# US 10,979,769 B2 · Method and apparatus for monitoring and tracking consumption of digital content > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,979,769 B2 - Document ID: US10979769B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/799,465 - Filed: 2020-02-24 - Published: 2020-08-27 - Granted: 2021-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-25 - Assignees: PreTechnology, Inc. - Applicants: PreTechnology, Inc. - Inventors: Stacy Spikes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10979769B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - H04N 21/47208: {for requesting near-video-on-demand content} - G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising - G06V 40/172: {Classification, e.g. identification} - G06V 40/18: Eye characteristics, e.g. of the iris - G06V 40/193: {Preprocessing; Feature extraction} - H04L 67/34: {involving the movement of software or configuration parameters (network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416)} - H04L 67/535: {Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34)} - H04N 21/25891: {being end-user preferences (retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18)} - H04N 21/4223: Cameras (H04N23/00 takes precedence) - H04N 21/4415: using biometric characteristics of the user, e.g. by voice recognition or fingerprint scanning {(cryptography using biological data H04L9/3231; authentication in networks using biometric H04L63/0861)} - H04N 21/44204: {Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched (monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31)} - H04N 21/44218: {Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV programme (methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45)} - H04N 21/44222: {Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programmes or purchase activity (monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33)} - H04N 21/44224: {Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing} - H04N 21/4784: receiving rewards - H04N 21/812: {involving advertisement data (advertising per se G06Q30/02)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Embodiments include a system and method for monitoring and tracking consumption of digital content. The system comprises a viewer monitoring system coupled to a plurality of content providers via a network and further coupled to a plurality of users via user devices coupled to the network. A method includes a user downloading an application (app) using an API of the system, the user selecting content to view, and a biometric recognition module of the system determining whether the user is actually viewing the selected content. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for monitoring and tracking consumption of digital content, the system comprising: a viewer monitoring system coupled to a plurality of content providers via a network and further coupled to a plurality of users via user devices coupled to the network, wherein the system further comprises, an application programming interface (API); processors that execute functions of the following modules; a video generation module that allows content providers to choose video content; and a biometric recognition module that recognizes system users by one or more biometric characteristics, including performing the following functions; receiving a user download of a digital application (app) using the API; receiving a user selection of content to view; and determining whether the user is actually viewing the selected content; a monitoring and tracking module that performs the following functions, when the user is determined to be actually viewing the selected content, points are credited to the user upon completion of viewing the selected content, wherein the points are redeemable for rewards, wherein rewards are redeemable for a plurality of products and services, and wherein the interaction between the user and the selected content providers is managed by the system; and generating an eye tracking report listing an ID for digital content, and a time watched for each ID in the report; and when a viewer is viewing digital content displaying viewed vs not viewed data at the bottom of the screen in real time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring and tracking module further comprises the plurality of content providers designating rules for determining when a user will receive points for consuming content. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring and tracking module further comprises the system interacting with a financial partner to provide a payment device that is preloaded with funds corresponding to points. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of content providers designate a percentage of time watched to constitute compliance with a predetermined requirement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the biometric recognition module includes sentiment analysis that analyzes a user's sentiment through facial recognition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the biometric recognition module tracks a user's eye to determine whether the user is actually viewing the content. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the biometric recognition system causes content playback to be paused if the biometric recognition system determines that the user is not viewing content. ### Claim 8 A computer implemented method for monitoring and tracking consumption of digital content, the method comprising: a user downloading an application (app) using a system API; the user selecting content to view using the system API; a biometric recognition module recognizing system users by one or more biometric characteristics and performing the following functions, receiving a user download of a digital application (app) using the API; receiving a user selection of content to view; and determining whether the user is actually viewing the selected content a monitoring and tracking module performing the following functions, when the user is determined to be actually viewing the selected content, points are credited to the user upon completion of viewing the selected content, wherein the points are redeemable for rewards, wherein rewards are redeemable for a plurality of products and services, and wherein the interaction between the user and the selected content providers is managed by the system; generating an eye tracking report listing an ID for digital content, and a time watched for each ID in the report; and when a viewer is viewing digital content displaying viewed vs not viewed data at the bottom of the screen in real time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of content providers designating rules for determining when a user will receive points for consuming content. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the system interacting with a fulfillment partner to provide a payment device that is preloaded with funds corresponding to points. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of digital content providers designate a percentage of time watched to constitute compliance with a predetermined requirement. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising sentiment analysis that analyzes a user's sentiment through facial recognition. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising tracking a user's eye to determine whether the user is actually viewing the content. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising causing content playback to be paused if the system determines that the user is not viewing content. ### Claim 15 A non-transient computer medium having stored thereon a method that when executed by a computer causes a method to be performed, the method comprising: a user downloading an application (app) using a system API; the user selecting content to view using the system API; a biometric recognition module recognizing system users by one or more biometric characteristics and performing the following functions, receiving a user download of a digital application (app) using the API; receiving a user selection of content to view; and determining whether the user is actually viewing the selected content a monitoring and tracking module performing the following functions, when the user is determined to be actually viewing the selected content, points are credited to the user upon completion of viewing the selected content, wherein the points are redeemable for rewards, wherein rewards are redeemable for a plurality of products and services, and wherein the interaction between the user and the selected content providers is managed by the system; generating an eye tracking report listing an ID for digital content, and a time watched for each ID in the report; and when a viewer is viewing digital content displaying viewed vs not viewed data at the bottom of the screen in real time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transient computer medium of claim 15, the method further comprising a plurality of content providers designating rules for determining when a user will receive points for consuming content. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transient computer medium of claim 16, the method further comprising the system interacting with a fulfillment partner to provide a payment device that is preloaded with funds corresponding to points. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transient computer medium of claim 16, wherein a plurality of digital content providers designate a percentage of time watched to constitute compliance with a predetermined requirement. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transient computer medium of claim 15, the method further comprising sentiment analysis that analyzes a user's sentiment through facial recognition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transient computer medium of claim 15, the method further comprising tracking a user's eye to determine whether the user is actually viewing the content. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The non-transient computer medium of claim 15, the method further comprising causing content playback to be paused if the system determines that the user is not viewing content.