Methods and apparatus to verify consumption of programming content

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to verify consumption of content are described herein. In an example method, a content library is generated within a data structure. The content library includes at least one content identifier associated with programming content. The programming content is insertable into content stream. A content stream including content for broadcasting on a broadcast device is received. To verify consumption of the programming content, a broadcast content identifier associated with the content for broadcasting is compared to the at least one content identifier of the content library.

1 . A method to verify consumption of programming content comprising: 
 generating a content library within a data structure, the content library having at least one content identifier associated with programming content, the programming content being insertable into content stream;    receiving a content stream, the content stream including content for broadcasting on a broadcast device; and    comparing a broadcast content identifier associated with the content for broadcasting to the at least one content identifier of the content library.    
   
   
       2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein generating the content library within the data structure comprises generating a content library having at least one of an audio signature, a video signature, an audio code, a video code, a digital identifier, and a portion of the programming content.  
   
   
       3 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein generating the content library within the data structure comprises: 
 tuning to a broadcast channel to receive a content stream;    extracting the content identifier associated with programming content from the content stream; and    storing the content identifier in the content library.    
   
   
       4 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein generating the content library within the data structure comprises receiving the at least one content identifier via one of an in-band transmission and an out-of-band transmission.  
   
   
       5 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein generating the content library within the data structure comprises generating a content library including at least one content identifier associated with one of a television advertisement, a television program, an interactive television application, and an alternate portion of the television program.  
   
   
       6 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein receiving the content stream having programming content for broadcasting on the broadcast device comprises receiving a broadcast content identifier associated with one of a television advertisement and a television program.  
   
   
       7 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein comparing the broadcast content identifier to the at least one content identifier of the content library comprises comparing at least one of an audio signature, a video signature, an audio code, a video code, a digital identifier, and a portion of the content for broadcasting on the broadcast device to the at least one content identifier of the content library.  
   
   
       8 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein comparing the broadcast content identifier to the at least one content identifier of the content library comprises determining whether the broadcast content identifier matches the at least one content identifier of the content library.  
   
   
       9 . A method as defined in  claim 1  further comprising identifying content information via a data structure in response to the broadcast content identifier matching the at least one content identifier of the content library and providing the content information to a data collection facility.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus to verify consumption of programming content comprising: 
 a memory storing a content library having at least one content identifier associated with programming content, the programming content being insertable into content stream; and    a processor configured to generate the content library, to receive a content stream including content for broadcasting on a broadcast device, and to compare a broadcast content identifier associated with the content for broadcasting to the at least one content identifier of the content library.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10  comprises one of a personal video recorder (PVR) and a video cassette recorder (VCR).  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one content identifier of the content library comprises at least one of an audio signature, a video signature, an audio code, a video code, and a portion of the programming content.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the broadcast content identifier comprises at least one of an audio signature, a video signature, an audio code, a video code, a digital identifier, and a portion of the content for broadcasting.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the programming content comprises one of a television advertisement, a television program, an interactive television application, and an alternate portion of the television program.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the content for broadcasting comprises one of a television advertisement and a television program.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the at least one content identifier via one of an in-band transmission and an out-of-band transmission.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to identify content information via a data structure in response to the broadcast content identifier matching the at least one content identifier of the content library and to provide the content information to a data collection facility.  
   
   
       18 . A machine readable medium storing instructions, the instructions being structured to cause a machine to: 
 generate a content library within a data structure, the content library having at least one content identifier associated with programming content, and the programming content being insertable into content stream;    receive a content stream, the content stream including content for broadcasting on a broadcast device; and    compare a broadcast content identifier associated with the content for broadcasting to the at least one content identifier of the content library.    
   
   
       19 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to generate the content library within the data structure by generating a content library having at least one of an audio signature, a video signature, an audio code, a video code, a digital identifier, and a portion of the programming content.  
   
   
       20 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to generate the content library within the data structure by: 
 tuning to a broadcast channel to receive a content stream;    extracting a content identifier associated with programming content from the content stream; and    storing the content identifier in the content library.    
   
   
       21 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to generate the content library within the data structure by receiving the at least one content identifier via one of an in-band transmission and an out-of-band transmission.  
   
   
       22 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to generate the content library within the data structure by generating a content library including at least one content identifier associated with one of a television advertisement, a television program, an interactive television application, and an alternate portion of the television program.  
   
   
       23 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to receive the content stream including content for broadcasting by receiving a content stream including one of a television advertisement and a television program.  
   
   
       24 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to compare the broadcast content identifier to the at least one content identifier of the content library by comparing at least one of an audio signature, a video signature, an audio code, a video code, a digital identifier, and a portion of the content for broadcasting to the at least one content identifier associated with the programming content.  
   
   
       25 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to compare the broadcast content identifier to the at least one content identifier of the content library by determining whether the broadcast content identifier matches the at least one content identifier of the content library.  
   
   
       26 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18  further comprising instructions to cause a machine to identify content information via a data structure in response to the broadcast content identifier matching the at least one of content identifier of the content library and to provide the content information to a data collection facility.  
   
   
       27 . A machine readable medium as defined in  claim 18  is one of a programmable gate array, application specific integrated circuit, erasable programmable read only memory, read only memory, random access memory, magnetic media, and optical media.  
   
   
       28 . A system to verify consumption of programming content comprising: 
 a data structure configured to store a content library having at least one content identifier associated with programming content, the programming content being insertable into content stream;    a broadcast device configured to present programming content; and    a recording device operatively coupled to the data structure and the broadcast device, the recording device being configured to generate the content library within the data structure, and to compare a broadcast content identifier associated with content for broadcasting to the at least one content identifier of the content library.    
   
   
       29 . A system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the data structure and the recording device are integrated into one of a personal video recorder (PVR) and a video cassette recorder (VCR).  
   
   
       30 . A system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the at least one content identifier of the content library comprises at least one of an audio signature, a video signature, an audio code, a video code, a digital identifier, and a portion of the programming content.  
   
   
       31 . A system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the broadcast content identifier comprises at least one of an audio signature, a video signature, an audio code, a video code, a digital identifier, and a portion of the content for broadcasting.  
   
   
       32 . A system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the programming content comprises one of a television advertisement, a television program, an interactive television application, and an alternate portion of the television program.  
   
   
       33 . A system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the content for broadcasting comprises one of a television advertisement and a television program.  
   
   
       34 . A system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the recording device configured to receive the at least one content identifier via one of an in-band transmission and an out-of-band transmission.  
   
   
       35 . A system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the recording device comprises one of a personal video recorder (PVR) and a video cassette recorder (VCR).  
   
   
       36 . A system as defined in  claim 28 , wherein the recording device is configured to identify content information via a data structure in response to the broadcast content identifier matching the at least one content identifier of the content library and to provide the content information to a data collection facility.