated by the meter software, and associate the meter data with the demographic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: David Howell Wright, Arun Ramaswamy, Dan Nelson, Glen Vilches
  • Patent number: 11469841
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed selectively generating and storing hashed reference signatures. An example method disclosed herein determining whether watermark coverage of a first media segment satisfies a dropout constraint, the first media segment corresponding to a first monitoring time interval of a media source feed and, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment does not satisfy the dropout constraint hashing first media signatures associated with the first media segment to generate corresponding first hashed signatures and generating first reference data for the first media segment, the first reference data including the first hashed signatures and the first media signatures. The example method further includes, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment satisfies the dropout constraint, generating second reference data for the first media segment, the second reference data including the first media signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 11438649
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to optimize reference signature matching using watermark matching. An example disclosed herein includes selecting first unhashed reference signatures to evaluate for a second time segment of monitoring data based on watermark coverage of a first time segment of the monitoring data, the monitoring data obtained from a meter monitoring media presented by a media device and comparing the first unhashed reference signatures with first unhashed monitored signatures from the second time segment of the monitoring data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 11388460
    Abstract: An example apparatus disclosed herein includes means for collecting demographic data of a user, including a phone number for a mobile device, via a website associated with an information gathering entity, the demographic data collected via the website from a personal computer, separate from the mobile device, used to access the website. The disclosed example apparatus also includes means for sending a message to the mobile device, the sent message, when responded to, resulting in downloading of a metering software module to the mobile device. The disclosed example apparatus further includes means for receiving, from the mobile device and at a system associated with the information gathering entity, information indicative of events associated with use of the mobile device, and means for associating the received information with the demographic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: David Howell Wright, Arun Ramaswamy, Dan Nelson, Glen Vilches
  • Publication number: 20220069931
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to reduce false positive signature matches due to similar media segments in different reference media assets are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a signature matcher to compare monitored media signatures with a library of reference media signatures, the monitored media signatures associated with monitored media, the library of reference media signatures including sequences of reference signatures associated with respective reference media assets. Disclosed example apparatus also include a match information identifier to identify a number of different matched reference media assets associated with ones of the sequences of reference media signatures that match a sequence of matched monitored media signatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: David H. Wright, Dan Nelson, Raghuram Ranganathan, Derrick McCulley
  • Publication number: 20210258566
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Christen V. Nielsen, Dan Nelson
  • Patent number: 11088772
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to reduce false positive signature matches due to similar media segments in different reference media assets are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a signature matcher to compare monitored media signatures with a library of reference media signatures, the monitored media signatures associated with monitored media, the library of reference media signatures including sequences of reference signatures associated with respective reference media assets. Disclosed example apparatus also include a match information identifier to identify a number of different matched reference media assets associated with ones of the sequences of reference media signatures that match a sequence of matched monitored media signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: David H. Wright, Dan Nelson, Raghuram Ranganathan, Derrick McCulley
  • Publication number: 20210175989
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed selectively generating and storing hashed reference signatures. An example method disclosed herein determining whether watermark coverage of a first media segment satisfies a dropout constraint, the first media segment corresponding to a first monitoring time interval of a media source feed and, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment does not satisfy the dropout constraint hashing first media signatures associated with the first media segment to generate corresponding first hashed signatures and generating first reference data for the first media segment, the first reference data including the first hashed signatures and the first media signatures. The example method further includes, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment satisfies the dropout constraint, generating second reference data for the first media segment, the second reference data including the first media signatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Publication number: 20210160568
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to optimize reference signature matching using watermark matching. An example disclosed herein includes selecting first unhashed reference signatures to evaluate for a second time segment of monitoring data based on watermark coverage of a first time segment of the monitoring data, the monitoring data obtained from a meter monitoring media presented by a media device and comparing the first unhashed reference signatures with first unhashed monitored signatures from the second time segment of the monitoring data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram RANGANATHAN