Patent Description:
Media producers, media providers, advertisers, product manufactures represented in advertisements, and many other entities utilize information about the presentation of media. Such information is often collected through the use of panels comprised of persons (e.g., panelists) who have agreed to have their exposure to media monitored. For example, audio of media may be transmitted with identifying information (e.g., embedded watermarks or codes) that identifies the media. Panelists may be supplied with meters (e.g., portable meters carried and/or worn by the panelists) that collect the audio and extract the identifying information. The information may be transmitted to a collection facility where the results from multiple panelists are combined to generate reports comprising information about media presentation. <CIT> relates to extracting and timestamping metadata from streaming media transmissions received at a media device, including identifying demographic information associated with a user of the media device based on an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the media device. <CIT> relates to techniques for projecting person-level viewership from household-level tuning events.

The invention provides an apparatus according to independent claim <NUM>, a computer-implemented method according to independent claim <NUM> and a non-transitory machine readable storage medium to determine a type of media device that presented media.

In the field of media metering, media is identified utilizing a media meter to detect one or more audio or video characteristics (e.g., one or more audio or video identifiers) of a media presentation and further mapping (e.g., matching) the one or more characteristics to identifying information (e.g., a program, an episode, a presentation period, etc.) of the media presentation. As used herein, the term "media" and "media presentation" are defined to mean the same and can include any type of video and/or audio content and/or advertisement delivered via any type of distribution medium. Thus, media includes television programming or advertisements, radio programming or advertisements, movies, web sites, streaming media, etc. Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture disclosed herein monitor media presentations at media devices. Such media devices may include, for example, Internet-enabled televisions, personal computers, Internet-enabled mobile handsets (e.g., a smartphone), video game consoles (e.g., Xbox One®, Nintendo® Switch, PlayStation® <NUM>), tablet computers (e.g., an iPad®), digital media players (e.g., a Roku® media player, a Slingbox®, an Apple TV®, etc.), etc..

In some examples, media monitoring information is aggregated to determine ownership and/or usage statistics of media devices, relative rankings of usage and/or ownership of media devices, types of uses of media devices (e.g., whether a device is used for browsing the Internet, streaming media from the Internet, etc.), and/or other types of media device information. In examples disclosed herein, monitoring information includes, but is not limited to, media identifying information (e.g., media-identifying metadata, codes, signatures, watermarks, and/or other information that may be used to identify presented media), application usage information (e.g., an identifier of an application, a time and/or duration of use of the application, a rating of the application, etc.), and/or user-identifying information (e.g., demographic information, a panelist identifier, a username, etc.).

Audio watermarking is a technique used to identify media such as television broadcasts, radio broadcasts, advertisements (television and/or radio), downloaded media, streaming media, prepackaged media, etc. Existing audio watermarking techniques identify media by embedding one or more audio codes (e.g., one or more watermarks), such as media identifying information and/or an identifier that may be mapped to media identifying information, into an audio and/or video component. In some examples, the audio or video component is selected to have a signal characteristic sufficient to hide the watermark. As used herein, the terms "code" or "watermark" are used interchangeably and are defined to mean any identification information (e.g., an identifier) that may be inserted or embedded in the audio or video of media (e.g., a program or advertisement) for the purpose of identifying the media or for another purpose such as tuning (e.g., a packet identifying header). To identify watermarked media, the watermark(s) are extracted and used to access a table of reference watermarks that are mapped to media identifying information.

Unlike media monitoring techniques based on codes and/or watermarks included with and/or embedded in the monitored media, fingerprint or signature-based media monitoring techniques generally use one or more inherent characteristics of the monitored media during a monitoring time interval to generate a substantially unique proxy for the media. Such a proxy is referred to as a signature or fingerprint, and can take any form (e.g., a series of digital values, a waveform, etc.) representative of any aspect(s) of the media signal(s)(e.g., the audio and/or video signals forming the media presentation being monitored). A signature may be a series of signatures collected in series over a time interval. A good signature is repeatable when processing the same media presentation, but is unique relative to other (e.g., different) presentations of other (e.g., different) media. Accordingly, the term "fingerprint" and "signature" are used interchangeably herein and are defined herein to mean a proxy for identifying media that is generated from one or more inherent characteristics of the media.

Signature-based media monitoring generally involves determining (e.g., generating and/or collecting) signature(s) representative of a media signal (e.g., an audio signal and/or a video signal) output by a monitored media device and comparing the monitored signature(s) to one or more references signatures corresponding to known (e.g., reference) media sources. Various comparison criteria, such as a cross-correlation value, a Hamming distance, etc., can be evaluated to determine whether a monitored signature matches a particular reference signature. When a match between the monitored signature and one of the reference signatures is found, the monitored media can be identified as corresponding to the particular reference media represented by the reference signature that matched the monitored signature. Because attributes, such as an identifier of the media, a presentation time, a broadcast channel, etc., are collected for the reference signature, these attributes may then be associated with the monitored media whose monitored signature matched the reference signature. Example systems for identifying media based on codes and/or signatures are long known and were first disclosed in Thomas, <CIT>.

Additionally, determining an identifier of a media device which presented media at a media location is important for proper media crediting. In the past, identifying a media device that presented media at a media location was accomplished utilizing media meters that included direct connections to one or more media devices at a media location. However, the quantity of connections required by this configuration was oftentimes found to be intrusive, and additionally relied upon an individual at the media location to ensure proper connections between the meter and each media device at the media location.

To overcome the aforementioned limitations, newer models of media meters are designed to function with a minimal amount of wired connections (e.g., minimally invasive media meters). Some examples of minimally invasive media meters only include a direct connection to the audio line output of a media presentation device, and acquire the remainder of media monitoring information via one or more microphones. Other examples of minimally invasive media meters don't include any direct connections (e.g., a wireless media meter), and acquire all media monitoring information via one or more microphones.

For the example minimally invasive media meters described above, a media device identifier can oftentimes be determined from media monitoring information received via at least one of a microphone and an audio line output of a presentation device. However, in some instances, a minimally invasive media meter may be unable to determine a media device identifier directly from media monitoring information. As used herein, a media device without a determined identifier is further defined as an "unidentified media device.

