Patents by Inventor Michael Sheppard

Michael Sheppard 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: 20260320016
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate cardinality of users represented across multiple bloom filter arrays are disclosed. Examples includes processor circuitry to execute and/or instantiate instructions to generate a first composite Bloom filter array based on first and second Bloom filter arrays. The processor circuitry is to generate a final composite Bloom filter array based on the first composite Bloom filter array and a third Bloom filter array. Different ones of the first, second, and third Bloom filter arrays representative of different sets of users who accessed media. The first, second, and third Bloom filter arrays including differential privacy noise. The processor circuitry to estimate a cardinality of a union of the first, second, and third Bloom filter arrays based on the final composite Bloom filter array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2026
    Publication date: October 15, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, DongBo Cui, Jake Ryan Dailey, Christie Nicole Summers, Diane Morovati Lopez, Molly Poppie
  • Patent number: 12762581
    Abstract: Disclosed examples determine a unique audience exposed to media while reducing memory resources of a computing device. Example instructions program programmable circuitry to log a plurality of impressions corresponding to media accessed at client devices; generate a first value based on a count of the impressions and a count of users of a database proprietor that accessed the media; generate a second value based on the first value and a count of demographic impressions logged by the database proprietor; and determine a unique audience size based on the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2025
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Peter Lipa, Matthew B. Reid, Peter C. Doe, Peng Fei Yi
  • Publication number: 20260311010
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems to determine a conditional probability based on audience member probability distributions for media audience measurement are disclosed. Disclosed example methods for media audience measurement include determining a first audience probability distribution for a first member of a household and determining a second audience probability distribution for a second member of the household. Disclosed example methods also include calculating probabilities for audience combinations of the first member and the second member of the household based on the first audience probability distribution and the second audience probability distribution. Disclosed example methods further include determining a household audience characteristic probability based on the calculated probabilities of the audience combinations of the household. The household audience characteristic indicates likelihoods of different possible audience compositions of the household for a media event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2026
    Publication date: October 8, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Paul Donato, Peter C. Doe
  • Patent number: 12737325
    Abstract: Methods and systems to estimate audience measurement metrics based on users represented in Bloom filter arrays are disclosed. An apparatus includes a communications interface to receive a first Bloom filter array from a first computer of a first database proprietor. The first Bloom filter array is representative of first users who accessed media. The first users are registered with the first database proprietor. The first Bloom filter array includes a first array of first elements. Values of respective ones of the first elements are either a 0 or a 1 based on whether quantities of the first users allocated to the respective ones of the first elements are even or odd. The apparatus further includes a Bloom filter array analyzer to estimate a first cardinality for the first Bloom filter array. The first cardinality is indicative of a total number of the first users who accessed the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jake Ryan Dailey, Dongbo Cui, Jonathan Sullivan, Diane Morovati Lopez, Christie Nicole Summers, Molly Poppie
  • Publication number: 20260220104
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate audience sizes using deduplication based on binomial sketch data are disclosed. An apparatus includes processor circuitry to instantiate coefficient analyzer circuitry to determine coefficient values of a polynomial based on (i) variances in values in the first sketch data and second sketch data, (ii) a first cardinality of the first sketch data, and (iii) a second cardinality of the second sketch data. The processor circuitry to instantiate overlap analyzer circuitry to determine a real root of the polynomial, the real root corresponding to the quantity of the second subscribers that are duplicates of the first subscribers. The processor circuitry to instantiate report generator circuitry to estimate a deduplicated audience size based on the estimate of the quantity of the second subscribers that are duplicates of the first subscribers and the first and second cardinalities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2026
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan L. Sullivan, Jake Ryan Dailey, Damien Forthomme, Jessica D. Brinson, Molly Poppie, Christie Nicole Summers, Diane Morovati Lopez
  • Publication number: 20260212381
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate cardinality across multiple datasets represented using Bloom filter arrays are disclosed. Disclosed examples include processor circuitry to execute and/or instantiate instructions to determine an inclusion-exclusion expression that defines an audience size for a user group of interest. Terms in the inclusion-exclusion expression corresponding to either a first cardinality of a first one of at least three Bloom filter arrays or a second cardinality of a union of two or more of the Bloom filter arrays. Different ones of the Bloom filter arrays representative of different sets of users who accessed media. The at least one processor further to estimate, based on the inclusion-exclusion expression, the audience size of the user group of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2026
    Publication date: July 23, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Diane Morovati Lopez, Jake Ryan Dailey, Christie Nicole Summers, Molly Poppie
  • Patent number: 12689799
