Patents by Inventor James Petro

James Petro 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: 20260143189
    Abstract: In one example, a method performed by an audience measurement computing system is described. The method includes determining a source identifier that identifies a media source from which media presented by a media presentation device at a media presentation environment is received. The method also includes using meter hash keys and the source identifier as a basis to select, from stored reference hash keys representing signatures of previously-identified media, a set of reference hash keys that match the meter hash keys and correspond to the source identifier, each reference hash key associated with a corresponding media identifier, where the meter hash keys are generated based on meter signatures representing the media. The method also includes identifying the media based on the set of reference hash keys. The method also includes generating exposure data that credits exposure of an audience member at the media presentation environment to the identified media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2026
    Publication date: May 21, 2026
    Inventors: James Petro, Daniel J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 12621071
    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: November 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 12556760
    Abstract: In one example, a method performed by an audience measurement computing system is described. The method includes determining a source identifier that identifies a media source from which media presented by a media presentation device at a media presentation environment is received. The method also includes using meter hash keys and the source identifier as a basis to select, from stored reference hash keys representing signatures of previously-identified media, a set of reference hash keys that match the meter hash keys and correspond to the source identifier, each reference hash key associated with a corresponding media identifier, where the meter hash keys are generated based on meter signatures representing the media. The method also includes identifying the media based on the set of reference hash keys. The method also includes generating exposure data that credits exposure of an audience member at the media presentation environment to the identified media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Daniel J. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20260046465
    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: October 20, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: Raghuram Ranganathan, David Howell Wright, James Petro, Daniel Nelson, Deborah Cross
  • Publication number: 20260039905
    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, and comparing the first unhashed reference signatures with first unhashed monitored signatures from the second time segment of the monitoring data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2025
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Publication number: 20260032309
    Abstract: A method and system for media-exposure monitoring. An example method includes a computing system receiving digital query signature data representing a media content item presented at a panelist site. Further, the method includes the computing system identifying the media content item, with the identifying being based on matching of the received digital query signature data with reference signature data. Still further, the method includes the computing system determining a streaming-media service that streamed the identified media content item to the panelist site for presentation, with the determining of the streaming-media service including finding an intersection of (i) a first set of one or more streaming-media services known to offer streaming of the media content item and (ii) a second set of one or more streaming-media services to which the panelist site subscribes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Inventors: James Petro, Jeremey M. Davis, Meryem Berrada, Robert Edward Taylor, Karem A. Fernandez, Sandeep Tapse
  • Patent number: 12457373
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Raghuram Ranganathan, David Howell Wright, James Petro, Daniel Nelson, Deborah Cross
  • Patent number: 12445680
    Abstract: A method and system for media-exposure monitoring. An example method includes a computing system receiving digital query signature data representing a media content item presented at a panelist site. Further, the method includes the computing system identifying the media content item, with the identifying being based on matching of the received digital query signature data with reference signature data. Still further, the method includes the computing system determining a streaming-media service that streamed the identified media content item to the panelist site for presentation, with the determining of the streaming-media service including finding an intersection of (i) a first set of one or more streaming-media services known to offer streaming of the media content item and (ii) a second set of one or more streaming-media services to which the panelist site subscribes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Jeremey M. Davis, Meryem Berrada, Robert Edward Taylor, Karem A. Fernandez, Sandeep Tapse
  • Patent number: 12445681
    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: July 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2025
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Publication number: 20250317607
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for identification of streaming activity and source for cached media on streaming devices. An example system stores, in a content identification information library, first content identification information of a first media presentation, wherein the first media presentation is a streamed media presentation; inspects a network connection of a media streaming device for network activity associated with a second media presentation; determine, in response to an absence of the network activity, the second media presentation is a cached media presentation; infers a streaming source of the second media presentation by matching second content identification information of the second media presentation with the first content identification information of the first media presentation; and generates a second media credit for the second media presentation that includes an inferred streaming source identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2025
    Publication date: October 9, 2025
    Inventors: James Petro, Daniel Neison, Sandeep Tapse
  • Patent number: 12363356
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for identification of streaming activity and source for cached media on streaming devices. An example system stores, in a content identification information library, first content identification information of a first media presentation, wherein the first media presentation is a streamed media presentation; inspects a network connection of a media streaming device for network activity associated with a second media presentation; determine, in response to an absence of the network activity, the second media presentation is a cached media presentation; infers a streaming source of the second media presentation by matching second content identification information of the second media presentation with the first content identification information of the first media presentation; and generates a second media credit for the second media presentation that includes an inferred streaming source identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Daniel Nelson, Sandeep Tapse
  • Publication number: 20250203155