Methods and apparatus disclosed herein facilitate inferring an identifier of an unidentified media device presenting media when a minimally invasive media meter is utilized and a media device identifier cannot be directly determined from media monitoring information, wherein inferring a media device identifier for the unidentified media device further includes analyzing data from a set of media meters as a reference.

Turning to the figures, <FIG> is an illustrated example environment of use <NUM> in which the teachings of this disclosure operate. The example environment of use <NUM> includes media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> which can deliver a media presentation via media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to a presentation device <NUM>. The presentation device <NUM> can, in some examples, include one or more audio signal transmitters <NUM> and one or more speakers <NUM>. Further, the example environment of use <NUM> can include a wired media meter <NUM> which can, in some examples, include a microphone <NUM>, an audio signal receiver <NUM>, an ambient microphone <NUM>, one or more media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> capable of providing direct connectivity of the wired media meter <NUM> to the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and a metering handler <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the example environment of use <NUM> can include a minimally invasive media meter <NUM> which can, in some examples, include a microphone <NUM>, an audio signal receiver <NUM>, an ambient microphone <NUM>, and a metering handler <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the example environment of use <NUM> can include a wireless media meter <NUM> which can, in some examples, include a microphone <NUM>, and a metering handler <NUM>. Further, the example environment of use <NUM> includes a network <NUM>, and an Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM>.

The example media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> are devices that retrieve media for presentation. In some examples, one or more of the example media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are capable of directly presenting media (e.g., via a display) while, in other examples, one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> present the media on a separate presentation device <NUM>, via one or more media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Thus, as used herein "media devices" may or may not be able to present media without assistance from a second device. Media devices are typically consumer electronics.

For example, the example media device <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is a PlayStation <NUM>, the example media device <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is a Roku® media player, the example media device <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is a Blu-ray/DVD player, and the example media device <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is a set top box. The illustrated example media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are not capable of directly presenting media (e.g., via an integrated and/or connected display and speakers), and thus, will each present media on the example presentation device <NUM>. While in the illustrated example of <FIG>, a PlayStation <NUM>, a Roku® media player, a Blu-ray/DVD player, and a set top box are shown, any other type(s) and/or number(s) of media device(s) may additionally or alternatively be used. For example, Internet-enabled mobile handsets (e.g., a smartphone, an iPod®, etc.), video game consoles (e.g., Xbox®, PlayStation® <NUM>, etc.), tablet computers (e.g., an iPad®, a Samsung Galaxy Tab S3®, etc.), digital media players (e.g., a Roku® media player, a Slingbox®, a Tivo®, etc.), smart televisions, desktop computers, laptop computers, servers, etc. may be used. Additionally, while each of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in the illustrated example of <FIG> are known media devices, one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> can be, in some examples, unknown media devices.

The example media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> are devices that transmit media from the example media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the example presentation device <NUM>. The example media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> can transmit one or more audio signals to the presentation device <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> can transmit one or more video signals to the presentation device <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the media transmitters <NUM><NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> can transmit one or more video signals and one or more audio signals to the presentation device <NUM>.

In some examples, such as in the illustrated example of <FIG>, the media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> can transmit media to the presentation device <NUM> via a wired/physical connection, such as an HDMI cable, an RCA cable, an optical cable, a coaxial cable, and/or any physical cable capable of transmitting at least one of a video signal and audio signal. Additionally or alternatively, the media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> can transmit media to the presentation device <NUM> via a wireless connection such as a Bluetooth connection, a cellular connection such as a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), a Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc., a Wi-Fi connection, and/or any wireless protocol capable of transmitting at least one of a video signal and audio signal.

The example presentation device <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is a device capable of presenting media distributed by one or more of the example media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> further connected to the presentation device <NUM> by one or more media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The example presentation device <NUM> can present a video signal from one or more of the example media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the presentation device <NUM> can present an audio signal from one or more of the example media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the presentation device <NUM> can present both an audio signal and a video signal from one or more of the example media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Further, the example presentation device <NUM> can include the one or more audio signal transmitters <NUM> and the one or more speakers <NUM>.

The one or more audio signal transmitters <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> are devices capable of transmitting an audio signal matching the audio signal received by the presentation device <NUM>, as distributed by one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

In some examples, such as in the illustrated example of <FIG>, the one or more audio signal transmitters <NUM> can transmit an audio signal to at least one of the wired media meter <NUM> and the minimally invasive media meter <NUM> via a wired/physical connection, such as an HDMI cable, an RCA cable, an optical cable, a coaxial cable, and/or any physical cable capable of transmitting an audio signal. Additionally or alternatively, the audio signal transmitter <NUM> can transmit an audio signal to at least one of the wired media meter <NUM> and the minimally invasive media meter <NUM> via a wireless connection such as a Bluetooth connection, a cellular connection such as a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), a Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc., a Wi-Fi connection, and/or any wireless protocol capable of transmitting an audio signal.

The one or more speakers <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> are devices capable of outputting the audio signal distributed by one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In some examples, the audio signal output by the one or more speakers <NUM> can be observed by a human viewer of the media presented by the presentation device <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the audio signal output by the one or more speakers <NUM> can be observed by a microphone and/or any electromechanical device capable of audio detection. Additionally or alternatively, the audio signal output by the one or more speakers <NUM> can be observed by at least one of a human viewer of the media presentation, and by a microphone and/or any electromechanical device capable of receiving auditory signals.

Further, in some such examples, the audio signal output by the one or more speakers <NUM> can include an audio watermark detectable by a microphone and/or any electromechanical device capable of audio detection, but not detectable by a human viewer of the media presented by the presentation device <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the audio signal output by the one or more speakers <NUM> can include a fingerprint or signature detectable by a microphone and/or any electromechanical device capable of audio detection. Additionally or alternatively, the audio signal output by the one or more speakers <NUM> can include any media identifier detectable by a microphone and/or any electromechanical device capable of audio detection.

