Patents by Inventor Gavin McMillan

Gavin McMillan 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: 20240137609
    Abstract: Example local devices disclosed herein include memory including a set of reference fingerprints corresponding to media, the set of reference fingerprints from a remote device different from the local device and one or more processor circuits to execute machine readable instructions to generate a monitored fingerprint of the media presented at a location and compare the monitored fingerprint to at least some of the set of reference fingerprints from the remote device. Additionally, the one or more processor circuits are to determine an amount of time that has passed since the media started and after a match between the monitored fingerprint and one or more reference fingerprints of the set of reference fingerprints, cause transmission of audience measurement information to identify the media, the audience measurement information including data indicative of the amount of time that has passed since the media started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 1, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Francis Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11910046
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to verify and/or correct media lineup information are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include means for determining reference media, the means for determining reference media to identify a plurality of first signatures in a database that matches a plurality of second signatures included in media presentation data representative of media output by a media device in response to a mismatch between the media presentation data and reference data associated with first reference media corresponding to a first station, the plurality of second signatures generated from the media output by the media device; and determine second reference media corresponding to the plurality of first signatures; and means for storing the media presentation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11863821
    Abstract: Example local devices disclosed herein include memory including a set of reference fingerprints corresponding to media, the set of reference fingerprints from a remote device different from the local device and one or more processor circuits to execute machine readable instructions to generate a monitored fingerprint of the media presented at a location and compare the monitored fingerprint to at least some of the set of reference fingerprints from the remote device. Additionally, the one or more processor circuits are to determine an amount of time that has passed since the media started and after a match between the monitored fingerprint and one or more reference fingerprints of the set of reference fingerprints, cause transmission of audience measurement information to identify the media, the audience measurement information including data indicative of the amount of time that has passed since the media started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Francis Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11863820
    Abstract: Example device meters disclosed herein include a signature reporter to report, to a data processor, media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device Disclosed example device meters also include a signature generator to (i) generate the media signatures of the first type, (ii) generate media signatures of a second type, different from the first type, to continue monitoring the media presented by the media device after receipt, from the data processor, of an indication that a first media signature of the first type is associated with first reference media, and (iii) in response to detection at the device meter of a change in a source of the media presented by the media device, revert to generation of the media signatures of the first type to monitor the media presented by the media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Francis Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11825140
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to correlate census measurement data with panel data. An example system includes accessing means to access a message sent from a requesting device in response to accessing media that includes a tag causing the requesting device to send the message to a monitoring entity with an identification of a geographic location of the requesting device and media identifying information. The example system also includes identification means to determine locations of a plurality of panelist homes and compare the geographic location of the requesting device with the locations of the panelist homes. The example system also includes associating means to identify a user of the requesting device as a panelist residing at the first panelist home and associate the media identifying information with panelist data associated with the first one of the panelist homes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Publication number: 20230126218
    Abstract: Example local devices disclosed herein include memory including a set of reference fingerprints corresponding to media, the set of reference fingerprints from a remote device different from the local device and one or more processor circuits to execute machine readable instructions to generate a monitored fingerprint of the media presented at a location and compare the monitored fingerprint to at least some of the set of reference fingerprints from the remote device. Additionally, the one or more processor circuits are to determine an amount of time that has passed since the media started and after a match between the monitored fingerprint and one or more reference fingerprints of the set of reference fingerprints, cause transmission of audience measurement information to identify the media, the audience measurement information including data indicative of the amount of time that has passed since the media started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventor: Francis Gavin McMillan
  • Publication number: 20220385963
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to verify and/or correct media lineup information are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include means for determining reference media, the means for determining reference media to identify a plurality of first signatures in a database that matches a plurality of second signatures included in media presentation data representative of media output by a media device in response to a mismatch between the media presentation data and reference data associated with first reference media corresponding to a first station, the plurality of second signatures generated from the media output by the media device; and determine second reference media corresponding to the plurality of first signatures; and means for storing the media presentation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11412286
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to verify and/or correct media lineup information are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include a signature comparator to, when media presentation data representative of media output by a media device does not correspond to reference data associated with first reference media corresponding to a first station: identify a plurality of first signatures in a database that matches a plurality of second signatures included in the media presentation data, the plurality of first signatures including at least one of first audio signatures or first video signatures, the plurality of second signatures including at least one of second audio signatures or second video signatures generated from the media output by the media device; and determine second reference media corresponding to the plurality of first signatures; and memory to store the media presentation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11368765
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify linear and non-linear media presentations are disclosed. An example method to determine whether a media presentation is a linear or a non-linear media presentation comprises generating a reference log comprising a first media identifier of first media and a time at which the first media was presented, accessing a media presentation log comprising a second media identifier of second media and a time at which the second media was presented, and determining whether the second media correspond to a linear media presentation or a non-linear media presentation by comparing the media presentation log to the reference log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Publication number: 20220103382
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying media are described. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, instructions in the apparatus; and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: determine application identification information for a media presentation application executing on a media device; determine a first watermark for the application identification information from a lookup table; request media identification information for media from the media presentation application; determine a second watermark for the media identification information from the lookup table; insert the first watermark in the media prior to output of the media by the media device; and insert the second watermark in the media prior to the output of the media by the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventor: Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11233664
