Methods and apparatus to share online media impressions data

Methods and apparatus to share online media impression data are disclosed. An example method includes sending a response to a request, the response including an identification of a first cookie used by an audience measurement entity and an indication of a database proprietor, and receiving a mapping of the first cookie to a second cookie used by the database proprietor and demographic information associated with the second cookie by the database proprietor.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to monitoring media and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus to determine impressions using distributed demographic information.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, audience measurement entities determine audience engagement levels for media programming based on registered panel members. That is, an audience measurement entity enrolls people who consent to being monitored into a panel. The audience measurement entity then monitors those panel members to determine media programs (e.g., television programs or radio programs, movies, DVDs, etc.) exposed to those panel members. In this manner, the audience measurement entity can determine exposure measures for different media content based on the collected media measurement data.

Techniques for monitoring user access to Internet resources such as web pages, advertisements and/or other content has evolved significantly over the years. Some known systems perform such monitoring primarily through server logs. In particular, entities serving content on the Internet can use known techniques to log the number of requests received for their content at their server.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Techniques for monitoring user access to Internet resources such as web pages, content, advertisements and/or other media have evolved significantly over the years. At one point in the past, such monitoring was done primarily through server logs. In particular, entities serving media (e.g., content and/or advertisements) on the Internet would log the number of requests received for their media at their server. Basing Internet usage research on server logs is problematic for several reasons. For example, server logs can be tampered with either directly or via zombie programs which repeatedly request media from the server to increase the server log counts. Secondly, media is sometimes retrieved once, cached locally and then repeatedly viewed from the local cache without involving the server in the repeat viewings. Server logs cannot track these views of cached media. Thus, server logs are susceptible to both over-counting and under-counting errors.

The inventions disclosed in Blumenau, U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,637, fundamentally changed the way Internet monitoring is performed and overcame the limitations of the server side log monitoring techniques described above. For example, Blumenau disclosed a technique wherein Internet media (e.g., content and/or advertisements) to be tracked is tagged with beacon instructions. In particular, monitoring instructions are associated with the HTML of the media to be tracked. When a client requests the media, both the media and the beacon instructions are downloaded to the client. The beacon instructions are, thus, executed whenever the media is accessed, be it from a server or from a cache. U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,637 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The beacon instructions cause monitoring data reflecting information about the access to the media to be sent from the client that downloaded the media to a monitoring entity. Typically, the monitoring entity is an audience measurement entity that did not provide the media to the client and who is a trusted third party for providing accurate usage statistics (e.g., The Nielsen Company, LLC). Advantageously, because the beaconing instructions are associated with the media and executed by the client browser whenever the media is accessed, the monitoring information is provided to the audience measurement company irrespective of whether the client is a panelist of the audience measurement company.

It is important, however, to link demographics to the monitoring information. To address this issue, the audience measurement company establishes a panel of users who have agreed to provide their demographic information and to have their Internet browsing activities monitored. When an individual joins the panel, they provide detailed information concerning their identity and demographics (e.g., gender, race, income, home location, occupation, etc.) to the audience measurement company. The audience measurement entity sets a cookie on the panelist computer that enables the audience measurement entity to identify the panelist whenever the panelist accesses tagged media and, thus, sends monitoring information to the audience measurement entity.

Since most of the clients providing monitoring information from the tagged pages are not panelists and, thus, are unknown to the audience measurement entity, it is necessary to use statistical methods to impute demographic information based on the data collected for panelists to the larger population of users providing data for the tagged media. However, panel sizes of audience measurement entities remain small compared to the general population of users. Thus, a problem is presented as to how to increase panel size while ensuring the demographics data of the panel is accurate.

There are many database proprietors operating on the Internet. These database proprietors provide services to large numbers of subscribers. In exchange for the provision of the service, the subscribers register with the proprietor. As part of this registration, the subscribers provide detailed demographic information. Examples of such database proprietors include social network providers such as Facebook, Myspace, etc. These database proprietors set cookies on the computers of their subscribers to enable the database proprietor to recognize the user when they visit their website.

The protocols of the Internet make cookies inaccessible outside of the domain (e.g., Internet domain, domain name, etc.) on which they were set. Thus, a cookie set in the amazon.com domain is accessible to servers in the amazon.com domain, but not to servers outside that domain. Therefore, although an audience measurement entity might find it advantageous to access the cookies set by the database proprietors, they are unable to do so.

In view of the foregoing, an audience measurement company would like to leverage the existing databases of database proprietors to collect more extensive Internet usage and demographic data. However, the audience measurement entity is faced with several problems in accomplishing this end. For example, a problem is presented as to how to access the data of the database proprietors without compromising the privacy of the subscribers, the panelists, or the proprietors of the tracked media. Another problem is how to access this data given the technical restrictions imposed by the Internet protocols that prevent the audience measurement entity from accessing cookies set by the database proprietor. In examples disclosed herein, the beaconing process is extended to encompass partnered database proprietors and to use such partners as interim data collectors. For example, the audience measurement entity and/or beacon instructions (e.g., Java, javascript, or any other computer language or script) may re-direct cause a client browser to request logging of an impression by a partner database proprietor. In this manner, if the partner database proprietor knows the audience member corresponding to the client browser, the partner database proprietor can provide demographic information corresponding to the audience member. In such examples, the number of re-direct messages to the partner database proprietor(s) may be numerous as the re-direct messaging occurs each time a client browser renders media having embedded beacon instructions. Example techniques for re-directing to one or more partner database proprietors to leverage distributed demographics in impression collection processes are disclosed in International PCT Application No. PCT/US2011/052623, filed on Sep. 21, 2011, and entitled “Methods and Apparatus to Determine Impressions Using Distributed Demographic Information,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In addition, example techniques for collecting impressions and leveraging distributed demographics stored at one or more partner database proprietors are disclosed in International PCT Application No. PCT/US2011/065881, filed on Dec. 19, 2011, and entitled “Methods and Apparatus to Determine Media Impressions Using Distributed Demographic Information,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Example methods, apparatus and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein collect audience exposure data using cookie mapping techniques in which an audience measurement entity (AME) cookie for a particular audience member is mapped to a partnered database proprietor cookie (a partner cookie) once during the life of the cookies (e.g., while the cookies are valid and/or not deleted or replaced in client machines). In this manner, the AME need only re-direct a client browser once (during the lifetime of the cookie) to a particular database proprietor to determine the partner cookie to be mapped to the AME cookie in the client browser. Once the cookie mapping is complete, the AME can monitor media exposures to one or more panelist and/or non-panelist audience member(s) using the client browser based on the AME cookie, and receive demographic information for the audience member(s) from the partner based on the AME-to-partner cookie mapping. This reduces the number of re-directs to the database proprietor needed to, for example, only one during the life or validity of the AME and partner cookies. By reducing the number of re-directs, there are fewer interruptions, less interference, and/or less background processing to negatively affect performance of client browsers, thus, improving an overall user experience for audience members. Network traffic is also reduced, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the networking environment by reducing network congestion and delay. Moreover, the amount of processing required by the database proprietor is reduced. Further, the amount of data (e.g., the number of impressions) shared with the database proprietor is reduced.

Using the AME-to-partner cookie mappings, the audience measurement entity can request demographic information from the partnered database proprietors for partner cookies that are mapped to their AME cookies in the AME-to-partner cookie mappings. In response, the partnered database proprietors provide their logs and demographic information to the audience measurement entity which then compiles the collected data into statistical reports accurately identifying the demographics of persons accessing the tagged media. Because the identification of clients is done with reference to enormous databases of users far beyond the quantity of persons present in a conventional audience measurement panel, the data developed from this process is extremely accurate, reliable and detailed. In some examples, by agreeing to participate in concerted audience measurement efforts, the partnered database proprietors are provided with audience demographic and exposure information collected by other partnered database proprietors. In this manner, partnered database proprietors can supplement their own audience exposure metrics with information provided by other partnered database proprietors.

Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture disclosed herein can be used to determine media impressions (e.g., content impressions and/or advertisement impressions), media exposure (e.g., content exposure and/or advertisement exposure) using demographic information, which is distributed across different databases (e.g., different website owners, service providers, streaming media provider, etc.) on the Internet. Not only do example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture disclosed herein enable more accurate correlation of Internet media exposure to demographics, but they also effectively extend panel sizes and compositions beyond persons participating in the panel of an audience measurement entity and/or a ratings entity to persons registered in other Internet databases such as the databases of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, etc. and/or any other Internet sites such as Yahoo!, Amazon.com, etc. This extension effectively leverages the media tagging capabilities of the ratings entity and the use of databases of non-ratings entities such as social media and/or other websites to create an enormous, demographically accurate panel that results in accurate, reliable measurements of exposures to Internet media such as content, advertising and/or programming.