The example wired media meter <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is a device capable of detecting the presentation of media distributed by at least of one of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> by the presentation device <NUM>. In some examples, such as the illustrated example of <FIG>, the wired media meter <NUM> can further include or otherwise implement the microphone <NUM>, the audio signal receiver <NUM>, the ambient microphone <NUM>, the one or more media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the metering handler <NUM>.

The microphone <NUM>, which in some examples is included in or otherwise implemented by the wired media meter <NUM>, is a device capable of capturing audio (e.g., sound). In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the microphone <NUM> captures audio output by the one or more speakers <NUM>, included or otherwise implemented by the presentation device <NUM>. The example microphone <NUM> can be placed in close proximity to the presentation device <NUM>. In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the microphone <NUM> is placed in direct contact with the speaker <NUM>.

Further, in some examples, the microphone <NUM> can receive a media identifier included in an audio signal of a media presentation presented at the presentation device <NUM>.

The audio signal receiver <NUM>, which in some examples is included in or otherwise implemented by the wired media meter <NUM>, is a device capable of receiving an audio signal matching the audio signal distributed by one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM>, and further transmitted by the audio signal transmitter <NUM>. Further, in some examples, the audio signal received by the audio signal receiver <NUM> can include a media identifier of the media presented by the presentation device <NUM>.

In some examples, such as in the illustrated example of <FIG>, the audio signal receiver <NUM> can receive an audio signal from the presentation device <NUM> via a wired/physical connection, such as an HDMI cable, an RCA cable, an optical cable, a coaxial cable, and/or any physical cable capable of transmitting an audio signal. Additionally or alternatively, the audio signal receiver <NUM> can receive an audio signal from the presentation device <NUM> via a wireless connection such as a Bluetooth connection, a cellular connection such as a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), a Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc., a Wi-Fi connection, and/or any wireless protocol capable of transmitting an audio signal.

The ambient microphone <NUM>, which in some examples is included in or otherwise implemented by the wired media meter <NUM>, is a device capable of detecting ambient sound near the wired media meter <NUM>. As used herein, "ambient sound" is defined as sound (e.g., audio) from any example source other than the presentation device <NUM>. Further, the ambient microphone <NUM> can, in some examples, transmit one or more ambient sound signals to the metering handler <NUM>.

The one or more media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> can be, in some examples, included in or otherwise implemented by the wired media meter <NUM>. The one or more media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are devices capable of transmitting a media device identifier of a media device, in some examples one or more of media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, from one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> to the wired media meter <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the one or more media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> can transmit a media identifier from one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the wired media meter <NUM>.

The metering handler <NUM>, which in some examples is included in or otherwise implemented by the wired media meter <NUM>, is a device capable of handling one or more audio signals, wherein in some examples the one or more audio signals can further include a media identifier. In the illustrated example of <FIG>, audio signals can be received by at least one of the microphone <NUM>, the audio signal receiver <NUM>, the ambient microphone <NUM>, and the one or more media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

In some examples, handling one or more audio signals can further include combining or otherwise multiplexing the one or more audio signals. Additionally or alternatively, handling one or more audio signals can further include determining a subset of audio signals which include a media identifier. Additionally or alternatively, handling one or more audio signals can include extracting a media identifier from one or more audio signals.

In some examples, the metering handler <NUM> is further to at least one of determine and distribute media monitoring information based upon identifiers (e.g., a media identifier, a media device identifier, etc.) received. In such examples, media monitoring information can include, but is not limited to, application usage information (e.g., an identifier of an application, a time and/or duration of use of the application, a rating of the application, etc.), media identifying information, and/or user-identifying information (e.g., demographic information, a panelist identifier, a username, etc.).

The example minimally invasive media meter <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is a device capable of detecting the presentation of media, distributed by at least of one of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, at the presentation device <NUM>. In some examples, such as the illustrated example of <FIG>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM> can further include or otherwise implement the microphone <NUM>, the audio signal receiver <NUM>, the ambient microphone <NUM>, and the metering handler <NUM>. In some examples, the microphone <NUM>, the audio signal receiver <NUM>, the ambient microphone <NUM>, and the metering handler <NUM> function pursuant to the teachings of the microphone <NUM>, the audio signal receiver <NUM>, the ambient microphone <NUM>, and the metering handler <NUM>, respectively, described above in conjunction with the wired media meter <NUM>.

Additionally, the example minimally invasive media meter <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> does not, in some examples, include direct connections to any one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The example wireless media meter <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is a device capable of detecting the presentation of media distributed by at least of one of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> by the presentation device <NUM>. In some examples, such as the illustrated example of <FIG>, the wireless media meter <NUM> can further include or otherwise implement the microphone <NUM>, and the metering handler <NUM>. In some examples, the microphone <NUM> functions pursuant to the combination of the teachings of the microphone <NUM>, and the ambient microphone <NUM>, described in conjunction with the wired media meter <NUM>. Additionally, the metering handler <NUM> functions pursuant to the teaching of the metering handler <NUM>, described in conjunction with the wired media meter <NUM>.

Additionally, the example wireless media meter <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> does not include direct connections to any of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, or the one or more audio signal transmitters <NUM>.

The example network <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> is the Internet. However, the example network <NUM> may be implemented using any suitable wired and/or wireless network(s) including, for example, one or more data buses, one or more Local Area Networks (LANs), one or more wireless LANs, one or more cellular networks, one or more private networks, one or more public networks, etc. The example network <NUM> enables at least one of the wired media meter <NUM>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the wireless media meter <NUM> to be in communication with the example Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM>. As used herein, the phrase "in communication," including variances therefore, encompasses direct communication and/or indirect communication through one or more intermediary components and does not require direct physical (e.g., wired) communication and/or constant communication, but rather includes selective communication at periodic or aperiodic intervals, as well as one-time events.

The example Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, described in further detail below in conjunction with <FIG>, is a device capable of at least one of analyzing media monitoring information of a media presentation detected and distributed by at least one of the wired media meter <NUM>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the wireless media meter <NUM>. Further, the Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM> can generate a media credit for the media presentation presented at the presentation device <NUM>.

