Detecting and measuring exposure to media content items

US7623823B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Integrated Media Measurement, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Tom Zito · Sausalito, US
• Mark Klein · Los Altos, US
• Allan E. Alcorn · Portola Valley, US
• Gary S. Fletcher, Jr. · Rocklin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 30, 2005
• Grant date: Nov 24, 2009
• Expiry date: Sep 13, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q30/0261
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

User exposure to media items is detected and measured. A mobile client device carried by a user digitally samples the audio environment of the user on a regular basis. These samples are transformed into a stream of data signatures and compared with reference media items to detect user exposure to the reference items. Purchase behavior following exposure to selected media content items can be detected and tracked as well, so as to gauge effectiveness of media items such as advertisements.