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate an audience population. An example apparatus includes at least one memory; instructions in the apparatus; and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: determine whether respective ones of respondents are associated with a characteristic; detect unique instances of the respective ones of the respondents; in response to the respective ones of the respondents being associated with the characteristic, increase a sample capture count by one; in response to detecting the unique instances of the respective ones of the respondents exhibiting the characteristic, increase a unique capture count by one; determine a seed population estimate based on the unique capture count; and determine a population estimate having the characteristic based on the sample capture count, the unique capture count, the seed population estimate, and a number of available samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Ludo Daemen, Edward Murphy, Molly Poppie
  • Patent number: 12682263
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems to determine a conditional probability based on audience member probability distributions for media audience measurement are disclosed. Disclosed example methods for media audience measurement include determining a first audience probability distribution for a first member of a household and determining a second audience probability distribution for a second member of the household. Disclosed example methods also include calculating probabilities for audience combinations of the first member and the second member of the household based on the first audience probability distribution and the second audience probability distribution. Disclosed example methods further include determining a household audience characteristic probability based on the calculated probabilities of the audience combinations of the household. The household audience characteristic indicates likelihoods of different possible audience compositions of the household for a media event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Paul Donato, Peter C. Doe
  • Publication number: 20260187661
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to apply household-level weights to audience measurement data at a household-member level are disclosed. An example method to determine demographics of populations to measure media audiences of populations includes determining demographics for members of a first household of a sub-population. First demographics of a first member of the first household are different than second demographics of a second member of the first household. The example method includes calculating a first household-level weight for the first household based on a demographics distribution of the sub-population and aggregate demographics of a population.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Peter Lipa, Alejandro Terrazas
  • Publication number: 20260187047
    Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating the frequency table of a data set stored in a probabilistic data structure such as a counting Bloom filter or Count-Min sketch. The system observes the distribution of values in the counters of the data structure (e.g., how many counters have value 0, 1, 2, etc.) Using these observed values, the system iteratively calculates the number of unique items in the data set that appear with specific frequencies. The method accounts for hash collisions by modeling the probability that a counter value results from a single item versus multiple colliding items, allowing for the reconstruction of the item frequency distribution without querying individual elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2025
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventor: Michael Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20260187073
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for efficiently estimating the number of unique elements in a collection of elements comprises generating, via hash logic, hash values for each element of the collection of elements. The method further comprises specifying, in a sketch-frequency table, a set of discrete statistical values associated with the hash values and, for each discrete statistical value of the set of discrete statistical values, information indicative of a frequency at which binary representations of the hash values are associated with the discrete statistical value. The cardinality of the collection of elements is estimated based on the sketch-frequency table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2026
    Publication date: July 2, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Edward Murphy, Jonathan Sullivan
  • Patent number: 12602360
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate audience sizes using deduplication based on binomial sketch data are disclosed. An apparatus includes processor circuitry to instantiate coefficient analyzer circuitry to determine coefficient values of a polynomial based on (i) variances in values in the first sketch data and second sketch data, (ii) a first cardinality of the first sketch data, and (iii) a second cardinality of the second sketch data. The processor circuitry to instantiate overlap analyzer circuitry to determine a real root of the polynomial, the real root corresponding to the quantity of the second subscribers that are duplicates of the first subscribers. The processor circuitry to instantiate report generator circuitry to estimate a deduplicated audience size based on the estimate of the quantity of the second subscribers that are duplicates of the first subscribers and the first and second cardinalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan L. Sullivan, Jake Ryan Dailey, Damien Forthomme, Jessica D. Brinson, Molly Poppie, Christie Nicole Summers, Diane Morovati Lopez
  • Patent number: 12602702
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate cardinality across multiple datasets represented using Bloom filter arrays are disclosed. Disclosed examples include processor circuitry to execute and/or instantiate instructions to determine an inclusion-exclusion expression that defines an audience size for a user group of interest. Terms in the inclusion-exclusion expression corresponding to either a first cardinality of a first one of at least three Bloom filter arrays or a second cardinality of a union of two or more of the Bloom filter arrays. Different ones of the Bloom filter arrays representative of different sets of users who accessed media. The at least one processor further to estimate, based on the inclusion-exclusion expression, the audience size of the user group of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Diane Morovati Lopez, Jake Ryan Dailey, Christie Nicole Summers, Molly Poppie