Traditionally, audience measurement entities (also referred to herein as “ratings entities”) determine demographic reach for media (e.g., advertising and content programming) based on registered panel members. That is, an audience measurement entity enrolls people that consent to being monitored into a panel. During enrollment, the audience measurement entity receives demographic information from the enrolling people so that subsequent correlations may be made between media exposure (e.g., advertisement/content exposure) to those panelists and different demographic markets. Unlike traditional techniques in which audience measurement entities rely solely on their own panel member data to collect demographics-based audience measurement data, example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein enable an audience measurement entity to utilize demographic information with other entities that operate based on user registration models. As used herein, a user registration model is a model in which users subscribe to services of those entities by creating an account and providing demographic-related information about themselves. Sharing of demographic information associated with registered users of database proprietors enables an audience measurement entity to extend or supplement their panel data with substantially reliable demographics information from external sources (e.g., database proprietors), thus extending the coverage, accuracy, and/or completeness of their demographics-based audience measurements. Such access also enables the audience measurement entity to monitor persons who would not otherwise have joined an audience measurement panel but who has shared their demographics with a database proprietor. Any entity having a database identifying demographics of a set of individuals may cooperate with the audience measurement entity. Such entities may be referred to as “database proprietors” and include entities such as Facebook, Google, Yahoo!, MSN, Twitter, Apple iTunes, Experian, etc.

Example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein may be implemented by an audience measurement entity (e.g., any entity interested in measuring or tracking audience exposures to advertisements, content, and/or any other media) in cooperation with any number of database proprietors such as online web services providers to develop online media exposure metrics. Such database proprietors/online web services providers may be social network sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.), multi-service sites (e.g., Yahoo!, Google, Experian, etc.), online retailer sites (e.g., Amazon.com, Buy.com, etc.), and/or any other web site(s) that maintain user registration records.

To increase the likelihood that measured media exposure is accurately attributed to the correct demographics, example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein use demographic information located in the audience measurement entity's records and demographic information located at one or more database proprietors (e.g., web service providers) that maintain records or profiles of users having accounts therewith. In this manner, example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein may be used to supplement demographic information maintained by a ratings entity (e.g., an audience measurement company such as The Nielsen Company of Schaumburg, Ill., United States of America) that collects media exposure measurements and/or demographics) with demographic information from one or more different database proprietors (e.g., web service providers).

The use of demographic information from disparate data sources (e.g., high-quality demographic information from the panel(s) of an audience measurement entity and/or registered user data of web service providers) results in improved reporting effectiveness of metrics for both online and offline advertising campaigns. Example techniques disclosed herein use online registration data to identify demographics of users and use server impression counts, tagging (also referred to as beaconing), and/or other techniques to track quantities of impressions attributable to those users. Online web service providers such as social networking sites (e.g., Facebook) and multi-service providers (e.g., Yahoo!, Google, Experian, etc.) (collectively and individually referred to herein as database proprietors) maintain detailed demographic information (e.g., age, gender, geographic location, race, income level, education level, religion, etc.) collected via user registration processes. An impression corresponds to a home or individual having been exposed to the corresponding media (e.g., content and/or advertisement). Thus, an impression represents a home or an individual having been exposed to an advertisement or content or group of advertisements or content. In Internet advertising, a quantity of impressions or impression count is the total number of times an advertisement or advertisement campaign has been accessed by a web population (e.g., number of times access may be decreased by, for example, pop-up blockers and/or increased by, for example, retrieval from local cache memory).

Example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein also enable reporting TV and online ratings (e.g., using gross rating points (GRPs)) in a side-by-side manner. For instance, techniques disclosed herein enable advertisers to report quantities of unique people or users that are reached individually and/or collectively by TV and/or online advertisements.

Example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture disclosed herein also collect impressions mapped to demographics data at various locations on the Internet. For example, an audience measurement entity collects such impression data for its panel and enlists one or more online demographics proprietors to collect impression data for their subscribers. By combining this collected impression data, the audience measurement entity can then generate GRP metrics for different advertisement campaigns. These GRP metrics can be correlated or otherwise associated with particular demographic segments and/or markets that were reached.

Example methods disclosed herein include sending a first request to an audience measurement entity, and sending a second request to cause a database proprietor to send to the audience measurement entity a cookie mapping of an audience measurement entity cookie to a database proprietor cookie corresponding to a client. Some example methods further include storing the database proprietor cookie. In some examples, sending the first request to the audience measurement entity is in response to executing beacon instructions in a web page. In some examples, the second request is further to cause the database proprietor to send to the audience measurement entity a demographic characteristic associated with the client.

Some example methods further include sending a third request to the audience measurement entity, and sending a fourth request to cause a second database proprietor to send to the audience measurement entity a second cookie mapping of the audience measurement entity cookie to a second database proprietor cookie. In some such examples, the second request is to cause the database proprietor to send the cookie mapping to the audience measurement entity asynchronously. Some example methods further include sending a third request to the audience measurement entity, the third request including the cookie mapping.

Example apparatus disclosed herein include a communications interface and a web browser. The web browser is to send a first request to an audience measurement entity via the communications interface, and send a second request via the communications interface to cause a database proprietor to send to the audience measurement entity a cookie mapping of an audience measurement entity cookie to a database proprietor cookie corresponding to a client. In some examples, the web browser is to send the audience measurement entity cookie in the first request. In some example apparatus, the web browser is to send the first request to the audience measurement entity in response to executing beacon instructions in a web page.

In some example apparatus, the second request is further to cause the database proprietor to send to the audience measurement entity a demographic characteristic associated with the client. In some examples, the web browser is to send a third request to the audience measurement entity, and send a fourth request to a second database proprietor to cause the second database proprietor to send to the audience measurement entity a second cookie mapping of the audience measurement entity cookie to a second database proprietor cookie. In some examples, the second request is to cause the database proprietor to send the cookie mapping to the audience measurement entity asynchronously. In some examples, the web browser is to send a third request to the audience measurement entity, the third request including the cookie mapping.

Example methods disclosed herein include sending a response to a request, the response including an identification of a first cookie used by an audience measurement entity and an indication of a partner database proprietor, and receiving a mapping of the first cookie to a second cookie used by the partner database proprietor and demographic information associated with the second cookie by the partner database proprietor. In some example methods, the mapping and the demographic information are received in an asynchronous communication from the partner database proprietor. In some examples, the response comprises a re-direct message, the re-direct message to cause a client device to send a request to the partner database proprietor.

In some example methods, the mapping is received at a first time and the demographic information is received at a second time after the first time. Some example methods further include selecting the database proprietor from a list of database proprietors based on a web site from which the beacon request originated. In some examples, selecting the database proprietor includes determining a quality of demographic information provided by the database proprietor for an expected demographic group associated with the web site. Some example methods further include determining whether the beacon request includes the first cookie and, when the beacon request does not include the first cookie, generating the first cookie.

Example apparatus disclosed herein include a re-director to send a response to a request, the response including an identification of a first cookie used by an audience measurement entity and an indication of a partner database proprietor; and a communication interface to receive a mapping of the first cookie to a second cookie used by the partner database proprietor and demographic information associated with the second cookie by the partner database proprietor. In some example apparatus, the communication interface is to receive the mapping and the demographic information in an asynchronous communication from the partner database proprietor.

In some examples, the response includes a re-direct message, the re-direct message to cause a client device to send a request to the partner database proprietor. In some examples, the communication interface is to receive the mapping at a first time and receive the demographic information at a second time after the first time. Some example apparatus further include a partner selector to select the database proprietor from a list of database proprietors based on a web site from which the request originated. In some examples, the partner selector is to select the database proprietor comprises determining a quality of demographic information provided by the database proprietor for an expected demographic group associated with the web site. Some example apparatus further include a cookie generator, the re-director to determine whether the request includes the first cookie and, when the request does not include the first cookie, the cookie generator is to generate the first cookie.

Example methods disclosed herein include receiving a first request from a client device, the first request comprising an audience measurement entity cookie identifier, and determining a cookie mapping of the audience measurement entity cookie to a database proprietor cookie associated with the client. Some example methods further include sending a re-direct message to cause the client to send the cookie mapping to the audience measurement entity. In some such examples, the re-direct message includes a database proprietor cookie identifier, the audience measurement entity cookie identifier, and an indication of association between the database proprietor cookie identifier and the audience measurement entity cookie identifier.

Some example methods further include sending a message to the audience measurement entity, the message comprising the cookie mapping. In some such examples, the message further includes a second cookie mapping between a second audience measurement entity cookie identifier for a second client device and a second database proprietor cookie associated with the second client device.

