Methods and apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to measure exposure to streaming media are disclosed. An example method includes accessing a source identifier of media received from a service provider server at a media device. A current playback time of the media is accessed. A request for metadata associated with the source identifier and with the current playback time of the media is transmitted to the service provider server. Metadata received in response to the request for the metadata is transmitted to an audience measurement entity server different from the service provider server.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of measuring exposure to streaming media, the method comprising:
 accessing, with a processor, a source identifier of media received from a service provider server at a media device;   accessing, with the processor, a current playback time of the media;   transmitting, to the service provider server, a request for metadata associated with the source identifier and with the current playback time of the media;   transmitting, to an audience measurement entity server different from the service provider server, the metadata received in response to the request for the metadata.   
     
     
         2 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the source identifier of the media is accessed by interacting with a media presenter of the media device. 
     
     
         3 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the source identifier of the media is accessed by reading a source value of a hypertext markup language element associated with the media. 
     
     
         4 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the source of the media is a Universal Resource Locator. 
     
     
         5 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the metadata is formatted using an ID3 format. 
     
     
         6 . The method as described in  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting at least one of a playback position within the media, a duration of the media, a source of the media, or a timestamp to the audience measurement entity server. 
     
     
         7 . The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the current playback time of the media is accessed by interacting with a media presenter executed at the media device. 
     
     
         8 . The method as described in  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting at least one of a user identifier or a device identifier to the audience measurement entity server. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus to measure exposure to streaming media, the apparatus comprising:
 a source determiner to determine a source of media received from a service provider at a media device;   a current time of media determiner to determine a current time of presentation within the media;   a metadata processor to transmit a request for metadata to a metadata request servicer, the request for metadata including the source of the media and the current time of presentation within the media; and   a transmitter to transmit the metadata received from the metadata request servicer to an audience measurement entity server.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as described in  claim 9 , further comprising a duration determiner to determine a duration of the media, the transmitter to transmit the duration of the media to the audience measurement entity server. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as described in  claim 9 , wherein the source of the media is a Universal Resource Locator. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as described in  claim 9 , wherein the media accesser is to determine whether the source of the media can be identified via a media presenter of the media device, and, if the source of the media is not accessible via the media presenter, access the source of the media via a hypertext markup language element associated with the media. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as described in  claim 9 , further comprising a state determiner to determine a playback state of a media presenter of the media device, the transmitter to transmit the state of the media presenter to the central facility. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as described in  claim 9 , further comprising a timestamper to determine a timestamp of a media presentation, the transmitter to transmit the timestamp to the audience measurement entity server. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as described in  claim 9 , wherein the metadata processor is to reduce a processor requirement of the media device by not accessing the metadata via the media itself. 
     
     
         16 . A tangible machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a media device to at least:
 access a source identifier of media received from a service provider;   access a current playback position within the media;   transmit, to the service provider, a request for metadata associated with the source identifier and the current playback position within the media;   transmit, to an audience measurement entity which is not involved in the delivery of the media, the metadata associated with the source identifier and the current playback position within the media.   
     
     
         17 . The tangible machine-readable medium as described in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the media device to access the source identifier of the media by interacting with a media presenter operating at the media device. 
     
     
         18 . The tangible machine-readable medium as described in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the media device to access the source identifier of the media by reading a source value of a hypertext markup language element associated with the media. 
     
     
         19 . The tangible machine-readable medium as described in  claim 16 , wherein the source of the media is identified by a Universal Resource Locator. 
     
     
         20 . The tangible machine-readable medium as described in  claim 16 , wherein the metadata is formatted using an ID3 format. 
     
     
         21 . The tangible machine-readable medium as described in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the media device to transmit at least one of the playback position within the media, a duration of the media, the source of the media, or a timestamp to the audience measurement entity. 
     
     
         22 . The tangible machine-readable medium as described in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the media device to access the current time of the media by interacting with a media presenter operating at the media device. 
     
     
         23 . The tangible machine-readable medium as described in  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the media device to transmit at least one of a user identifier or a device identifier to the audience measurement entity.