Patents by Inventor Robert A. Luff

Robert A. Luff 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: 20240127276
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus are to obtain a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member. Disclosed example apparatus are also to determine a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, determine a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, associate a geographic area with the media device in response to a determination that the geographic location corresponds to a location of an internet service provider, determine a demographic profile associated with the geographic area, and associate the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Patent number: 11783356
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus are to obtain a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member. Disclosed example apparatus are also to determine a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, determine a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, associate a geographic area with the media device in response to a determination that the geographic location corresponds to a location of an internet service provider, determine a demographic profile associated with the geographic area, and associate the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Publication number: 20230177546
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus are to obtain a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member. Disclosed example apparatus are also to determine a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, determine a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, associate a geographic area with the media device in response to a determination that the geographic location corresponds to a location of an internet service provider, determine a demographic profile associated with the geographic area, and associate the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Patent number: 11556946
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus are to obtain a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member. Disclosed example apparatus are also to determine a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, determine a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, associate a geographic area with the media device in response to a determination that the geographic location corresponds to a location of an internet service provider, determine a demographic profile associated with the geographic area, and associate the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Publication number: 20220122095
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to conduct surveys are disclosed. An example apparatus includes processor circuitry to determine a number of exposures to at least one of an advertisement or a product based on feedback from at least one of a microphone or a radio frequency (RF) sensor of a portable device. The processor circuitry further to retrieve a survey question based on the number of exposures satisfying a rule; identify a recall time when the survey question is to be presented, the recall time corresponding to a duration after satisfaction of the rule; and offer, at the recall time, the survey question related to the at least one of the advertisement or the product via the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventor: Robert A. Luff
  • Patent number: 11227291
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to conduct surveys are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an activity sensor to generate activity information, and a location sensor to generate location information corresponding to a portable device carried by the person. The apparatus further includes a processor to: generate media monitoring information indicative of exposure of the person to at least one of an advertisement or a product; determine a number of exposures the person has had based on the media monitoring information; identify a survey question based on the number of exposures; determine a speed of travel of the person based on at least one of the location information or the activity information; and compare the speed of travel to a threshold. The apparatus also includes a communication interface to automatically offer the survey question via the portable device when the processor determines the speed of travel is beneath the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Luff
  • Publication number: 20210295360
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus are to obtain a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member. Disclosed example apparatus are also to determine a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, determine a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, associate a geographic area with the media device in response to a determination that the geographic location corresponds to a location of an internet service provider, determine a demographic profile associated with the geographic area, and associate the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Patent number: 10956923
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include means for receiving a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for resolving addresses, the means for resolving to determine a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, determine a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, in response to determining the geographic location corresponds to a location of an internet service provider, associate a geographic area with the media device, determine a demographic profile associated with the geographic are, and associate the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Publication number: 20200380542
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. Disclosed example apparatus include means for receiving a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member. Disclosed example apparatus also include means for resolving addresses, the means for resolving to determine a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, determine a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, in response to determining the geographic location corresponds to a location of an internet service provider, associate a geographic area with the media device, determine a demographic profile associated with the geographic are, and associate the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Patent number: 10685365
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member, determining a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, accessing geographic information and determining a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, accessing demographic information and determining a demographic profile associated with the geographic location, and associating at least one of the geographic location or the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Publication number: 20190095938
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member, determining a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, accessing geographic information and determining a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, accessing demographic information and determining a demographic profile associated with the geographic location, and associating at least one of the geographic location or the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Publication number: 20180336573
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to conduct surveys are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an activity sensor to generate activity information, and a location sensor to generate location information corresponding to a portable device carried by the person. The apparatus further includes a processor to: generate media monitoring information indicative of exposure of the person to at least one of an advertisement or a product; determine a number of exposures the person has had based on the media monitoring information; identify a survey question based on the number of exposures; determine a speed of travel of the person based on at least one of the location information or the activity information; and compare the speed of travel to a threshold. The apparatus also includes a communication interface to automatically offer the survey question via the portable device when the processor determines the speed of travel is beneath the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventor: Robert A. Luff
  • Patent number: 10078846
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for associating media devices with a demographic composition of a geographic area are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a plurality of Internet Protocol addresses assigned to a media device associated with a panel member, determining a most used Internet Protocol address from the plurality of Internet Protocol addresses, accessing geographic information and determining a geographic location corresponding to the most used Internet Protocol address, accessing demographic information and determining a demographic profile associated with the geographic location, and associating at least one of the geographic location or the demographic profile with the media device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Jan Besehanic, Paul Mears, Joseph G. Milavsky, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, David Howell Wright
  • Patent number: 9565473
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to maintain audience privacy while determining viewing of video-on-demand (VOD) programs are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Arun Ramaswamy, Robert A. Luff
  • Patent number: 9514503
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to generate and use content-aware watermarks are disclosed herein. An example disclosed method includes detecting a watermark in a first media composition, the watermark encoded with a word present in an audio track of the first media composition, the word audible during playback of the audio track. The example method also includes retrieving the word from the watermark. The example method also includes determining whether the word retrieved from the watermark matches a keyword, and presenting a second media composition when the word matches the keyword.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Arun Ramaswamy, Robert A. Luff
  • Patent number: 9344205
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to count persons in a monitored environment are disclosed. An example apparatus to count the number of people in a monitored environment is described, which includes an image sensor to collect a plurality of pixels, a pseudorandom number generator to pseudorandomly select at least one of a row of the pixels or a column of the pixels, a reader to read first pixel data generated by first pixels of the image sensor at a first time, the first pixels located in at least one of the row of the pixels or the column of the pixels, a comparator to compare the first pixel data with second pixel data generated by the first pixels at a second time different than the first time to generate first change values, and a counter to generate a count of persons based on the first change values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventor: Robert Luff
  • Patent number: 9210416
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for media monitoring are disclosed. In particular, the example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture determine a media source type associated with a media signal and select an encoding or decoding mode based on the media source type. An encoding operation encodes the media signal using the selected encoding mode and a decoding operation decodes the media signal using the selected decoding mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Luff, Weston P. Headley
  • Patent number: 9167298
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture determine compliance with usage guidelines of an audience measurement system. Initially, location information associated with an audience member is obtained. It is then determined whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on the location information. Media monitoring information corresponding to the location information is then tagged as non-compliant if the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Morris Lee, Paul M. Mears, Robert A. Luff, Arun Ramaswamy, Stanley F. Seagren, Weston P. Headley
  • Patent number: RE45786
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor media exposure in vehicles are disclosed. An example implementation includes collecting audience measurement data with a media monitoring device fixed in a vehicle and transmitting the audience measurement data from the media monitoring device to a shuttle located within the vehicle, the shuttle being incapable of collecting audience measurement data independent of the media monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Arun Ramaswamy, Fred Martensen, Robert A Luff, Kendall Shirilla
  • Patent number: RE46329
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to monitor media exposure in vehicles are disclosed. An example implementation includes collecting audience measurement data with a media monitoring device fixed in a vehicle and transmitting the audience measurement data from the media monitoring device to a shuttle located within the vehicle, the shuttle being incapable of collecting audience measurement data independent of the media monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventors: Arun Ramaswamy, Fred Martensen, Robert A. Luff, Kendall Shirilla