Example methods disclosed herein include receiving a first request from a client device, the first request comprising an audience measurement entity cookie identifier, and providing a cookie mapping to an audience measurement entity associated with the cookie, the cookie mapping comprising an association between a database proprietor cookie and the audience measurement cookie associated with the client. In some examples, providing the cookie mapping includes sending a re-direct message to cause the client to send the cookie mapping to the audience measurement entity. In some such examples, the re-direct message includes a database proprietor cookie identifier, the audience measurement entity cookie identifier, and an indication of association between the database proprietor cookie identifier and the audience measurement entity cookie identifier.

In some example methods, providing the cookie mapping includes sending a message to the audience measurement entity, the message comprising the cookie mapping. In some such examples, the message further includes a second cookie mapping between a second audience measurement entity cookie identifier for a second client device and a second database proprietor cookie associated with the second client device.

Example apparatus disclosed herein include a communications interface to receive a first request from a client device, the first request comprising an audience measurement entity cookie identifier; and a cookie mapper to determine a cookie mapping of the audience measurement entity cookie to a database proprietor cookie associated with the client. In some example apparatus, the communications interface is to provide the cookie mapping to an audience measurement entity associated with the cookie, the cookie mapping comprising an association between a database proprietor cookie and the audience measurement cookie associated with the client.

In some examples, the communications interface is to provide the cookie mapping by sending a re-direct message to cause the client to send the cookie mapping to the audience measurement entity. In some such examples, the re-direct message includes a database proprietor cookie identifier, the audience measurement entity cookie identifier, and an indication of association between the database proprietor cookie identifier and the audience measurement entity cookie identifier. In some example apparatus, the communications interface is to provide the cookie mapping by sending a message to the audience measurement entity, the message comprising the cookie mapping. In some such examples, the message further comprises a second cookie mapping between a second audience measurement entity cookie identifier for a second client device and a second database proprietor cookie associated with the second client device.

Example apparatus disclosed herein include a communications interface to receive a first request from a client device, the first request comprising an audience measurement entity cookie identifier, and to provide a message to an audience measurement entity associated with the cookie, the message including a cookie mapping the cookie mapping comprising an association between a database proprietor cookie and the audience measurement cookie associated with the client; and a processor to execute instructions, the instructions to cause the processor to generate the message.

Example methods disclosed herein include providing instructions to be included in a web site, the instructions to cause a client, upon execution of the instructions, to initiate a process including: sending a first request to an audience measurement entity; and sending a second request to cause a database proprietor to send to the audience measurement entity a cookie mapping of an audience measurement entity cookie to a database proprietor cookie corresponding to the client. Some example methods further include receiving information associated with the web site and generating the instructions based on the information. In some examples, the process further includes receiving a re-direct message from the audience measurement entity, the re-direct message comprising an identifier of the audience measurement cookie.

Example apparatus disclosed herein include a communications interface and a processor to generate instructions to be included in a web site and to cause the communications interface to provide the instructions to a web server associated with the web site, the instructions to cause a client, upon execution of the instructions, to initiate a process comprising: sending a first request to an audience measurement entity; and sending a second request to cause a database proprietor to send to the audience measurement entity a cookie mapping of an audience measurement entity cookie to a database proprietor cookie corresponding to the client. In some examples, the communications interface is to receive information associated with the web site, the processor to generate the instructions based on the information. In some example apparatus, the process further comprises receiving a re-direct message from the audience measurement entity, the re-direct message comprising an identifier of the audience measurement cookie.

FIG. 1depicts an example system100to generate an audience measurement entity (AME)-to-partner cookie mapping based on a re-direct from the AME102to a partner database proprietor (DP)104.FIG. 2depicts an example messaging flow diagram200corresponding to the example system100ofFIG. 1to generate an AME-to-partner cookie mapping based on a re-direct from the AME102to a partner DP104.

In the example ofFIG. 1, a web server106provides access to one or more web sites. The example system100determines an AME-to-partner cookie mapping for web browsers that request access to the web sites served by the web server106(e.g., an example web browser110). While an example web browser110is shown for illustration, the example system100ofFIG. 1may duplicate and/or repeat the illustrated process ofFIG. 1for the web browser110and/or other web browsers. The example web browser110ofFIG. 1is a particular instance of a web browser computer application executing on a particular computing device (e.g., a personal computer, a mobile device, such as the processing platform1400ofFIG. 14). However, an example implementation of the example system100ofFIG. 1will typically involve many such browsers.

An example web page available from the example web server106ofFIG. 1is tagged with beacon instructions. In some examples, the AME102provides the tag or beacon instructions to the web server106to be included in web sites or elements or web sites (e.g., media, advertisements, and/or other elements of web sites) served by the web server106. The provided beacon instructions may allow for and/or require modification by the web server based on the specific page that is tagged and/or based on any arguments and/or other variables present on the web page.

When the example browser110requests the web page from the web server106(e.g., arrow (1) ofFIG. 1), the example web server106returns the page content with beacon instructions (e.g., arrow (2) ofFIG. 1). The example beacon instruction ofFIG. 1is provided by the AME102and/or modified from an instruction provided by the AME102to the web server106, and includes a URL112that points to an AME server114and specifies, among other things, a media presentation and/or exposure resulting from providing the requested page from the web server106, and an indication (e.g., the bolded text in the URL112) of a web server or publisher (e.g., the web server106) that provided the beacon instruction (e.g., arrow (3) ofFIG. 1). In some examples, the web server106is controlled by the partner DP104or another database proprietor. In some such examples, the web server106includes an identifier or other indication of the partner DP104in the URL112. If the browser110has previously stored a cookie corresponding to the AME102(e.g., an AME cookie) (and the cookie has not expired), the example browser110provides the AME cookie with the beacon request).

The example AME server114includes a beacon request re-director120, a cookie generator122, a partner selector124, a beacon instruction generator126, and a communication interface128. When the AME server114receives the beacon request from the browser110, the example beacon request re-director120determines whether the beacon request includes an AME cookie. If the beacon request does not include an AME cookie, the example cookie generator122creates an AME cookie for the browser110. If the beacon request includes an AME cookie, the example beacon request re-director120determines whether the AME cookie is associated with (e.g., mapped to) a DP cookie value for a DP (e.g., partner DP104). If there is a DP cookie, the example AME server114stores the beacon in association with the browser110. The AME server114may or may not respond to the beacon request. In the illustrated example, the AME server114responds to the beacon request with something not intended to affect display of the tagged web page or advertisement (e.g., with a transparent 1×1 pixel image or other requested media such as a placeholder). In some examples, the beacon request does not elicit a response.

If the AME server114of the illustrated example created an AME cookie for the browser110, or if there is no DP cookie value for the browser110associated with (e.g., mapped to) an existing AME cookie (e.g., the tagged web page or tagged ad is not from a DP server), the example beacon request re-director120adds an AME cookie to a URL parameter116of a response to the beacon request. The example beacon request re-director120sends a re-direct response (e.g., an HTTP “302 Found” re-direct message) to the browser110in response to the beacon request (e.g., arrow (4) ofFIG. 1). The example URL parameter116ofFIG. 1includes an address of a partner DP server108(e.g., the bolded and underlined text in URL116ofFIG. 1) and an identifier or value of the AME cookie to be mapped to a cookie of the partner DP104(e.g., the bolded and not underlined text). The example URL parameter116further includes an address of the partner DP server108. The example partner selector124selects the partner DP server to which the re-direct message is to be directed. For example, the partner selector124may select one or more of multiple partner DPs (e.g., from a list of cooperating partner DPs) based on, for example, the expected demographics of the media served by the web server106(e.g., the tagged media). In some other examples, the partner selector124selects a default partner DP and one or more backup partner DPs.

The example beacon instruction generator126ofFIG. 1receives information associated with the example web server106and/or web sites to be served by the web server106. The information may include an address and/or URL range of the web server106and/or media. Based on the information, the example beacon instruction generator126generates beacon instructions to be used by the example web server106to tag media served by the web server106. In some other examples, the beacon instruction generator126provides generic instructions to the web server106that may be modified by the web server106based on the media being served.

The example communication interface128communicatively couples the example AME server114to the example browser110(e.g., via a network such as the Internet). The example communication interface128includes a combination of hardware and software and/or firmware to transmit and receive communications, such as the beacon requests and re-direct responses. In some examples, the communication interface128includes load balancing features for dividing large numbers of communications between multiple AME servers114.

The example browser110receives the re-direct response to the beacon request and makes a request to the partner DP server108based on (e.g., using) the URL116(e.g., arrow (5) ofFIG. 1). If the browser110has a cookie for the domain of the partner DP104, the example browser110provides the cookie with the request. The example partner DP server108ofFIG. 1includes a cookie mapper130and a communications interface132. The partner DP server108determines whether a cookie is provided by the browser110. If the browser110provides a cookie with the request, the example partner DP server108(e.g., via the cookie mapper130) recognizes the cookie and maps the partner DP cookie to the AME cookie identified in the URL116(e.g., stores an association between the partner DP cookie and the AME cookie). The example partner DP server108sends a message to the example AME server114that indicates a mapping between the AME cookie and the partner DP cookie for the browser110(e.g., arrow (6) ofFIG. 1). The example message includes a URL118that provides the mapping (e.g., the bolded text).

