Abstract:
A computer-implemented method for collecting and managing TV viewership data from multiple TV metering data providers is disclosed. The method includes: receiving an event log file at a distributed computer system that includes multiple computers; dynamically selecting one or more computers according to a predefined sharding function; at each of the selected computers: allocating a set of compressed event records, which corresponds to a subset of the event log file, at predetermined locations within the memory of the computer; and in accordance with a predefined schedule, replicating the compressed event records from a respective one of the selected computers to one or more other computers of the distributed system such that there are at least two replicas of any event record on at least two computers of the distributed computer system.
Abstract:
A method providing real-time popularity information regarding TV programs, performed during a short period of time at a server with one or more processors and memory. The server receives current TV viewing information from a plurality of distinct households. The current TV viewing information for a household identifies one or more TV programs that are now showing at the household. The server aggregates the current TV viewing information, thereby identifying one or more currently popular TV programs. The currently popular TV programs have more household viewers than less popular TV programs. The server receives a request from a household seeking identification of currently popular TV programs. The server selects one or more of the currently popular TV programs identified during the aggregation, and sends information to the household. The information identifies the selected one or more currently popular TV programs.
Abstract:
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing customized television advertisements. In one aspect, television advertising templates are used for generating customized television advertisements. The television advertisement templates include targeting criteria specifying targeting conditions for the television advertising template, which are conditions for selecting the television advertisement template for an advertisement availability, and content selection criteria specifying availability content associated with an advertisement availability for use in selecting variable advertisement content elements for inclusion in a customized television advertisement generated from the television advertising template. The variable advertisement content elements can include video elements, audio elements, and text elements.