Patent Document ID: 9148680
Application ID: 13179218
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for segmenting data implemented on an apparatus comprising a processor, the method comprising: receiving program level viewing data for a plurality of individuals; creating an initial set of viewer segments, each viewer segment comprising a subset of the plurality of individuals, based upon the received program level viewing data; adjusting a viewer grouping threshold of a viewer grouping function for grouping the initial set of viewer segments into a hierarchy of viewer groups based on the received program level viewing data of the plurality of individuals and based upon a selected end use of the viewer segments or hierarchy of viewer groups of the plurality of individuals, the selected end use comprising a determination of one or both of: program scheduling and likely program consumption by the plurality of individuals; combining, via the processor, the initial set of viewer segments into the hierarchy of viewer groups by applying the viewer grouping function with the adjusted viewer grouping threshold to the initial set of viewer segments of the plurality of individuals; and analyzing the hierarchy of viewer groups comprising the combined initial set of viewer segments according to the selected end use of one or both of: program scheduling and likely program consumption by the plurality of individuals.