    Abstract: In one example, a method performed by an audience measurement computing system is described. The method includes determining a source identifier that identifies a media source from which media presented by a media presentation device at a media presentation environment is received. The method also includes using meter hash keys and the source identifier as a basis to select, from stored reference hash keys representing signatures of previously-identified media, a set of reference hash keys that match the meter hash keys and correspond to the source identifier, each reference hash key associated with a corresponding media identifier, where the meter hash keys are generated based on meter signatures representing the media. The method also includes identifying the media based on the set of reference hash keys. The method also includes generating exposure data that credits exposure of an audience member at the media presentation environment to the identified media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: James Petro, Daniel J. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20250168448
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture to identify an episode number based on fingerprint and matched viewing information are disclosed. An example method includes processing meter data to identify a presented media based on a bumper included in a media, filtering the meter data based on the identification of the media, selecting a candidate episode, the candidate episode not associated with a known episode label, determining whether the candidate episode appears sequentially after a known episode for a threshold number of presentation locations, and labeling the candidate episode as the next sequential episode after the known episode in response to determining that the candidate episode appears sequentially after the known episode for the threshold number of presentation locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Sandeep Tapse, Albert T. Borawski
  • Publication number: 20250156508
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to credit unidentified media are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include a database updater to store a first group of signatures representative of unidentified media in a database, the first group of signatures obtained from a first media meter to monitor a first media presentation device, the first group of signatures associated with a first media exposure category based on media source information reported by the first media meter. Disclosed example apparatus also include 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 to monitor a second media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus further include a reporter to credit media exposure represented by the second group of signatures to the first media exposure category when the second group of signatures matches the first group of signatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Applicant: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Daniel Nelson, Raghuram Ranganathan, Sandeep Tapse
  • Publication number: 20250159270
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform media device asset qualification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least identify a first set of candidate media device assets for disqualification, the candidate media device assets including A) a signature and B) a media identifier that identifies media, generate a hash table using a second set of the candidate media device assets, determine one or more counts of matches between C) a first signature and a first media identifier of a first candidate media device asset of the second set and D) respective signatures and media identifiers of multiple ones of the second set using the hash table, the multiple ones of the second set not including the first candidate media device asset, and load the first signature into a reference database as a reference signature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson, James Petro, Albert T. Borawski
  • Publication number: 20250119615
    Abstract: A method and system for media-exposure monitoring. An example method includes a computing system receiving digital query signature data representing a media content item presented at a panelist site. Further, the method includes the computing system identifying the media content item, with the identifying being based on matching of the received digital query signature data with reference signature data. Still further, the method includes the computing system determining a streaming-media service that streamed the identified media content item to the panelist site for presentation, with the determining of the streaming-media service including finding an intersection of (i) a first set of one or more streaming-media services known to offer streaming of the media content item and (ii) a second set of one or more streaming-media services to which the panelist site subscribes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: James Petro, Jeremey M. Davis, Meryem Berrada, Robert Edward Taylor, Karem A. Fernandez, Sandeep Tapse
  • Patent number: 12271449
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to credit unidentified media are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include a database updater to store a first group of signatures representative of unidentified media in a database, the first group of signatures obtained from a first media meter to monitor a first media presentation device, the first group of signatures associated with a first media exposure category based on media source information reported by the first media meter. Disclosed example apparatus also include 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 to monitor a second media presentation device. Disclosed example apparatus further include a reporter to credit media exposure represented by the second group of signatures to the first media exposure category when the second group of signatures matches the first group of signatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: James Petro, Daniel Nelson, Raghuram Ranganathan, Sandeep Tapse
  • Publication number: 20250096917
    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: November 25, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Inventors: James Petro, Dan Nelson, Deborah Cross, Raghuram Ranganathan
  • Publication number: 20250086256
    Abstract: Examples described herein include methods and computing systems which may include examples of mapping watermark metadata to tagged signatures and matching those tagged signatures to mapped reference signatures. A tagged signature is a signature that is identified using a mapping of watermark metadata. The mapping to watermark metadata of a tagged signature (e.g., having stored data associated with the tagged signature) can include the use of a source identifier (e.g., a station identification), timestamps, a media asset identifier, and a time-in-content range. Computing systems are employed to identify media content using matched reference signatures, thereby also facilitating crediting of media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Raghuram Ranganathan, Kevin Rini, Joseph Wyatt Brewer, James Petro, Sandeep Tapse
  • Patent number: 12238354
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to perform media device asset qualification are disclosed. An example apparatus includes at least one memory, and at least one processor to execute instructions to at least identify a first set of candidate media device assets for disqualification, the candidate media device assets including A) a signature and B) a media identifier that identifies media, generate a hash table using a second set of the candidate media device assets, determine one or more counts of matches between C) a first signature and a first media identifier of a first candidate media device asset of the second set and D) respective signatures and media identifiers of multiple ones of the second set using the hash table, the multiple ones of the second set not including the first candidate media device asset, and load the first signature into a reference database as a reference signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Nelson, James Petro, Albert T. Borawski