The example cookie mapper130may additionally or alternatively be implemented in the AME servers114. As described below, in some examples, the AME server performs mapping between AME cookies and partner DP cookies based on AME cookies, partner DP user identifiers and/or partner DP cookies associated with the browser110.

The example communication interface312communicatively couples the example partner DP server108to the example browser110(e.g., via a network such as the Internet). The example communication interface132includes a combination of hardware and software and/or firmware to transmit and receive communications, such as the beacon re-directs, cookie mappings, and demographic information. In some examples, the communication interface132includes load balancing features for dividing large numbers of communications between multiple partner DP servers108.

In the example ofFIG. 1, the mapping URL118further includes demographic information associated with the browser (e.g., demographic information for a user of the browser) that is known to the partner DP104. For example, a user of the browser110may have provided the demographic information to the partner DP104in exchange for the use of a service provided by the partner DP104. In some examples, the mapping URL118further includes a timestamp of the mapping and/or a timestamp of another event leading to the mapping to facilitate mapping of the AME cookie and/or the partner DP cookie to the impression data. In some other examples, the AME server114stores the timestamps derived from HTTP messages transmitted and received during the mapping process. In some examples, the AME cookie is unique such that the timestamps are not necessary for matching the AME cookie and/or the partner DP cookie to impressions data.

The example AME server114ofFIG. 1stores the mapping between the AME cookie and the partner DP cookie. The example AME server114ofFIG. 1further stores demographic information for the browser110received from the partner DP (if any). For subsequent beacon requests received from the browser110for the same AME cookie, the example AME server114stores the beacon request (and associated page view and/or exposure information) and does not re-direct the browser110thereby reducing traffic to the DP and also reducing data (e.g., impression counts) provided to the DP).

FIG. 3depicts another example system300to generate an AME-to-first partner DP cookie mapping based on a re-direct from the AME to a partner DP1, and to further send a request to a second partner DP (partner DP2) to identify a registered user of the partner DP2.FIG. 4depicts an example messaging flow diagram corresponding to the example system ofFIG. 3to generate an AME-to-partner DP1cookie mapping based on a re-direct from the AME to a partner DP1, and to further send a request to a second partner DP (partner DP2) to identify a registered user of the partner DP2. The example system300ofFIG. 3includes the AME102, the first partner DP104, the web server106, the first partner DP server(s)108, the example browser110, and the AME server(s)114ofFIG. 1. The example system300ofFIG. 3further includes a second partner DP302that includes one or more second partner DP server(s)304.

In a manner similar to arrows (1) and (2) ofFIG. 1, the example browser110requests a web page from the first web server106and receives the media (e.g., a web page, an advertisement) with beacon instructions. The request to the web server106can be for any media (e.g., a web page, a part of a web page such as an advertisement) that is tagged. The web page itself can be tagged and/or an advertisement or other portion within the page can be tagged. The example beacon instruction includes a URL306specifying the web server, publisher, and/or website proprietor from which the beacon instruction originated (e.g., the bold font). In a manner similar to arrow (3) ofFIG. 1, the example browser110, upon receiving the beacon instruction, makes a beacon request to the example AME server114. If the browser110has previously stored a cookie corresponding to the AME102(and the cookie has not expired), the example browser110provides the AME cookie with the beacon request). In the examples ofFIGS. 1 and 3, the AME server114need not determine whether the AME cookie is expired because the browser110does not send (e.g., deletes) an expired AME cookie (or any expired cookies).

When the AME server114receives the beacon request from the browser110, the example AME server114determines whether the beacon request includes an AME cookie. If the beacon request does not include an AME cookie, the example AME server114creates an AME cookie for the browser110. The AME cookie expires after a time period, which may be set in the AME cookie, may be set by the browser110, and/or may be a universal upper limit on the lifetimes of cookies. When the AME cookie expires, the example browser110discards the AME cookie (e.g., deletes from storage). The next beacon request from the browser110does not include an AME cookie, so the AME server114treats the browser110as unknown and supplies a new AME cookie. If the beacon request includes an AME cookie, the example AME server114determines whether the AME cookie is associated with (e.g., mapped to) a DP cookie value for the specified DP in the URL112(e.g., partner DP104). If there is a DP cookie, the example AME server114stores the beacon in association with the browser110.

If the AME server114created an AME cookie for the browser110, or if there is no DP cookie value for the browser110associated with (e.g., mapped to) an existing AME cookie, the example AME server114adds an AME cookie to a URL parameter308of a re-direct response to the beacon request. The example AME server114then sends a re-direct response (e.g., an HTTP “302 Found” re-direct message) to the browser110in response to the beacon request (e.g., in a manner similar to arrow (4) ofFIG. 1). The example URL parameter308ofFIG. 3includes an address of the first partner DP server108(e.g., the bolded and not underlined text) and an identifier or value of the AME cookie to be mapped to a cookie of the first partner DP104(e.g., the bolded and underlined text). If the browser110has previously stored a cookie corresponding to the domain of the first partner DP104, the example browser110includes the first partner DP cookie with the request to the first partner DP server108.

The example first partner DP server108determines whether the request includes a first DP cookie. If the request includes a first partner DP cookie, the example first partner DP server108sends a message to the AME server114including a URL310. The URL310includes a mapping of the first partner DP cookie to the AME cookie (e.g., the bolded text). In some examples, the first partner DP server108stores the first partner DP cookie for later mapping and transmission to the AME server114(e.g., as a batch). At periodic or aperiodic intervals, the first partner DP server108sends multiple messages including the URLs (e.g., the URL310) that indicate the respective mappings of first partner DP cookies to AME cookies.

In addition to or as an alternative to mapping the AME cookie to a partner DP cookie for the first partner DP104(e.g., a partner DP from which the browser requested the web page), the example system300maps the AME cookie for the browser110to a partner DP cookie for the second partner DP302. The example second partner DP302may have additional or alternative information about the user of the browser110than the first partner DP104. In some examples, the first partner DP104may have no information associated with the browser110, while the second partner DP302has useful demographic or other information for the AME102.

In some examples, the system300maps the AME cookie to the second partner DP cookie to enable the second partner DP302to log impressions for a media (e.g., advertisement) campaign. The example second partner DP302provides impression information that is tracked via the second partner DP cookie to the example AME102, along with a mapping of the second partner DP cookie to the example AME cookie for the browser110. In some examples, the second partner DP302further provides demographic information associated with the impressions.

To map the AME cookie for the browser110to the second partner DP cookie, the example AME server114sends a re-direct response to the beacon request that includes a URL312to the second partner DP302(e.g., to the second partner DP server304). For example, the tagged media may include multiple beacons to enable the AME102to re-direct the browser110to multiple partner DPs. Additionally or alternatively, the tagged media only issues one beacon request and the AME server114may respond with multiple re-direct messages. Additionally or alternatively, each DP (e.g., the first partner DP104, the second partner DP304, etc.) may respond to a request caused by a re-direction by returning a re-direction to another DP. In examples where the AME server114sends multiple re-directs, the example URL312ofFIG. 3is similar to the URL308, except that the URL310specifies the address of the second partner DP server(s)304instead of the address of the first partner DP server(s)108.

The example URL310of the illustrated example includes the AME cookie value. The example browser110receives the re-direct response and sends a request to the example second partner DP server304. If the browser110has a cookie for the second partner DP server304, the browser110includes the cookie in the request. The example second partner DP server304determines whether the request from the browser110includes a cookie. If the request includes a cookie, the example second partner DP server304reads a value from the cookie that identifies the browser110or a user associated with the browser (e.g., uniquely identifies the user).

Unlike the example first partner DP104, the example second partner DP302of the illustrated example ofFIG. 3provides the AME cookie to second partner DP cookie mapping at intervals instead of immediately upon generation of the mapping. For example, the second partner DP302stores the mapping between the second partner DP cookies and the mapped AME cookies for later transmission to the AME server114(e.g., as a batch). At periodic or aperiodic intervals, the second partner DP server304send one or more multiple messages including the respective mappings of second partner DP cookies to the AME cookies. The example second partner DP servers304may send a set of multiple mappings via one message in one or more data file (e.g., an array or other data structure). Additionally or alternatively, the second partner DP servers304may send multiple messages (e.g., dummy HTTP requests) in which each message includes a mapping (e.g., a URL containing the mapping information). If the example second partner DP server304recognizes the user (e.g., via the user identifier in the cookie), the example second partner DP server304sends a mapping message or other acknowledgement message to the example AME server114(e.g., a 200 OK HTTP response message).