In operation of the example environment of use <NUM> of <FIG>, a media presentation is distributed from one or more of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> via one or more of the media transmitters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the presentation device <NUM>. The audio signal of the media presentation is further output via the one or more audio signal transmitters <NUM> and the one or more speakers <NUM>, and received by at least one of the microphones <NUM>, <NUM>, and/or <NUM> and at least one of the audio signal receivers <NUM> and <NUM> of at least one of the wired media meter <NUM>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the wireless media meter <NUM>. Additionally, the wired media meter <NUM> receives a media device identifier from at least one of the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> via one or more of the media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In response to the receipt of one or more audio signals, one or more of the metering handlers <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> distribute at least one of the audio signals and media monitoring information to the Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM> via the network <NUM>.

<FIG> is an illustrated example block diagram further detailing the Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM> which can, in some examples, include a media database <NUM>, a media device analyzer <NUM>, and a media crediting database <NUM>.

In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the example Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM> includes the media database <NUM> which is capable of storing media monitoring information as distributed by at least one of the wired media meter <NUM>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the wireless media meter <NUM>.

The media database <NUM> may be implemented by a volatile memory (e.g., a Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM), etc.) and/or a non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory). The media database <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be implemented by one or more double data rate (DDR) memories, such as DDR, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, mobile DDR (mDDR), etc. The media database <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be implemented by one or more mass storage devices such as hard disk drive(s), compact disk drive(s) digital versatile disk drive(s), etc. While in the illustrated example the media database <NUM> is illustrated as a single database, the media database <NUM> may be implemented by any number and/or type(s) of databases. Furthermore, the data stored in the media database <NUM> may be in any data format such as, for example, binary data, comma delimited data, tab delimited data, structured query language (SQL) structures, etc..

The media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, described in greater detail below in conjunction with <FIG>, is a device capable of at least one of identifying (e.g., determining an identity of) an unidentified media device, generating a report on the media device identified, and generating a credit for the media device identified utilizing media monitoring information stored in the media database <NUM>.

In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM> includes the media crediting database <NUM> which is capable of storing one or more media credit(s) for one or more media presentation(s) as detected by at least one of the wired media meter <NUM>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the wireless media meter <NUM> at the example environment of use <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the media crediting database <NUM> is capable of storing one or more media credit(s) for one or more media presentation(s).

The media crediting database <NUM> may be implemented by a volatile memory (e.g., a Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM), etc.) and/or a non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory). The media crediting database <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be implemented by one or more double data rate (DDR) memories, such as DDR, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, mobile DDR (mDDR), etc. The media crediting database <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be implemented by one or more mass storage devices such as hard disk drive(s), compact disk drive(s), digital versatile disk drive(s), etc. While in the illustrated example the media crediting database <NUM> is illustrated as a single database, the media crediting database <NUM> may be implemented by any number and/or type(s) of databases. Furthermore, the data stored in the media crediting database <NUM> may be in any data format such as, for example, binary data, comma delimited data, tab delimited data, structured query language (SQL) structures, etc..

In operation, the example block diagram of the illustrated example of <FIG> receives media monitoring information, including media identifying information, via the network <NUM> at the media database <NUM>, further included or otherwise implemented by the Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM>. The media database <NUM> at least one of stores the media monitoring information and distributes the media monitoring information to the media device analyzer <NUM>, which is further to at least one of identify an unidentified media device for the media presentation and generate a media credit including the identifier of the media device. The media device analyzer <NUM> is further to distribute the media credit to the media crediting database <NUM>, wherein the media credit is stored.

An example block diagram further detailing the media device analyzer <NUM> of <FIG> is illustrated in the example of <FIG>. The example media device analyzer <NUM> of <FIG> can, for a media presentation detected by at least one of the wired media meter <NUM>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the wireless media meter <NUM>, identify a media device which presented the media presentation and, in some examples, further generate a credit for the media presentation including an identifier of the media device.

Looking to <FIG>, the illustrated media device analyzer <NUM> includes a media database interface <NUM>, a media device recognition determiner <NUM>, a cluster generator <NUM>, a media device determiner <NUM>, a cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, a media device report generator <NUM>, and a media credit generator <NUM>.

In the illustrated example of <FIG>, the example media database interface <NUM> can at least one of transfer data to and receive data from at least one of the example media database <NUM> and the example media crediting database <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, the example media database interface <NUM> can at least one of transfer data to and receive data from any component of the media device analyzer <NUM> that can include the media device recognition determiner <NUM>, the cluster generator <NUM>, the media device determiner <NUM>, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, the media device report generator <NUM>, and the media credit generator <NUM>. In some examples, the media database interface <NUM> can be implemented by any type of interface standards, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), and/or a PCI express interface.

The example media device recognition determiner <NUM>, further included in the media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, is a device capable of determining an identifier of an unidentified media device presenting a media presentation (e.g., the previously unidentified media device is a Roku, the previously unidentified media device is a PlayStation <NUM>, the previously unidentified media device is a Set Top Box, the previously unidentified media device is unrecognized, etc.). In some examples, such as the illustrated example of <FIG>, a media device identifier can be transmitted to the wired media meter <NUM> directly from a media device via a media device connector, such as one of media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> via one of the media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in the illustrated example of <FIG>.

Additionally or alternatively, such as in the illustrated example of <FIG>, a media device identifier can be determined from a media identifier transmitted to at least one of the audio signal receiver <NUM> of the wired media meter <NUM> and the audio signal receiver <NUM> of the minimally invasive media meter <NUM> via the audio signal transmitter <NUM> of the presentation device <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively, such as in the illustrated example of <FIG>, a media device identifier can be determined from a media identifier transmitted to at least one of the microphone <NUM> of the wired media meter <NUM>, the microphone <NUM> of the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the microphone <NUM> of the wireless media meter <NUM> via audio output of the one or more speakers <NUM> of the presentation device <NUM>.