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying media are described. Example methods disclosed herein include presenting a graphical enable button via a display of a media presentation device, the graphical enable button, when selected, is to enable monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to monitor media presented by the media presentation device, the monitoring functionality to be disabled by default. Disclosed example methods also include detecting a first user input corresponding to selection of the graphical enable button and, in response to detection of the first user input: (i) enabling the monitoring functionality implemented by the media presentation device, and (ii) transmitting, via a network interface, information to a remote monitoring entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Gavin McMillan
  • Publication number: 20210345015
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify linear and non-linear media presentations are disclosed. An example method to determine whether a media presentation is a linear or a non-linear media presentation comprises generating a reference log comprising a first media identifier of first media and a time at which the first media was presented, accessing a media presentation log comprising a second media identifier of second media and a time at which the second media was presented, and determining whether the second media correspond to a linear media presentation or a non-linear media presentation by comparing the media presentation log to the reference log.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Publication number: 20210314660
    Abstract: Example device meters disclosed herein include a signature reporter to report, to a data processor, media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device Disclosed example device meters also include a signature generator to (i) generate the media signatures of the first type, (ii) generate media signatures of a second type, different from the first type, to continue monitoring the media presented by the media device after receipt, from the data processor, of an indication that a first media signature of the first type is associated with first reference media, and (iii) in response to detection at the device meter of a change in a source of the media presented by the media device, revert to generation of the media signatures of the first type to monitor the media presented by the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventor: Francis Gavin McMillan
  • Publication number: 20210281900
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to verify and/or correct media lineup information are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include a signature comparator to, when media presentation data representative of media output by a media device does not correspond to reference data associated with first reference media corresponding to a first station: identify a plurality of first signatures in a database that matches a plurality of second signatures included in the media presentation data, the plurality of first signatures including at least one of first audio signatures or first video signatures, the plurality of second signatures including at least one of second audio signatures or second video signatures generated from the media output by the media device; and determine second reference media corresponding to the plurality of first signatures; and memory to store the media presentation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11102557
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify linear and non-linear media presentations are disclosed. An example method to determine whether a media presentation is a linear or a non-linear media presentation comprises generating a reference log comprising a first media identifier of first media and a time at which the first media was presented, accessing a media presentation log comprising a second media identifier of second media and a time at which the second media was presented, and determining whether the second media correspond to a linear media presentation or a non-linear media presentation by comparing the media presentation log to the reference log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11044523
    Abstract: Example apparatus disclosed herein include means for processing media signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device, the processing of the media signatures of the first type to be performed until a first media signature of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for processing media signatures of a second type associated with the first reference media to monitor the media presented by the media device, the processing of the media signatures of the second type to begin after the first media signature of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type, the processing of the media signatures of the second type to end when a number of media signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Francis Gavin McMillan
  • Publication number: 20210176511
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to correlate census measurement data with panel data. An example system includes accessing means to access a message sent from a requesting device in response to accessing media that includes a tag causing the requesting device to send the message to a monitoring entity with an identification of a geographic location of the requesting device and media identifying information. The example system also includes identification means to determine locations of a plurality of panelist homes and compare the geographic location of the requesting device with the locations of the panelist homes. The example system also includes associating means to identify a user of the requesting device as a panelist residing at the first panelist home and associate the media identifying information with panelist data associated with the first one of the panelist homes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 11019386
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to verify and/or correct media lineup information are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include a comparator to compare media presentation data representative of media output by a set top box to reference data corresponding to a first station to determine whether the media presentation data corresponds to the reference data, the media presentation data collected while the set top box was tuned to a first channel number. The comparator is also to determine a second station that corresponds to the media presentation data when the media presentation data does not correspond to the reference data, and relate the first channel number to the second station to create a second channel map to replace a first channel map that related the first channel number to the first station based on channel lineup information for the set top box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Patent number: 10869075
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed to correlate census measurement data with panel data. An example system includes accessing means to access a message sent from a requesting device in response to accessing media that includes a tag causing the requesting device to send the message to a monitoring entity with an identification of a geographic location of the requesting device and media identifying information. The example system also includes identification means to determine locations of a plurality of panelist homes and compare the geographic location of the requesting device with the locations of the panelist homes. The example system also includes associating means to identify a user of the requesting device as a panelist residing at the first panelist home and associate the media identifying information with panelist data associated with the first one of the panelist homes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan
  • Publication number: 20200366969
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to identify linear and non-linear media presentations are disclosed. An example method to determine whether a media presentation is a linear or a non-linear media presentation comprises generating a reference log comprising a first media identifier of first media and a time at which the first media was presented, accessing a media presentation log comprising a second media identifier of second media and a time at which the second media was presented, and determining whether the second media correspond to a linear media presentation or a non-linear media presentation by comparing the media presentation log to the reference log.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventor: F. Gavin McMillan