The examples ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B are shown in connection with operations that may be performed using machine readable instructions executed by one or more servers or computers in the example systems100,300ofFIGS. 1 and 3.

In the examples ofFIGS. 5A,6A,7A, and8A, the operations described as being performed by the AME may be implemented by, for example, the AME server(s)114ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B and the operations described as being performed by a partner DP may be performed by, for example, the partner DP servers108,304ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B. In the example ofFIG. 5A, a first database proprietor (DP1) has agreed to provide cookie-level data and a second database proprietor (DP2) has refused to provide cookie-level data but agreed to provide summarized data representing aggregations of its cookie-level data in buckets or categories (e.g., men, ages 30-40).

FIG. 5Ais a flow diagram representative of example machine readable instructions500that may be executed to collect distributed demographic information from first and second partner database proprietors.FIG. 5Billustrates an example process of the system100ofFIG. 1implementing the instructions500ofFIG. 5A.

At block510, when a browser accesses media (e.g., arrow (1) ofFIG. 5B), beacon instructions included in and/or associated with the media (e.g., arrow (2) ofFIG. 5B) cause the browser to register an impression by sending a beacon request to the AME (e.g., arrow (3) ofFIG. 5B). At operations in process block512, the AME collects online activity data for the browser. For example, the AME receives a beacon request from a browser (block512a), and collects and/or stores impression data contained in or otherwise associated with the beacon request (block512b). The data associated with the beacon request may include an AME cookie associated with the browser and/or may identify media that triggered the beacon request. The AME processes the collected impression data based on the corresponding AME cookie received from the browser to, for example, correlate web page views and media exposures (block512c).

At block514, the AME determines which partner DP(s) the browser is to be re-directed. The example AME may select partner DP1, partner DP2, and/or one or more additional partner DPs. For example, the AME may select the partner DP1based on an expected or estimated demographic composition of a tagged web site when a quality of demographic information for the expected or estimated demographic composition is higher for the partner DP1than for other partner DPs. In some other examples, the AME may select multiple (e.g., all available) partner DPs (e.g., DP1and DP2). Based on the result of block514, the example AME sends a re-direct response to the client browser (e.g., arrow (4) ofFIG. 5B) to cause the client browser to send a re-direct request to the partner DP1(e.g., arrow (5) ofFIG. 5B, initiating blocks502a-502c) and/or to partner DP2(e.g., initiating blocks516a-516d).

In the illustrated example, operations in process block502are executed by the partner DP1, instead of the AME, to collect impression data based on beacon requests received from a web browser on a client computer. For example, after accessing tagged media, the client browser sends a beacon request to the AME and is re-directed by the AME to one or both of the partner DP1and/or the partner DP2(block514). Assuming, for purposes of discussion, that the partner DP1receives a message from a client browser based on the re-direction (e.g., block502a), the partner DP1accesses the tag information (e.g., media information, publisher information, a timestamp, etc.) from the message received from the client to thereby collect and/or store impression data from the browser (e.g., block502b). The partner DP1processes the tag information to associate the tag information with partner DP1cookie identifiers and/or AME cookie identifiers for the user exposed to the tagged media (block502c). Thus, the example operations of block502enable the partner DP1to collect impression information from panelist and/or non-panelist users that access tagged media. The collection of impression information by the partner DP1may be done in addition to or as an alternative to collection of impression information by the AME.

At block504, the partner DP1compresses the raw impression data (e.g., media information, cookie identifiers, timestamp, etc.) collected by the partner DP1to send to the AME (e.g., arrow (6) ofFIG. 5B). The impression data provided by the partner DP1to the AME includes mappings between the AME cookie identifiers (e.g., identifiers received via the tag information) and the partner DP1cookie identifiers (e.g., identifiers of the users that are known to the partner DP1and, for example, stored by the client device).FIG. 5Billustrates an example table524including a timestamp, impression information (e.g., a media identifier), and an association between a partner DP1user identifier and an AME cookie identifier. The example partner DP1sends the table524to the example AME server in a message corresponding to arrow (6) ofFIG. 5B. The partner DP1cookie identifier may be anonymized in the impression data provided to the AME for privacy. The example mapping information enables the AME to correlate impression data among multiple partner DPs (e.g., DP1, DP2, etc.). Example blocks502and/or504ofFIG. 5Aiterate and/or continuously execute to repeatedly collect impression data and transfer the data to the AME.

At operations in process block506, the partner DP1generates user demographic files at the cookie level (block506a). For example, the partner DP1may generate a file including partner DP cookie identifiers to be mapped to AME cookies, and further including demographic information for the users respectively identified by the partner DP cookies. For example, the partner DP1includes DP cookie identifiers of users, and the demographic information associated with the users, from whom DP cookies were received in association with a tag re-direct message (e.g., during the preceding reporting period). The cookie-level demographic files are compressed and transferred to the AME (e.g., periodically, aperiodically, in response to a request, at designated times, etc.) (e.g., block506b, arrow (7) ofFIG. 5B). An example table526is illustrated inFIG. 5Band includes demographic information associated with partner DP1cookie identifiers. The demographic data may be limited to users for whom cookie mapping occurred or may cover a larger set of the database proprietor's cookies.

At operations referred to by reference numeral508, the AME merges and/or aggregates the impression data and the demographic data from the partner DP1(block508a). For example, the AME may associate the demographic information corresponding to the individual partner DP cookies with the impression data (e.g., impression data received in block504from the partner DP1, impression data received from other partner DPs, and/or other impression data collected by the AME) corresponding to the individual partner DP cookies. The example AME summarizes the findings of the partner DP1(e.g., by grouping the data into demographic groups and/or buckets) (block508b). The partner DP demographic and impression information, and/or a summarization thereof may then be fed into a calibration engine for adjustment (e.g., calibration) based on known data (e.g., AME panelist data520) and/or generation of media impression reports (e.g., online campaign ratings).

At operations in process block516, upon receiving a request resulting from a re-direct response by the AME (block516a), a second partner DP2(e.g., server304ofFIG. 3) collects and/or stores activity information corresponding to a cookie known to the second partner DP2(e.g., second partner DP302) for the browser (block516b). The example partner DP2collects tag information (e.g., impression data) in a manner similar to partner DP1as described above with reference to the operations of block502. The example partner DP2processes the impression data based on the partner DP2cookies (block516c). The partner DP2may perform processing in block516cin a manner similar to the processing performed by the AME in block512c). However, instead of compressing the data, the example second partner DP server304periodically summarizes the tag information and sends the tag information to the OCR calibration engine518(block516d). For example, summarization of the data may include grouping impression information and/or demographic information into larger demographic groups rather than providing impression and/or demographic information for individual users and/or individual cookies. The example OCR calibration engine518further receives AME panel factors520(e.g., weights to be applied to the impression information based on characteristics of a representative AME panel). The example OCR calibration engine518generates OCR reports522based on the AME cookie to partner DP cookie mapping, partner DP demographics, partner DP activity measurements (e.g., impression data collection), and/or AME activity measurements (e.g., AME panelist and/or non-panelist impression collection). The example instructions500may include any number of partner DPs performing blocks502and/or504and/or may include any number of partner DPs performing block516.

FIG. 6Ais a flow diagram representative of example machine readable instructions600that may be executed to collect distributed demographic information from first and second partner database proprietors without collecting impression data at the first partner DP.FIG. 6Billustrates an example process of the system100ofFIG. 1implementing the instructions600ofFIG. 6A. The example instructions600include blocks506-522ofFIG. 5A(e.g., arrows (1)-(4) ofFIG. 6B). Unlike the instructions500ofFIG. 5A, the example instructions600cause the AME to collect impression information and frees the partner DP1from the task of collecting impression information.

The example instructions600ofFIG. 6Ainclude instructions referred to by reference numeral602, which cause the AME to re-direct the browser to a subdomain of the partner DP1domain (e.g., a server of the AME ofFIG. 1operating under a subdomain of the partner DP1domain such as an AME server604, rather than to a server operated by DP1). An example manner to use a subdomain of the partner DP1domain is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/239,005, filed Sep. 21, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The example AME server604receives the tag re-direct from the browser at the partner DP1subdomain address (block602a) (arrow (5) ofFIG. 6B). Because it operates under the partner DP1subdomain, the example AME can directly receive the partner DP1cookie from browsers. The partner DP1cookie is merged or mapped to the AME cookie by the AME (e.g., by retrieving the AME cookie from the payload in the re-direct request) (block602b). Thus, inFIG. 6A, the partner DP1is relieved of responsibility for collecting and reporting impression or exposure data. The data collected by the AME via the AME server in the DP1subdomain may be used by the same or different AME server at block508to merge the impression data with demographic data transmitted at block506. The example AME server604stores and/or sends the mapping information to another AME server114(e.g., arrow (6) ofFIG. 6B).