When, according to the invention, the media device recognition determiner <NUM> determines that an identifier of the unidentified media device cannot be determined from available media identifying information, the media device recognition determiner <NUM> is further to transmit media identifying information of a media presentation to the cluster generator <NUM>.

The example cluster generator <NUM>, further included in the media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, is a device capable of generating one or more clusters of one or more media locations from a population of media locations (e.g., a reference population of media locations). As used herein, "cluster of media locations" and "media location cluster" are used interchangeably and are defined to mean a subset of media locations (e.g., one or more media locations from a population of media locations which are grouped together based upon one or more rulesets) The cluster generator <NUM> generates a cluster of media locations from a population of media locations by identifying one or more media locations from the population of media locations that received an example media identifier (e.g., media identifier ABC-<NUM>, media identifier XX-YYYY, etc.) included in media identifying information.

Additionally, the cluster generator <NUM> can generate a cluster of media locations from a population of media locations by determining one or more media locations from the population of media locations that include an example media device (e.g., a PlayStation <NUM>, a Roku, etc.). Additionally, the cluster generator <NUM> can generate a cluster of media locations from a population of media locations by determining one or more media locations from the population of media locations that received media identifying information at a substantially similar time (e.g., <NUM>:<NUM> PM).

Additionally, the example cluster generator <NUM> can determine a media location identifier (e.g., media location A, media location B, media location C, etc.) for each media location determined to be included at the media location cluster and, in some examples, further distribute a media location ID of each media location in an example media location cluster to at least one of the media device determiner <NUM> and the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>.

The example media device determiner <NUM>, further included in the media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, is a device capable of determining a list of media devices available at a media location (e.g., a media device list, a media device set, an available media device list, an available media device set, etc.). From the illustrated example of <FIG>, the example media device determiner <NUM> would determine the example environment of use <NUM> to include a PlayStation <NUM>, a Roku, a Blu-Ray Player, and a Set Top Box. In some examples, the media device determiner <NUM> is to determine a list of media devices available at each media location of the example media location cluster as generated by the example cluster generator <NUM>. Further, the list of media devices available at each media location of the example media location cluster can, in some examples, be associated with the media location ID of each media location of the example media location cluster as distributed by the example cluster generator <NUM>.

In some examples, the list of media devices available at a media location can be determined at the time of installation of an example media meter in an example media location. In such examples, the list of media devices can be determined by a survey completed by the panelist. Additionally or alternatively in such examples, the list of media devices can be determined by a technician installing the example media meter at the example media location.

Additionally or alternatively, in response to an example media location including an example wired media meter, in some examples the wired media meter <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, the list of media devices available at a media location can be determined by one or more media device connectors, in some examples the media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, directly connected to one or more media devices, in some examples the media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>. Additionally or alternatively, the list of media devices at a media location can be determined by media identifying information received by an example media meter, in some examples such as the illustrated example of <FIG>, at least one of the wired media meter <NUM>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the wireless media meter <NUM>.

The example cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, further included in or otherwise implemented by the media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, is a device capable of determining an identifier of a media device for a media presentation based upon at least one of the media location cluster as generated by the cluster generator <NUM>, and the one or more media device lists (e.g., media device lists, media device sets, available media device lists, available media device sets, etc.) as generated by the media device determiner <NUM>. The cluster based media device identifier <NUM> determines an identifier of a media device for a media presentation based upon a ruleset applied to the one or more media device lists generated for the media location cluster.

The ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> is further defined by determining whether one or more media device(s) are available (e.g., one or more media device(s) are listed in a media device list as generated by the media device determiner <NUM>) at each media location of the media location cluster generated by the cluster generator <NUM>.

According to the invention, the ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> is further defined by determining whether one or more media device(s) are available in a majority of media locations of the media location cluster generated by the cluster generator <NUM>. In some examples, "majority" can be further defined as greater than <NUM>% of the media locations at the media location cluster.

Additionally, the ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> can be further defined by determining whether one or more media device(s) are available in at least a selected proportion of media locations (e.g., <NUM>% of media locations, <NUM>% of media locations, <NUM>% of media locations, <NUM>% of media locations, etc.) of the media location cluster generated by the cluster generator <NUM>.

In some examples, in response to two or more media devices satisfying the ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> can further determine the media device available in the greatest proportion of media locations of the media location cluster from the two or more media devices satisfying the ruleset.

In some examples, in response to no media devices satisfying the ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> can further determine the media device available in the greatest proportion of media locations.

The example media device report generator <NUM>, further included in the media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, prepares one or more media measurement report(s) indicative of the exposure of media on media devices. According to the invention, the media device report generator <NUM> generates a report indicating an identifier of a media device determined to be presenting media.

Additionally, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report indicating whether a media device identifier was determined from at least one of media identifying information or from a ruleset applied to a cluster of media locations by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>.

Additionally, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report indicating at least one of an identifier of a media device determined to be presenting media and the proportion of media locations at the media location cluster the identified media device is determined to be available in.

Additionally, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report indicating one or more media location identifiers of one or more media locations determined to be at a media location cluster by the cluster generator <NUM>.

Additionally, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report indicating one or more media device lists, generated by the media device determiner <NUM>, for one or more media locations determined to be at a media location cluster by the cluster generator <NUM>.

Additionally, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report pertaining to any output of at least one of the media device recognition determiner <NUM>, the cluster generator <NUM>, the media device determiner <NUM>, and the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>.

The example media credit generator <NUM>, further included in the media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>, is a device capable of generating media measurement credits indicative of the presentation of media on media devices. In some examples, the media credit generator <NUM> can further distribute the one or more media measurement credit(s) generated to the media crediting database <NUM> via the media database interface <NUM>.

In some examples, in response to the media device recognition determiner <NUM> determining a media device identifier from media identifying information received by the media database interface <NUM>, the media credit generator <NUM> can generate a media credit including the media device identifier.

Additionally or alternatively, in response to the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> determining a media device identifier from a ruleset applied to one or more media device lists generated by the media device determiner <NUM>, for one or more media locations of a media location cluster generated by the cluster generator <NUM>, the media credit generator <NUM> can generate a media credit including the media device identifier.

