Media device on/off detection using return path data

An apparatus to perform media device on/off detection using return path data, comprising:

• an identifier to:
• access common homes data for a group of common homes, the common homes data including first return path data and corresponding panel meter data associated with respective ones of the common homes;
• group the common homes data into view segments;
• a classifier to classify the view segments based on whether the return path data in respective ones of the view segments has matching panel meter data to determine labeled view segments;
• a generator to generate features from the labeled view segments;
• a trainer to train a machine learning algorithm based on the features;
• and
• an on/off determiner to apply second return path data to the trained machine learning algorithm to determine whether a media device associated with the second return path data is on or off.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to, at least:

• access common homes data for a group of common homes, the common homes data including first return path data and corresponding panel meter data associated with respective ones of the common homes;
• group the common homes data into view segments;
• classify the view segments based on whether the return path data in respective ones of the view segments has matching panel meter data to determine labeled view segments;
• generate features from the labeled view segments;
• train a machine learning algorithm based on the features;
• and
• apply second return path data to the trained machine learning algorithm to determine whether a media device associated with the second return path data is on or off.