FIG. 7Ais a flow diagram representative of example machine readable instructions700that may be executed to perform a user-level cookie synchronization process.FIG. 7Billustrates an example process of the system100ofFIG. 1implementing the instructions700ofFIG. 7A. A user-level cookie synchronization refers to synchronizing an AME cookie associated with a user/device with a partner DP cookie associated with the same user/device. The example instructions700include blocks510,512, and516-522ofFIG. 5A.

During a collection process702, media of the partner DP1site is tagged to allow user cookie IDs to be mapped to AME cookies (block702a). For example, when a registered user of the partner DP1site accesses the partner DP1site (e.g., by accessing a tagged login page) (arrow (1) ofFIG. 7B), the tag associated with the partner DP1site (arrow (2) ofFIG. 7B) causes the browser to send a beacon request to the AME including an AME cookie (if available) and a user identifier (e.g., an alphanumeric code or value) of the user that is also known to the partner DP1(block702b). For example, the user identifier may be carried in the payload of the beacon request. To maintain privacy of the user, the example user identifier may be arbitrarily defined by the example partner DP1and/or may be changed for the same user for each mapping of an AME cookie to a partner DP1cookie. Moreover, the user identifier is mapped to the DP1cookie but is not itself the DP1cookie. The example AME stores an association between the user identifier and the received AME cookie. If there is no received AME cookie, the example AME stores a new AME cookie at the browser and records an association between the new AME cookie and the user identifier. In some examples in which the partner DP1provides a consistent user identifier for a user, the AME associates multiple AME cookies and the impression data corresponding to the multiple AME cookies based on the AME cookies being mapped to a same partner DP1cookie.

Separately from the mapping process702, the example browser110accesses media (e.g., from the media server) at block510(arrow (4) ofFIG. 7B). As described above, the example AME collects and stores impression information received from the browser via the beacon request (e.g., block512, arrows (5) and (6) ofFIG. 7B).

During a demographics process704, the partner DP1generates a daily/weekly partner DP1demographic table (e.g., table708ofFIG. 7B) containing user IDs (e.g., the user IDs sent via beacon requests to the AME) and key demographic segments (block704a). The example partner DP1compresses and/or transfers the demographic file to the AME (e.g., block704b, arrow (7) ofFIG. 7B). Because the partner DP1is aware of the association between its users and the user IDs provided to the AME, the example partner DP1can match the user IDs to the demographic information of the corresponding users. In the illustrated example, the partner DP1anonymizes the data to comply with privacy requirements. The mappings between the user (e.g., partner DP1) IDs and the AME cookies (e.g., as determined by the AME from the data provided by block702) and the partner DP1demographic tables (e.g., the demographic file provided by the partner DP1) may be used to create a mapping file between AME cookies and partner DP1cookies. The cookie mapping and/or the mapping between the user IDs and the AME cookies are subsequently used to associate audience demographics corresponding to online media impressions and/or to perform, for example, online campaign and/or exposure calculations and reporting. In the illustrated example, the AME applies profile corrections to correct or adjust any demographic data deemed to be inaccurate.

During a reporting process706, the partner DP1demographic tables (e.g., received from process block704) are matched to AME collection tables (e.g., tables of impression information collected by the AME in process block512) (block706a) for summarization and reporting (block706b). For example, the AME matches the demographic data corresponding to partner DP1cookies (e.g., received from process block704ofFIG. 7Aand/or arrow (7) ofFIG. 7B) to activity monitoring data using the partner DP1cookie to AME cookie mappings (e.g., received and/or determined from process block702ofFIG. 7Aand/or arrow (3) ofFIG. 7B). In this manner, demographic data is joined with impression data based on AME cookie IDs and/or user identifiers provided by the DP1to associate demographic data with activity data. The demographic and activity data may then be fed into a calibration engine for generation of reports reflecting exposure to various demographic groups.

The example instructions700ofFIG. 7Ado not cause the browser to re-direct to the DP1servers. Instead, the cookie mapping between the partner DP1cookie (and/or the partner DP1user identifier) and the AME cookie enables the impression data collected by the AME to be mapped to demographic information provided by the partner DP1. As a result, the number of re-directions is reduced relative to the systems ofFIGS. 5A-5B,6A-6B, and8A-8B and, thus, network traffic is reduced. Further, the reduced re-direction of the browser results in an improved experience for the user because the user experiences fewer delays associated with re-direct messages.

FIG. 8Ais a flow diagram representative of example machine readable instructions800that may be executed to perform an impression-level cookie synchronization process.FIG. 8Billustrates an example process of the system100ofFIG. 1implementing the instructions800ofFIG. 8A. An impression-level cookie synchronization refers to synchronizing an AME cookie associated with an impression with a partner DP cookie also associated with that same impression. The example instructions600include blocks510-522ofFIG. 5A, which implements at least arrows (1)-(4) ofFIG. 8B.

During a collection process802, the partner DP1receives a re-direct from a client browser (e.g., block802aofFIG. 8A, arrow (5) ofFIG. 8B). The re-direct includes an AME cookie as a parameter (e.g., in the payload of the request) to be transmitted to the partner DP1. The partner DP1receives the re-directed request from the client browser and automatically returns a response containing a mapping between the AME cookie ID (provided by the AME via the re-direct) and the partner DP1cookie ID (received from the client browser when present) (block802b, arrow (6) ofFIG. 8B). In some examples, the response is sent to the client browser, which forwards the data to the AME. In other examples, a response is sent directly (e.g., omitting the browser) to the AME (e.g., via an asynchronous communication) from the partner DP1to avoid additional messages involving the client browser that can reduce the user experience. The example cookie mapping during collection process802results in rapid collection of demographic information (e.g., collection that approaches real-time), enabling advertisers to more quickly identify discrepancies between advertising goals and advertising results and/or to more quickly adjust placement and/or service of advertisements in order to reach the desired demographic composition.

For example, if an ad publisher intends to place ads on web sites A and B to achieve 10,000 impressions per day with men, ages 30-40 but, instead, the data collection by the process ofFIG. 8Ashows that web site A is producing 6,000 impressions for men, ages 30-40, and web site A is producing mostly female impressions, the ad publisher can increase the ad placement on web site B and decrease the ad placement on web site A within the time period associated with the demographic goal (e.g., a seven day period to meet a daily goal, an hour period to meet an hourly goal, etc.) to achieve its demographic impression goals. This switch in ad placements may potentially be done in real time to achieve the desired advertising goals in a current ad campaign. In the past, the demographic results were not available until after the ad campaign was completed, thereby resulting in missed goals.

The partner DP1periodically (e.g., hourly, daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, etc.) or aperiodically (e.g., with the mapping information) provides a user table (e.g., table810ofFIG. 8B) or other data structure to the AME containing partner DP1cookie identifiers and key demographic segments (block804a, arrow (6) and/or arrow (7) ofFIG. 8B). The cookie identifiers provided in the user table correspond to the cookie identifiers mapped to the AME identifiers in process block802. In the illustrated example, the data is made anonymous (e.g., personally identifying information is removed) to comply with privacy requirements. In the illustrated example, the AME applies profile corrections to correct or adjust any demographic data deemed to be inaccurate.

During a reporting process806, the example AME uses the mapping received from block802to match partner DP1demographic tables (e.g., demographic data from block804) to AME collection tables (e.g., online activity data from block512) (block806a) for summarization and reporting (block806b). For example, summarization of the data may include grouping impression information and/or demographic information into larger demographic groups rather than providing impression and/or demographic information for individual users and/or individual cookies. In this manner, demographic data is joined to impression data based on partner DP1cookie IDs.

In operations within process block808, the example AME provides the OCR reports522ofFIG. 8Ato the media publisher and/or web server (e.g., arrow (8) to the web server106ofFIG. 8B). In the example ofFIG. 8A, the publisher compares the OCR reports to demographic goals (block808a). Based on the comparison, the example publisher adjusts the placement of the media (e.g., shifts the placement of the media among web sites) to achieve the desired goals. Thus, block808provides a feedback mechanism to enable advertisers to identify discrepancies between advertising goals and advertising results and/or to more quickly adjust placement and/or service of advertisements in order to reach the desired demographic composition.

While example instructions500-800are disclosed above with reference toFIGS. 5A-8B, any of the instructions500-800and/or blocks ofFIGS. 5A-8Bmay be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way to achieve various advantages such as those described with respect toFIGS. 5A-8B.