In operation, the media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> receives media monitoring information, further including media identifying information, of a media presentation via the media database interface <NUM>, and is further to transmit the media monitoring information to the media device recognition determiner <NUM>. The media device recognition determiner <NUM> determines whether the media device can be identified from media identifying information received from the media database interface <NUM>. In response to determining the identifier for the media device with media identifying information, the media device recognition determiner <NUM> is further to distribute the media device identifier to the media device report generator <NUM> and, optionally, to the media credit generator <NUM>. In such examples, the media device report generator <NUM> is further to generate a report on the media device identifier and the media credit generator is further to generate a credit for the media device identifier.

In response to determining the media device cannot be determined with media identifying information, the media device recognition determiner <NUM> is further to distribute a media identifier, included in or otherwise implemented by media identifying information, to the cluster generator <NUM>. Further, the cluster generator <NUM> is to identify one or more media locations from a population of media locations which received a media identifier matching the media identifier distributed by the network <NUM> and received by the media device analyzer <NUM> via the media database interface <NUM>, and generate a media location cluster including the one or more media locations identified. The cluster generator <NUM> is further to distribute the generated media location cluster to the media device determiner <NUM> and the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, wherein the media device determiner <NUM> is to determine a list of media devices (e.g., a media device list) available at each media location included in the cluster of media locations. The media device determiner <NUM> is further to distribute the one or more media device lists to the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>. The cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, having received the media location cluster from the cluster generator <NUM> and one or more media device lists from the media device determiner <NUM>, is further to determine a media device identifier by applying a ruleset to the one or more media device list(s) and the media location cluster. In response to determining a media device identifier, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> is further to distribute the media device identifier to the media device report generator <NUM> and optionally to the media credit generator <NUM>. In such examples, the media device report generator <NUM> is further to generate a report on the media device identifier and the media credit generator is further to generate a credit for the media device identifier.

Although the example media device analyzer <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> includes one media database interface <NUM>, one media device recognition determiner <NUM>, one cluster generator <NUM>, one media device determiner <NUM>, one cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, one media device report generator <NUM>, and one media credit generator <NUM>, identification of an unidentified media device as disclosed herein can be used with any number(s) of media database interfaces <NUM>, media device recognition determiners <NUM>, cluster generators <NUM>, media device determiners <NUM>, cluster based media device identifiers <NUM>, media device report generators <NUM>, and media credit generators <NUM>.

<FIG> is an illustrated example media location cluster <NUM> including three example Media locations, illustrated as Media location A <NUM>, Media location B <NUM>, and Media location C <NUM> in <FIG>, generated by the cluster generator <NUM>. The example media location cluster <NUM> can further be defined, as in the illustrated example of <FIG>, as the media location cluster for an example media identifier "XX-YYYY," further included in media identifying information. While in the illustrated example the example media location cluster <NUM> is generated based upon a matching media identifier, the example media location cluster <NUM> can additionally be generated based upon a matching media device. Additionally, the example media location cluster <NUM> can be generated based upon matching media providers.

Further in the illustrated example of <FIG>, the Media location A <NUM>, the Media location B <NUM>, and the Media location C <NUM> can include one or more media device(s) as determined by the media device determiner <NUM>. For example, the Media location A <NUM>, previously illustrated as the example environment of use <NUM>, is determined to include a PlayStation <NUM>, a Roku, a Blu-Ray Player, and a Set Top Box. Additionally, the Media location B <NUM> is determined to include a Nintendo Switch, a Set Top Box, and a Roku. Additionally, the Media location C <NUM> is determined to include a Roku, an Apple TV, a DVD Player, and an Xbox One.

<FIG> illustrates an example report <NUM> for the example media location cluster <NUM> generated by the example media device report generator <NUM> in response to the media device report generator <NUM> receiving one or more results from at least one of the cluster generator <NUM>, the media device determiner <NUM>, and the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>. The example report <NUM> of <FIG>, which can in some examples be output as a data table, includes one or more media location identifiers <NUM>, one or more media identifiers <NUM>, one or more instances of Media Device A <NUM>, one or more instances of Media Device B <NUM>, one or more instances of Media Device C <NUM>, and one or more instances of Media Device D <NUM>. Further, the example report <NUM> includes one or more data table rows <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

In the illustrated example report <NUM>, the example data table row <NUM> includes the media location identifier <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Media location A" previously illustrated as the example Media location A <NUM> and the example environment of use <NUM>, the media identifier <NUM>, in the illustrated example "ABC-<NUM>" and "XX-YYYY", the example Media Device A <NUM>, in the illustrated example "PS4", the example Media Device B <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Roku", the example Media Device C <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Blu-Ray Player", and the example Media Device D <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Set Top Box".

Additionally in the illustrated example report <NUM>, the example data table row <NUM> includes the media location identifier <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Media location B" previously illustrated as the example Media location B <NUM>, the media identifier <NUM>, in the illustrated example "<NUM>-XYZ" and "XX-YYYY", the example Media Device A <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Switch", the example Media Device B <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Set Top Box", the example Media Device C <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Roku", and the example Media Device D <NUM>, in the illustrated example "N/A", denoting that "Media location B" only includes three (<NUM>) media devices.

Additionally in the illustrated example report <NUM>, the example data table row <NUM> includes the media location identifier <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Media location C" previously illustrated as the example Media location C <NUM>, the media identifier <NUM>, in the illustrated example "ABC-<NUM>", "<NUM>-XYZ", and "XX-YYYY", the example Media Device A <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Roku", the example Media Device B <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Apple TV", the example Media Device C <NUM>, in the illustrated example "DVD Player", and the example Media Device D <NUM>, in the illustrated example "Unknown Device". Thus, examples disclosed herein can be applied to each of a media location including known devices, a media location including unknown media devices, and a media location including each of known media devices and unknown media devices, such as "Media location C" described above in conjunction with data table row <NUM>.

