Privacy in television tracking
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorTal Franji
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A television system for providing identification of user television viewing activities, while maintaining the privacy of individual viewers. In selected embodiments, the television system includes a random, unique identification generator that, on a periodic basis, can be used to send targeted advertisements or programming to a user. The user can force the system to re-generate a random identifier and/or purge any tracked data at any time.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for associating a remote device with media consumption activity, the method comprising:
- storing a first identifier on a television receiver device;
- submitting to a central server system, by the television receiver device, the first identifier and information about programming viewed with the television receiver device;
- receiving an indication that a user has selected a reset control on the television receiver device;
- selecting, in response to the received indication, a second identifier to replace the first identifier, wherein selecting the second identifier comprises retiring the first identifier from further use by the television receiver device;
- and
- submitting to the central server system, by the television receiver device, the second identifier that replaced the first identifier so as to prevent the central server system from making any usable connection between the second identifier and information associated with the first identifier.
A computer-implemented system of determining media consumption activity, the system comprising:
- memory storing a first identifier for a television receiver device;
- memory storing information reflecting media programming viewed using the television receiver device;
- and
- an identifier reset control that, when selected by a user, causes (i) a signal to be sent to a central server to remove any usable connection between the identifier and the receiver device, and (ii) a second identifier to be generated that replaces the first identifier for the television receiver device such that the first identifier is retired from further use on the television receiver device.
A computer implemented method of determining media consumption activity, the method comprising:
- maintaining a stored data file of viewing events for a remote device associated with a first identifier;
- receiving from the remote device the first identifier and a second identifier;
- and
- eliminating any connections between the stored data file of viewing events and the first identifier, and maintaining a stored data file of viewing events for the remote device associated with the second identifier,
- wherein the remote device is configured to replace the second identifier with the first identifier in response to a selection of a reset control, wherein replacing the second identifier with the first identifier includes retiring the first identifier from further use by the remote device.
A computer-implemented system of determining media consumption activity, the system comprising:
- memory storing a first identifier for a television receiver device;
- a reset control associated with the receiver device;
- and
- means for anonymizing media viewing data from the device in response to selection of the reset control, wherein the means for anonymizing media viewing data includes means for generating a second identifier to replace the first identifier and means for retiring the first identifier from further use by the television receiver device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.