While an example manner of implementing the systems100,300are illustrated inFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B, one or more of the elements, processes and/or devices illustrated inFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, the example web server106, the example AME server(s)114,604the example partner DP servers108,304, the example browser110, the example beacon request re-director120, the example cookie generator122, the example partner selector124, the example beacon instruction generator126, the example communications interfaces128,132, the example cookie mapper130and/or, more generally, the example systems100,300ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example web server106, the example AME server(s)114,604the example partner DP servers108,304, the example browser110, the example beacon request re-director120, the example cookie generator122, the example partner selector124, the example beacon instruction generator126, the example communications interfaces128,132, the example cookie mapper130and/or, more generally, the example systems100,300could be implemented by one or more analog or digital circuit(s), logic circuits, programmable processor(s), application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any of the apparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely software and/or firmware implementation, at least one of the example web server106, the example AME server(s)114,604the example partner DP servers108,304, the example browser110, the example beacon request re-director120, the example cookie generator122, the example partner selector124, the example beacon instruction generator126, the example communications interfaces128,132, and/or the example cookie mapper130is/are hereby expressly defined to include a tangible computer readable storage device or storage disk such as a memory, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a compact disk (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc. storing the software and/or firmware. Further still, the example systems100,300ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B may include one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated inFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B, and/or may include more than one of any or all of the illustrated elements, processes and devices.

Flowcharts representative of example machine readable instructions for implementing the systems100,300ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B are shown inFIGS. 9-13. In this example, the machine readable instructions comprise programs for execution by a processor such as the processor1412shown in the example processor platform1400discussed below in connection withFIG. 14. The programs may be embodied in software stored on a tangible computer readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a Blu-ray disk, or a memory associated with the processor1412, but the entire programs and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device other than the processor1412and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware. Further, although the example programs are described with reference to the flowcharts illustrated inFIGS. 9-13, many other methods of implementing the example systems100,300may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, or combined.

FIG. 9is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions900that may be executed to implement the example browser110ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B to implement mapping of an AME cookie to partner DP cookies for the browser.

The example browser110ofFIG. 1sends a request for a web page (e.g., to a partner DP and/or to another web page publisher) (block902). The example browser110receives web page code including beacon instructions (e.g., a tag provided by the AME) (block904). The example browser110executes the beacon instructions (block906) and generates a beacon request from the beacon instructions (block908).

The example browser110determines whether a cookie for the AME domain is stored (block910). For example, the AME may have caused the browser110to previously store a cookie for the AME domain. If a cookie for the AME domain is stored (block910), the example browser110adds the AME cookie to the beacon request (block912). After adding the AME cookie to the beacon request (block912), or if there is no cookie stored for the AME domain (block910), the example browser110sends the beacon request to the AME server114(block914). Example methods and apparatus for performing any of blocks902-914are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,370,489, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

The example browser110determines whether a response has been received (block916). If a response has not been received (block916), the example browser110determines whether a response timeout (e.g., a watchdog timer) has lapsed (block917). For example, when the browser110provides an AME cookie in the beacon request, and the AME server114determines that the AME cookie is mapped to a partner DP cookie, the example AME server114may log the impression and omit transmission of a response to the browser110. By not responding, the example AME server114and browser110may reduce the amount of network traffic and/or reduce an amount of data being sent to the partner DPs. If the response timeout has not occurred (block917), control loops to block916to continue waiting for a response to the beacon request. In some examples, a timer is used at block916to prevent hanging up in an infinite loop. In such examples, if no response is received within a time out period, control jumps out of block916to end the instructions ofFIG. 9.

When a response is received (block916), the example browser110determines whether the response is a re-direct message (e.g., a 302 FOUND message) (block918). If the response is a re-direct message (block918), the example browser110generates a partner DP request from the re-direct instructions (block920). For example, the partner DP request may include a URL of a partner DP server specified in the re-direct message.

The example browser110determines whether a cookie for the partner DP domain specified in the re-direct is stored (block922). For example, the partner DP may have caused the browser110to previously store a cookie for the partner DP domain. If there is a cookie for the partner DP domain stored (block922), the example browser adds the partner DP cookie to the partner DP request (block924). After adding the partner DP cookie (block924), or if no partner DP cookie is stored (block922), the example browser110sends the partner DP request to the partner DP server108(block926). After sending the partner DP request to the partner DP server (block926), if the response from the AME server114is not a re-direct (e.g., is a placeholder image such as a 1×1 transparent pixel) (block918), or if a response timeout occurs (block917), the example instructions900end.

FIG. 10is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions1000that may be executed to implement the example AME server114ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B to initiate mapping of an AME cookie to partner DP cookies.

The example AME server114ofFIG. 1receives a beacon request from a browser (e.g., the browser110ofFIG. 1) (block1002). The example AME server114determine whether the beacon request includes an AME cookie (block1004). If the beacon request does not include an AME cookie (block1004), the example AME server114generates an AME cookie for the browser (block1006). For example, the AME cookie enables the AME server to track the online activity of the browser in AME-tagged web pages. If the beacon request includes an AME cookie (block1004), the example AME server114determines whether the AME cookie is already mapped to a partner DP cookie (block1008). For example, the AME server114may determine whether the AME cookie is mapped to a cookie of one or more partner DPs. If the AME cookie is mapped to a partner DP cookie (block1008), the example AME server114determines whether an additional mapping is desired (block1009). For example, while the AME server114may have a mapping between the AME cookie and a first partner DP cookie, it may be desirable to map the AME cookie to second (or more) partner DP cookies from other partner DPs to improve the quality of demographic information applied to the impression data.

If a mapping of the AME cookie to a partner DP cookie (e.g., a first partner DP cookie and/or an additional partner DP cookie) is desired (blocks1008,1009), or after generating the AME cookie (block1006), the example AME server114generates a re-direct response (block1010). The example AME server114includes an identifier of the AME cookie (e.g., the generated or previously-stored cookie) and an address (e.g., a URL) of a partner DP to be contacted in the re-direct response (block1012). The example AME server114sends the re-direct response (e.g., including the AME cookie identifier and the partner DP address) to the browser110(block1014). In some examples, blocks1002-1014represent a process and blocks1016-1030represent a separate process executing in parallel. In such examples, the first process ends after block1014.

Returning to the example ofFIG. 10, the example AME server114determines whether an AME cookie to partner DP cookie mapping has been received (block1016). The example AME server114may wait for a time period between blocks1014and1016(e.g., to allow the browser110to send the request to the partner DP server108). If an AME cookie to partner DP cookie mapping is received (block1016), the example AME server114logs the AME cookie to partner DP cookie mapping (block1018). For example, the mapping may include the AME cookie identifier and a corresponding partner DP cookie identifier.

In some examples, blocks1016and1018constitute a thread that may be executed as a separate process to receive and/or store mappings between AME cookies and partner DP cookies. For example, the AME server114may re-direct browsers to partner DP servers108,304. The partner DP servers108,304determine the associations between the AME cookies and the partner DP cookies and, instead of immediately transmitting the mappings to the AME server114(e.g., directly or via the browser110), the example partner DP servers108,304process and/or transmit the mappings as a batch (e.g., multiple messages, multiple mappings in a file, etc.).

Returning to the example ofFIG. 10, after logging the cookie mapping (block1018), or if no cookie mapping is received (block1016), the example AME server114determines whether to request a mapping from an additional partner DP (block1020). For example, the browser110may select multiple beacon requests based on the tagging instructions to enable the AME server114to re-direct requests to multiple partner DPs. If the AME server114is to request mapping from an additional partner DP (block1020), the example AME server114generates a re-direct response (block1022). The example AME server114includes an AME cookie (e.g., the generated or received AME cookie) in the re-direct response (block1024). The example AME server114sends the re-direct request to the browser110(block1026).

In some examples in which the AME server114is to request mappings from additional (e.g., multiple) partner DPs (block1020), the example AME server114may issue multiple re-direct responses to the browser110simultaneously in response to the beacon request.

Returning to the example ofFIG. 10, the example AME server114stores the AME cookie for subsequent matching to partner DP data (e.g., via periodic transmission of partner DP OCR and/or demographic information) (block1028).

After storing the AME cookie (block1028), if the AME server114is not to request mapping from an additional partner DP (block1020), or if cookie mappings to additional partner DPs are not desired (block1009), the example instructions1000ofFIG. 10end.

FIG. 11is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions1100that may be executed to implement the example AME server114ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B to associate demographics obtained from a partner DP with online activity monitoring information (e.g., impression data and/or exposure data).

The example AME server114obtains an AME cookie to partner DP cookie mapping (block1102). For example, the AME server114may receive a periodic or aperiodic report including mappings of AME cookies to partner DP cookies from the partner DP server108ofFIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively, the example AME server114may receive messages (e.g., HTTP messages) from partner DP servers108,304(e.g., directly or via the browser110) that include the AME cookie to partner DP cookie mappings. The example AME server114obtains demographic information corresponding to the partner DP cookie(s) (block1104).

