System and method for obtaining channel tracking data from a set-top box

A system for obtaining channel tracking data from a set-top box, the system comprising:

• a memory module for storing instructions;
• a processing module configured to execute the instructions and thereby cause the system to at least:
• track a channel being viewed by at least one viewer on a display device associated with the set-top box,
• detect occurrence of a channel switching event in relation to the channel being viewed by the at least one viewer on the display device,
• subsequent to detecting the occurrence of the channel switching event, determine whether the channel was viewed for at least a first predefined time threshold, and
• in response to a determination the channel was viewed for at least the first predefined time threshold,
• selectively generate a payload comprising the channel tracking data in relation to the channel;
• and
• a communication module operably coupled to the memory module and the processing module, the communication module configured to cause the system to at least:
• in response to a determination that the channel was viewed for at least the first predefined time threshold:
• generate a data packet comprising one or more data fields and the payload,
• transmit the data packet from the set-top box to a remote server using a LoRaWAN protocol, wherein a size of the data packet is configured to be below a predefined byte size limit, and
• receive a downlink packet comprising a plurality of resend requests for a plurality of lost data packets missed during transmission from the set-top box to the remote server.

A method for generating audience measurement data, the method comprising:

• tracking, by a system, a channel being viewed by at least one viewer on a Television associated with a set-top box;
• detecting, by the system, occurrence of a channel switching event in relation to the channel being viewed by the at least one viewer on the Television;
• subsequent to detecting the occurrence of the channel switching event, determining, by the system, whether the channel was viewed for at least a first predefined time threshold;
• in response to a determination that the channel was viewed for at least the first predefined time threshold:
• selectively generating, by the system, a payload comprising a channel tracking data in relation to the channel;
• generating, by the system, a data packet comprising one or more data fields and the payload, wherein a size of the data packet is configured to be below a predefined byte size limit;
• transmitting, by the system, the data packet from the set-top box to a remote server using a LoRaWAN protocol, wherein a plurality of data packets received from a plurality of set-top boxes are collated by the remote server to generate the audience measurement data and, wherein one or more channels or advertisements to be broadcasted to the plurality of set-top boxes are customized based, at least in part, on the audience measurement data;
• and
• receiving, by the system, a downlink packet comprising a plurality of resend requests for a plurality of lost data packets missed during transmission from the set-top box to the remote server.