The Nielsen Comapny (us), LLC

Arbitron Inc.

Thomas L Dietz, Iii

Prasad V Kunchakarra

John W Hebeler, Jr

Methods and apparatus for media data usage measurement and reporting are disclosed. For example, an example television disclosed herein includes a processor to execute computer readable instructions including monitoring software to at least collect metadata from a media stream, execute a media data usage gathering object to gather and encapsulate usage data associated with presentation of the media stream by the television, the usage data including the metadata, report the usage data to a remote system via a network in communication with the television, and insert an advertisement in the media stream, the advertisement selected based on the reported usage data.

Media data usage measurement and reporting systems and methods

Methods and apparatus for gathering data for media usage reports for a processing device is disclosed. An example apparatus includes means for gathering first usage data representative of usage of first media on a processing device, the first media being received from an external network source, the first usage data corresponding to at least one of (i) a first media type or (ii) a first user agent associated with the media; means for gathering second usage data representative of usage of second media on the processing device, the second media being received from a source that is local to the processing device, the second usage data corresponding to at least one of (i) a second media type or (ii) a second user agent associated with the media; and means for merging the first usage data and the second usage data into a respective user session to generate session data.

A tangible computer readable storage disk or device comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to merge usage data to generate session data is disclosed. An example computer readable storage disk or device includes instructions to gather first usage data representative of usage of first media on the machine, the first media being received from an external network source, the first usage data corresponding to at least one of (i) a first media type or (ii) a first user agent associated with the media; gather second usage data representative of usage of second media on the machine, the second media being received from a source that is local to the machine, the second usage data corresponding to at least one of (i) a second media type or (ii) a second user agent associated with the media; and merge the first usage data and the second usage data into a respective user session to generate session data.

An audience measurement system for gathering data reflecting usage of media data by a user on a processing device configured to process and present the media data locally on the processing device. Report objects may be generated by the processing device, wherein each of the report objects reflect usage of media data by each user of a processing device. Each of the report objects are configured to be generated regardless whether the media data was received from a network source or a source local to each processing device. In certain exemplary embodiments, report objects may correspond to different media data categories, and/or different user agents. The report objects may be assembled into a macro report.

An audience measurement system for gathering data reflecting usage of media data by a user by means of a user system. The user system preprocesses the gathered data into micro-level report objects.

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Ellicott City, MD, United States of America

Thomas L Dietz, Iii