The example AME server114selects an AME cookie to partner DP cookie mapping (block1106). The example AME server114determines whether the partner DP cookie in the selected mapping is mapped to additional AME cookies (e.g., AME cookies other than the AME cookie in the selected mapping) (block1108). For example, multiple AME cookies may be provided to the browser110that is associated with one user, who is in turn associated with one partner DP cookie. As the AME cookies expire or get deleted by the browser110, additional AME cookies are provided to the browser110and may be mapped to the same partner DP cookie. The example AME server114may then correlate the impressions for the user by merging impression data for multiple AME cookies that are mapped to a same partner DP cookie. If the partner DP cookie is mapped to additional AME cookies (block1108), the example AME server merges the mappings of AME cookie(s) corresponding to the partner DP cookie (block1110). By merging the mappings, the example AME server114can merge the activities (e.g., impressions) of the user associated with the browser.

After merging the mappings (block1110) or if the partner DP cookie is not mapped to additional AME cookies (block1108), the example AME server114determines whether the AME cookie(s) (e.g., the AME cookie of the selected mapping and/or the merged AME cookie(s)) are mapped to additional partner DP cookie(s) (block1112). For example, the AME server114may request and receive mappings from multiple partner DP servers108,304for a single AME cookie as described above. If the AME cookie(s) are mapped to additional partner DP cookie(s) (block1112), the example AME server114merges the mappings of the additional partner DP cookies to the AME cookie(s) (block1114).

After merging the mappings (block1114), or if there are no additional partner DP cookies mapped to the AME cookies (block1112), the example AME server114determines whether there are additional mappings to be considered for merging (block1116). If there are additional mappings (block1116), control returns to block1106to select another AME cookie to partner DP cookie mapping.

When there are no additional mappings (block1116), the example AME server114associates online activity (e.g., impression data) measured with the AME cookies to received demographic information corresponding to partner DP cookies (e.g., based on the merged or unmerged mappings of the AME cookies to the partner DP cookies) (block1118). For example, the AME server114may match the impression data measured in associated with an AME cookie with the demographic data received in association with a partner DP cookie by determining the mapping of the AME cookie to the partner DP cookie. The example AME server114associates with the AME cookie any additional online activity that was measured by the partner DP using the partner DP cookie (block1120). As a result, the example AME server114aggregates the online activity (if any) measured by the AME with online activity measured by the partner DP that was not measured by the AME, which is further associated with demographic information provided by the partner DP that was not previously available to the AME. The example instructions1100then end.

FIG. 12is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions1200that may be executed to implement the example partner DP servers108,304ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B to map an AME cookie to a partner DP cookie. For clarity, the example instructions1200ofFIG. 12are described below with reference to the example partner DP server108.

The example partner DP server108ofFIG. 1receives a request from a browser (e.g., the browser110ofFIG. 1) (block1202). The example partner DP server108determines whether the request includes a partner DP cookie (block1204). For example, if a user of the browser110had previously set up an account or otherwise provided information to the partner DP, the example partner DP may have stored a cookie on a computer executing the browser110.

If the request includes a partner DP cookie (block1204), the example partner DP server108reads the partner DP cookie data (block1206). For example, the partner DP server108may determine a user identifier or other identifying information from the partner DP cookie data. The example partner DP server108then identifies the user registered with the partner DP based on the cookie (block1208).

The example partner DP server108generates a mapping response (block1210). The partner DP server108includes an AME cookie to partner DP cookie mapping in the mapping response (block1212). For example, the partner DP server108may include a URL including the domain of the AME server114, an identifier of the AME cookie, and an identifier of the partner DP cookie mapped to the AME cookie in the mapping response. The example partner DP server108determines whether to include demographic information corresponding to the partner DP cookie in the mapping (block1214). For example, the partner DP server108may provide the demographic information with the mapping and/or may provide demographic information to the AME102on a periodic basis.

If the partner DP server108is not to include demographic information in the mapping (block1214), the example partner DP server108sends a mapping response to the AME server114or to the browser110(block1216). For example, the partner DP server108may send an asynchronous HTTP request to the AME server114and/or send a re-direct response to the browser110to cause the browser to send a request to the AME server114. The example partner DP server108periodically sends data including the AME cookie, the partner DP cookie, and demographic information to the AME server114(block1218). However, the partner DP server108may additionally or alternative send the data to the AME server114at aperiodic or other intervals. If the partner DP server108is to include the demographic information (block1214), the example partner DP server108sends a mapping response including demographic information to the AME server114or to the browser110(block1220).

After sending the mapping response including the demographic information (block1220) or after sending the mapping response and sending the demographic data separately (blocks1216and1218), the example instructions ofFIG. 12end.

FIG. 13is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions1300which may be executed to implement the example beacon instruction generator126ofFIG. 1to generate beacon instructions (e.g., tags) to be served by a web server (e.g., the web server106ofFIG. 1) to tag media (e.g., an advertisement, a web page, etc.).

The example beacon instruction generator126ofFIG. 1receives web site and/or web server information (e.g., address information, information describing the web sites served by the web server106ofFIG. 1) (block1302). The example beacon instruction generator126generates beacon instruction(s) for the web site and/or the web server (block1304). In some examples, the beacon instruction generator126generates a template instruction for a web site and/or web site element (e.g., for an entire web site, for an advertisement or other media that is part of a web site, etc.). The example beacon instruction generated by the beacon instruction generator126causes a browser or other client device that receives the beacon instruction to initiate beacon requests to facilitate impression measurement and/or a process that results in mapping an AME cookie to one or more partner DP cookies as disclosed herein.

The example beacon instruction generator126determines whether the beacon instruction includes modifiable (e.g., customizable) data (block1306). Example modifiable data may be include in the beacon instruction to customize the beacon instruction for a web site, a web server, an ad campaign, or other purpose. Example information that may be configured as unmodifiable includes an address of the AME server114to which the beacon instruction is to initiate a communication. If there is modifiable information in the beacon instruction (block1306), the example beacon instruction generator126modifies the modifiable beacon instruction data based on the web site and/or web server information (block1308).

In some examples, the beacon instruction includes data that is modifiable by the web server106based on the web page being served to the browser110. For example, the beacon instruction may provide different data to the example browser110depending on the identity of the user of the browser110and/or a timestamp of sending the beacon instruction.

After modifying the beacon instruction data (block1308), or if the beacon instruction is not modifiable (block1306), the example beacon instruction generator126provides the beacon instruction to the web server106for inclusion in media (block1310). For example, the beacon instruction generator126may transmit the beacon instruction to the web server106via a communications interface and/or provide the instruction to a developer or administrator of the web site for inclusion in the script and/or code of the web server106. The example instructions1300then end and/or iterate to generate additional beacon instructions for the web server106or additional web servers.

FIG. 14is a block diagram of an example processor platform1400capable of executing the instructions ofFIGS. 9-13to implement the example AME server(s)114, the example partner DP servers108,304, the example browser110and/or, more generally, the example systems100,300ofFIGS. 1-4,5B,6B,7B, and/or8B. The processor platform1400can be, for example, a server, a personal computer, or any other type of computing device.

The processor platform1400of the illustrated example includes a processor1412. The processor1412of the illustrated example is hardware. For example, the processor1412can be implemented by one or more integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors or controllers from any desired family or manufacturer.

The processor1412of the illustrated example includes a local memory1413(e.g., a cache). The processor1412of the illustrated example is in communication with a main memory including a volatile memory1414and a non-volatile memory1416via a bus1418. The volatile memory1414may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM) and/or any other type of random access memory device. The non-volatile memory1416may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory1414,1416is controlled by a memory controller.

The processor platform1400of the illustrated example also includes an interface circuit1420. The interface circuit1420may be implemented by any type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), a PCI express interface, and/or any other communications interface.

The processor platform1400of the illustrated example also includes one or more mass storage devices1428for storing software and/or data. Examples of such mass storage devices1428include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, RAID systems, and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives.

The coded instructions1432ofFIGS. 9-13may be stored in the mass storage device1428, in the volatile memory1414, in the non-volatile memory1416, and/or on a removable tangible computer readable storage medium such as a CD or DVD.

Example methods and apparatus disclosed herein provide demographic information to audience measurement entities for larger numbers of online users than were previously available to audience measurement entities. Example methods and apparatus disclosed herein reduce the uncertainty associated with the use of statistical methods by increasing the amounts of collected data, while maintaining privacy for individual users. Example methods and apparatus disclosed herein reduce a number of re-directs needed to database proprietors during the life or validity of the associated cookies. By reducing the number of re-directs, example methods and apparatus disclosed herein reduce interruptions, interference, and/or background processing that can negatively affect performance of client browsers, thus, improving an overall user experience for audience members. Example methods and apparatus improve overall efficiencies of networking environments by reducing network congestion and delay associated with collecting matching exposure information to demographic information.

It is noted that this patent claims priority from Australian Patent Application Serial Number 2013204865, which was filed on Apr. 12, 2013, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.