David James Croy

US Patent:

8023882, Sep 20, 2011

Filed:

Jul 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/457666

Inventors:

David J. Croy - Palm Harbor FL, US
Arun Ramaswamy - Tampa FL, US
Paul Mears - Safety Harbor FL, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company (US), LLC. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H04H 60/21

US Classification:

455 201, 725 9, 725 10, 725 11, 725 13

Abstract:

Portable audience measurement architectures and methods for portable audience measurement are disclosed. A disclosed system contains a plurality of portable measurement devices configured to collect audience measurement data from media devices, a plurality of data collection servers configured to collect audience measurement data from the plurality of portable measurement devices, and a central data processing server. A portable measurement device establishes a communication link with a data collection server in a peer-to-peer manner and transfers the collected audience measurement data to the data collection server. Because the portable measurement device is not dedicated to a particular local data collection server, the portable measurement device periodically or a periodically broadcasts a message attempting to find a data collection server with which to establish a communication link.

US Patent:

8180712, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Sep 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/242337

Inventors:

Daniel J. Nelson - Tampa FL, US
Brian Scott Mello - Oldsmar FL, US
Luc Zio - New Port Richey FL, US
David James Croy - Palm Harbor FL, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

G06F 15/18

US Classification:

706 1

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for determining whether a media presentation device is in an on state or an off state are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises determining first and second characteristics of a signature associated with a signal representative of media content presented via a media presentation device, evaluating the first and second characteristics to determine first and second fuzzy contribution values representing, respectively, degrees with which the first and second characteristics correspond to the media presentation device being in at least one of an on state or an off state, determining a third fuzzy contribution value based on a number of the first and second contribution values indicating the media presentation device is in one of the on or off states, and combining the first, second and third fuzzy contribution values for use in determining whether the media presentation device is in the on state or the off state.

US Patent:

8467717, Jun 18, 2013

Filed:

Jun 13, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/159243

Inventors:

David J. Croy - Palm Harbor FL, US
Arun Ramaswamy - Tampa FL, US
Paul Mears - Safety Harbor FL, US

Assignee:

The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H04H 60/21

US Classification:

455 201, 725 9, 725 10, 725 11, 725 13

Abstract:

Portable audience measurement architectures and methods for portable audience measurement are disclosed. A disclosed system contains a plurality of portable measurement devices configured to collect audience measurement data from media devices, a plurality of data collection servers configured to collect audience measurement data from the plurality of portable measurement devices, and a central data processing server. A portable measurement device establishes a communication link with a data collection server in a peer-to-peer manner and transfers the collected audience measurement data to the data collection server. Because the portable measurement device is not dedicated to a particular local data collection server, the portable measurement device periodically or a periodically broadcasts a message attempting to find a data collection server with which to establish a communication link.

US Patent:

20080056675, Mar 6, 2008

Filed:

May 18, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/750881

Inventors:

David Wright - Tampa FL, US
Arun Ramaswamy - Tampa FL, US
Brian Mello - Valrico FL, US
David Croy - Palm Harbor FL, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/91

US Classification:

386095000, 386E05003

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for detecting space-shifted media content associated with a digital recording/playback device are disclosed. An example method for detecting space-shifted media content includes receiving media content at a first recording/playback device at a first viewing site at a monitored location, requesting data associated with the media content from a second device at the monitored location, and determining if the data associated with the media content indicates that the media content has been space-shifted to the first recording/playback device.

US Patent:

20120203731, Aug 9, 2012

Filed:

Apr 11, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/444571

Inventors:

Daniel J. Nelson - Tampa FL, US
Brian Scott Mello - Oldsmar FL, US
Luc Zio - New Port Richey FL, US
David James Croy - Palm Harbor FL, US

International Classification:

G06N 7/02

US Classification:

706 52

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for determining whether a media presentation device is in an on state or an off state are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises determining first and second characteristics of a signature associated with a signal representative of media content presented via a media presentation device, evaluating the first and second characteristics to determine first and second fuzzy contribution values representing, respectively, degrees with which the first and second characteristics correspond to the media presentation device being in at least one of an on state or an off state, determining a third fuzzy contribution value based on a number of the first and second contribution values indicating the media presentation device is in one of the on or off states, and combining the first, second and third fuzzy contribution values for use in determining whether the media presentation device is in the on state or the off state.

US Patent:

20210326733, Oct 21, 2021

Filed:

Jul 1, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/365834

Inventors:

- New York NY, US
Brian Scott Mello - Oldsmar FL, US
Luc Zio - New Port Richey FL, US
David James Croy - Palm Harbor FL, US

International Classification:

G06N 5/04
H04H 60/32
G06F 7/02

Abstract:

Example apparatus to determine a state of a media presentation device are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus is to determine contribution values from at least one of a signal measured from a sensing device or an output signal accessed from the presentation device, the contribution values indicative of a state of a presentation device. The disclosed example apparatus is also to sum a first plurality of the contribution values corresponding to a first measurement cycle to generate a first intermediate fuzzy score for the first measurement cycle, store the first intermediate fuzzy score in a buffer, the buffer including a plurality of intermediate fuzzy scores corresponding to respective measurement cycles, combine the intermediate fuzzy scores corresponding to a first time period to form a final fuzzy score, and when the final fuzzy score satisfies a threshold, set the state of the presentation device as on and enable crediting of media.

US Patent:

20200389697, Dec 10, 2020

Filed:

Aug 24, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/001320

Inventors:

- New York NY, US
David James Croy - Palm Harbor FL, US
Arun Ramaswamy - Tampa FL, US
Brian Mello - Valrico FL, US

International Classification:

H04N 21/442
H04H 60/31
H04H 60/37
H04H 60/40
H04N 5/765
H04N 7/16
H04N 21/41
H04N 21/4147
H04N 21/433
H04N 21/436

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for detecting space-shifted media content associated with a digital recording/playback device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes means for detecting that first data associated with media is being written to a first storage of a first media device on a home network at a monitored location, the means for detecting to receive information on the first data from a first metering device and, in response to detecting the first data being written, request, from a second metering device, second data being read from a second storage of a second media device on the home network. The example apparatus also include means for determining that the media has been space-shifted to the first media device from the second media device when the first data that is being written to the first storage matches the second data being read from the second storage.

US Patent:

20200218997, Jul 9, 2020

Filed:

Jan 3, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/734067

Inventors:

- New York NY, US
Brian Scott Mello - Oldsmar FL, US
Luc Zio - New Port Richey FL, US
David James Croy - Palm Harbor FL, US

International Classification:

G06N 5/04
G06F 7/02
H04H 60/32

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for determining whether a media presentation device is in an on state or an off state are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises determining contribution values from at least one of a signal measured from a sensing device or an output signal accessed from the presentation device, wherein the contribution values are indicative of a state of a presentation device. Summing, via a logic circuit, a first plurality of the contribution values corresponding to a first measurement cycle to generate a first intermediate fuzzy score for the first measurement cycle. Storing the first intermediate fuzzy score in a buffer including a plurality of intermediate fuzzy scores corresponding to respective measurement cycles. Combining, via the logic circuit, the intermediate fuzzy scores corresponding to a first time period to form a final fuzzy score. When the final fuzzy score satisfies a threshold, setting the state of the presentation device as on and enabling crediting of media presented by the presentation device.