Utilizing the illustrated example report <NUM>, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, described in further detail in conjunction with <FIG>, can determine "Roku" is available at each media location of the media location cluster <NUM>, "Set Top Box" is available in a majority of media locations of the media location cluster <NUM>, and "Apple TV" is available in a minority of media locations of the media location cluster <NUM> for an example media identifier "XX-YYYY", described in further detail in conjunction with <FIG>.

Fuither, the example media database interface <NUM>, the example media device recognition determiner <NUM>, the example cluster generator <NUM>, the example media device determiner <NUM>, the example cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, the example media device report generator <NUM>, and the example media credit generator <NUM> and/or, more generally, the example media device analyzer <NUM> of <FIG> may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example media database interface <NUM>, the example media device recognition determiner <NUM>, the example cluster generator <NUM>, the example media device determiner <NUM>, the example cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, the example media device report generator <NUM>, and the example media credit generator <NUM> and/or, more generally, the example media device analyzer <NUM> could 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 media database interface <NUM>, the example media device recognition determiner <NUM>, the example cluster generator <NUM>, the example media device determiner <NUM>, the example cluster based media device identifier <NUM><NUM>, the example media device report generator <NUM>, and the example media credit generator <NUM> is/are hereby expressly defined to include a non-transitory 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. including the software and/or firmware.

A flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions for implementing the example media device analyzer <NUM> of <FIG> is shown in <FIG>. In this example, the machine readable instructions comprise a program for execution by a processor such as a processor <NUM> shown in an example processor platform <NUM> discussed below in connection with <FIG>. The program may be embodied in software stored on a non-transitory 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 processor <NUM>, but the entire program and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device other than the processor <NUM> and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware Any or all of the blocks of <FIG> may be implemented by one or more hardware circuits (e.g., discrete and/or integrated analog and/or digital circuitry, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), an Application Specific Integrated circuit (ASIC), a comparator, an operational-amplifier (op-amp), a logic circuit, etc.) structured to perform the corresponding operation without executing software or firmware.

As mentioned above, the example processes of <FIG> may be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer and/or machine readable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer and/or machine readable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, a random-access memory and/or any other storage device or storage disk in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer readable medium is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage device and/or storage disk and to exclude propagating signals and to exclude transmission media. Thus, whenever a claim lists anything following any form of "include" or "comprise" (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising, including, etc.), it is to be understood that additional elements, terms, etc. may be present without falling outside the scope of the corresponding claim. As used herein, when the phrase "at least" is used as the transition term in a preamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term "comprising" and "including" are open ended.

Example machine readable instructions <NUM> that may be executed to perform detection and identification of an unidentified media device for a media presentation according to the invention in the example environment of use <NUM> of <FIG> are illustrated in <FIG>. With reference to the preceding figures and associated description, the example machine readable instructions <NUM> of <FIG> begin execution at block <NUM>, at which at least one of the wired media meter <NUM>, the minimally invasive media meter <NUM>, and the wireless media meter <NUM> detects a media identifier of an example media presentation presented at the presentation device <NUM> by at least one of the media device(s) <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>. Further, media monitoring information, in some examples including media identifying information, is processed by at least one of the metering handler(s) <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM>, distributed to the Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM> via the network <NUM>, and stored in the media database <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, in response to the media database interface <NUM> of the media device analyzer <NUM> receiving media monitoring information from the media database <NUM>, the media device recognition determiner <NUM> determines whether a media device can be identified from the media monitoring information received at the media database interface <NUM>. In some examples, determining whether a media device can be identified from the media monitoring information received further includes determining whether a media meter is the wired media meter <NUM>, including one or more media device connectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> connected to one or more media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. In such examples, the wired media meter <NUM> is capable of receiving a media device identifier directly from one or more media devices <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively, determining whether a media device can be identified from the media monitoring information received further includes determining whether a media device identifier is included in or otherwise implemented by the media identifying information as included in or otherwise implemented by the media monitoring information.

At block <NUM>, further detailed below in conjunction with <FIG>, in response to the media device recognition determiner <NUM> determining that a media device cannot be identified from media identifying information received at the media database interface <NUM>, the media device analyzer <NUM> is to determine an identifier of an unidentified media device presenting media utilizing a cluster of media locations including media meters from a reference population of media locations including media meters as a reference.

At block <NUM>, in response to at least one of the media device recognition determiner <NUM> determining that a media device can be identified from media identifying information received at the media database interface <NUM> or the media device analyzer <NUM> completing the determination of an identifier of a media device presenting media at block <NUM>, the media device report generator <NUM> is to generate a report on the identifier of a media device presenting media.

Additionally at block <NUM>, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report indicating whether a media device identifier was determined from media identifying information.

Additionally at block <NUM>, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report indicating at least one of an identifier of a media device determined to be presenting media and the proportion of media locations at the media location cluster the media device is determined to be available in.

Additionally at block <NUM>, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report indicating one or more media location identifiers of one or more media locations determined to be at a media location cluster by the cluster generator <NUM>.

Additionally at block <NUM>, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report indicating one or more media device lists, generated by the media device determiner <NUM>, for one or more media locations determined to be at a media location cluster by the cluster generator <NUM>.

Additionally at block <NUM>, the media device report generator <NUM> can generate a report pertaining to any output of at least one of the media device recognition determiner <NUM>, the cluster generator <NUM>, the media device determiner <NUM>, and the cluster based media device identifier <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, in response to the media device report generator <NUM> completing the generation of a report on the identifier of a media device, the media credit generator <NUM> is to generate media measurement credits indicative of the presentation of media on media devices. In some examples at block <NUM>, the media credit generator <NUM> can further distribute the one or more media measurement credits generated to the media crediting database <NUM>. The example machine readable instructions <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG> are then terminated.