  • Patent number: 12596714
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for efficiently estimating the number of unique elements in a collection of elements comprises generating, via hash logic, hash values for each element of the collection of elements. The method further comprises specifying, in a sketch-frequency table, a set of discrete statistical values associated with the hash values and, for each discrete statistical value of the set of discrete statistical values, information indicative of a frequency at which binary representations of the hash values are associated with the discrete statistical value. The cardinality of the collection of elements is estimated based on the sketch-frequency table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Edward Murphy, Jonathan Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20260075271
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine a duration of media presentation based on tuning session duration. Example apparatus a receiver to obtain a first tuning session duration indicative of an amount of time between channel changes of a first media presentation device at a first media presentation location, a presentation session estimator to select a model from storage, the model selected based on a match of the first tuning session duration and a second tuning session duration, the model including a relation between the second tuning session duration and a first presentation session duration of media presented on a second media presentation device at a second media presentation location, and estimate a second presentation session duration of media presented within the first tuning session duration based on the model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2025
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Peter Lipa, Alejandro Terrazas
  • Publication number: 20260067516
    Abstract: An example method includes determining, for each of multiple digital media providers, respective estimated distributions of a characteristic for a television viewing area. The method also includes determining respective reach values based on a universe estimate for the television viewing area. In addition, the method includes determining a distribution of subscribers across overlapping combinations of the digital media providers. The method also includes determining, for each of the multiple digital media providers based on the distribution of subscribers, respective mixed provider fractions relative to a total provider fraction for the digital media provider. The method further includes determining, using a constrained optimization routine, target distributions of the characteristic for combinations of the digital media providers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2025
    Publication date: March 5, 2026
    Inventors: Denis Voytenko, Keith Tirimba, Paul Chimenti, Michael Sheppard, Joshua Deragon, Horalia Armas
  • Patent number: 12566738
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate audience sizes using deduplication based on vector of counts sketch data are disclosed. A system includes hardware circuitry to instantiate: coefficient analyzer circuitry to determine coefficient values of a polynomial based on (i) variances in values in a first vector of counts and a second vector of counts, (ii) a first cardinality of the first vector of counts, and (iii) a second cardinality of the second vector of counts; and overlap analyzer circuitry to: determine a real root of the polynomial; and report generator circuitry to estimate a deduplicated audience size based on (i) the estimate of the quantity of the second subscribers that are duplicates of the first subscribers and (ii) the first and second cardinalities. The system includes communication circuitry to transmit a network communication to a third party entity, the second network communication including a report based on the deduplicated audience size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan L. Sullivan, Jake Ryan Dailey, Damien Forthomme, Jessica D. Brinson, Molly Poppie, Christie Nicole Summers, Diane Morovati Lopez
  • Patent number: 12554696
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to estimate cardinality of users represented across multiple bloom filter arrays are disclosed. Examples includes processor circuitry to execute and/or instantiate instructions to generate a first composite Bloom filter array based on first and second Bloom filter arrays. The processor circuitry is to generate a final composite Bloom filter array based on the first composite Bloom filter array and a third Bloom filter array. Different ones of the first, second, and third Bloom filter arrays representative of different sets of users who accessed media. The first, second, and third Bloom filter arrays including differential privacy noise. The processor circuitry to estimate a cardinality of a union of the first, second, and third Bloom filter arrays based on the final composite Bloom filter array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, DongBo Cui, Jake Ryan Dailey, Christie Nicole Summers, Diane Morovati Lopez, Molly Poppie
  • Patent number: 12526476
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to estimate population reach from marginal ratings. An example apparatus includes means for iteratively converging on an output estimate of a reach of media for a total population audience and means for outputting the estimate of the reach for the total population audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Edward Murphy, Michael D. Morgan, Ludo Daemen
  • Patent number: 12501090
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine a duration of media presentation based on tuning session duration. Example apparatus a receiver to obtain a first tuning session duration indicative of an amount of time between channel changes of a first media presentation device at a first media presentation location, a presentation session estimator to select a model from storage, the model selected based on a match of the first tuning session duration and a second tuning session duration, the model including a relation between the second tuning session duration and a first presentation session duration of media presented on a second media presentation device at a second media presentation location, and estimate a second presentation session duration of media presented within the first tuning session duration based on the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael Sheppard, Jonathan Sullivan, Peter Lipa, Alejandro Terrazas