Example machine readable instructions that may be executed to use meters as a reference for media device detection (<FIG>, block <NUM>) by the media device analyzer <NUM> of <FIG> are illustrated in <FIG>. With reference to the preceding figures and associated descriptions, the example method of <FIG> begins execution at block <NUM> at which the example cluster generator <NUM> compares media identifying information of a media presentation received from the media database <NUM> via the media database interface <NUM> with media identifying information received at a population of media locations, received from the media crediting database <NUM> via the media database interface <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, based upon the comparison of media identifying information of a media presentation and media identifying information received at a population of media locations completed utilizing the example cluster generator <NUM> at block <NUM>, the example cluster generator <NUM> is further to generate a cluster of media locations from a population of media locations. According to the invention, the comparison of media identifying information utilized to generate a cluster of media locations is further based upon identifying one or more media locations from the population of media locations that received an example media identifier (e.g., media identifier ABC-<NUM>, media identifier XX-YYYY, etc.) included in media identifying information.

Additionally, the cluster generator <NUM> at block <NUM> can generate a cluster of media locations from a population of media locations by determining one or more media locations from the population of media locations that include an example media device (e.g., a PlayStation <NUM>, a Roku, etc.). Additionally, the cluster generator <NUM> at block <NUM> can generate a cluster of media locations from a population of media locations by determining one or more media locations from the population of media locations that received media identifying information at a substantially similar time (e.g., <NUM>:<NUM> PM).

At block <NUM>, in response to completing the generation of a cluster of media locations by the cluster generator <NUM> at block <NUM>, the media device determiner <NUM> determines a list of media devices available in each example media location of the example media location cluster as generated by the example cluster generator <NUM>. Further, the list of media devices available in each example media location of the example media location cluster can, in some examples, be associated with the media location ID of each media location of the example media location cluster as distributed by the example cluster generator <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> is to compare lists of media devices available at each media location at a media location cluster as determined by the media device determiner <NUM> at block <NUM>. In some such examples, the comparison of lists of media devices available at each media location further includes determining one or more media devices available in two or more media locations of the media location cluster.

At block <NUM>, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> is further to infer a media device identifier based upon the comparison of media devices available at each media location at a media location cluster completed by the example cluster based media device identifier <NUM> at block <NUM>. Inferring a media device identifier is further based upon a ruleset applied to the comparison of media devices available at each media location at a media location cluster. The ruleset according to the invention is further defined by determining whether one or more media devices are available (e.g., one or more media devices are listed in a media device list as generated by the media device determiner <NUM>) at each media location of the media location cluster generated by the cluster generator <NUM>.

Additionally, the ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> at block <NUM> is further defined by determining whether one or more media device(s) are available (e.g., one or more media device(s) are listed in a media device list as generated by the media device determiner <NUM>) in a majority of media locations of the media location cluster generated by the cluster generator <NUM>. In some examples, "majority" can be further defined as greater than <NUM>% of the media locations at the media location cluster.

Additionally, the ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> at block <NUM> can be further defined by determining whether one or more media devices are available (e.g., one or more media devices are listed in a media device list as generated by the media device determiner <NUM>) in at least a selected proportion of media locations (e.g., <NUM>% of media locations, <NUM>% of media locations, <NUM>% of media locations, <NUM>% of media locations, etc.) of the media location cluster generated by the cluster generator <NUM>.

In some examples, in response to two or more media devices satisfying the ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> at block <NUM>, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> can further determine the media device available in the greatest proportion of media locations from the two or more media devices satisfying the ruleset.

In some examples, in response to no media devices satisfying the ruleset applied by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> at block <NUM>, the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> can further determine the media device available in the greatest proportion of media locations from the one or more media devices identified in one or more media device lists for one or more media locations of the media location cluster. Upon completion of the application of a ruleset by the cluster based media device identifier <NUM> at block <NUM>, processing returns to block <NUM> of the example machine readable instructions <NUM> of the illustrated example of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of the example processor platform <NUM> capable of executing the instructions of <FIG> to implement the apparatus of <FIG>. The processor platform <NUM> can be, for example, a server, a personal computer, a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet such as an iPad"™), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internet appliance, a DVD player, a CD player, a digital video recorder, a Blu-ray player, a gaming console, a personal video recorder, a set top box, or any other type of computing device.

The processor platform <NUM> of the illustrated example includes the processor <NUM>. The hardware processor may be a semiconductor based (e.g., silicon based) device. In this example, the processor implements the example Audience Measurement Entity (AME) <NUM> which can, in some examples, include the media device analyzer <NUM> which can, in some examples, include the example media database interface <NUM>, the example media device recognition determiner <NUM>, the example cluster generator <NUM>, the example media device determiner <NUM>, the example cluster based media device identifier <NUM>, the example media device report generator <NUM>, and the example media credit generator <NUM>.

The input device(s) can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, a microphone, a camera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint device and/or a voice recognition system.

The output devices <NUM> can be implemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emitting diode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a touchscreen, a tactile output device, a printer and/or speakers).

The coded instructions <NUM> of <FIG> may be stored in the mass storage device <NUM>, in the volatile memory <NUM>, in the non-volatile memory <NUM>, and/or on a removable tangible computer readable storage medium such as a CD or DVD.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been disclosed that facilitate inferring a media device identifier when a minimally invasive media meter is utilized and a media device identifier cannot be directly determined from available media monitoring information.

Claim 1:
An apparatus to determine a type of a media device that presented media, the apparatus comprising means for:
receiving media identifying information, wherein the media identifying information comprises an identifier that identifies media detected by a media meter (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) at a first media location;
responsive to determining that the media identifying information identifies the type of the media device that presented the media detected by the media meter:
determining the type of the media device that presented the media with the media identifying information;
responsive to determining that the media identifying information does not identify the type of the media device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that presented the media detected by the media meter:
generating a cluster of media locations from a reference population of media locations based on the media identifying information, wherein generating the cluster of media locations comprises identifying one or more media locations from the reference population of media locations that received media identifiers matching the identifier included in the media identifying information;
determining media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations;
determining the type of the media device that presented the media based on determining a type of a media device, from the media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations, which is determined to be available in a majority of media locations in the cluster of media locations; and
generating a report indicating the determined type of the media device that presented the media.