Translation of data consolidated from multiple sources

Abstract

A server device obtains sets of input data including input CUME values associated with radio stations from different ratings-data-vendor devices. The input CUME values from a first ratings-data-vendor device are associated with a first limited set of input dayparts, and the input CUME values from a second ratings-data-vendor device are associated with a second limited set of input dayparts. The server obtains a list of media stations and schedule information associated with the media stations, the scheduling information including arbitrary client-specified dayparts. The input CUME values are consolidated, and translated consolidated data is generated by translating the input CUME values for the individual radio stations from the first and second limited set of input dayparts to determine an output CUME value associated with the arbitrary client-specified dayparts different from the input dayparts. The translated consolidated data is presented in a single interface that provides the ability to switch between the sets of input data obtained from different ratings-vendor devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of presenting, to a user, data from a plurality of different sources, the method comprising:
 obtaining by a server device, sets of input data including input CUME values associated with a plurality of individual radio stations from a plurality of different ratings-data-vendor devices connected via a communications network, the input CUME values from a first ratings-data-vendor device being associated with a first limited set of input dayparts, and the input CUME values from a second ratings-data-vendor device being associated with a second limited set of input dayparts different from the first limited set of input dayparts;   obtaining by the server device a list of media stations and schedule information associated with the media stations, the scheduling information including arbitrary client-specified dayparts, by executing program instructions in a computer system;   consolidating by the server device the input CUME values obtained from the first and second ratings-data-vendor devices;   generating translated consolidated data by translating the input CUME values for the individual radio stations from the first and second limited set of input dayparts to determine an output CUME value associated with the arbitrary client-specified dayparts different from the input dayparts, by executing program instructions in a computer system; and   presenting the translated consolidated data in a single interface that provides the ability to switch between the sets of input data obtained from different ratings-vendor devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the translating comprises:
 identifying a minimal parent daypart, wherein the minimal parent daypart corresponds to a smallest input daypart that encompasses a particular arbitrary client-specified daypart, by executing program instructions in a computer system;   determining at least a first CUME value associated with a maximal input daypart encompassed by the particular arbitrary client-specified daypart, by executing program instructions in a computer system; and   determining at least a second CUME value associated with an intersection of the particular arbitrary client-specified daypart and selected input dayparts, by executing program instructions in a computer system.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 computing, by executing program instructions in a computer system, an output CUME value for the particular arbitrary client specified daypart according to the following formula:   
       
         
           
             
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         where n is the number of media stations included in a set of media stations comprising the plurality of individual radio stations, P cumesubstitute  is a CUME value of the minimal parent daypart, and C i  is each CUME value for an individual media station i. 
       
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 calculating, by executing program instructions in a computer system, a CUME value for the set of media stations based on the following formula:   
       
         
           
             
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         where n is the number of media stations included in the set of media stations, P is the population value, and C i  is each CUME value for an individual media station i. 
       
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 adding the CUME value of the particular arbitrary client specified daypart to a list, by executing program instructions in a computer system;   removing the maximal input daypart from the particular arbitrary client specified daypart, by executing program instructions in a computer system;   adding the CUME value of the intersection to the list, by executing program instructions in a computer system; and   removing the intersection from the particular arbitrary client specified daypart, by executing program instructions in a computer system.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the arbitrary client-specified dayparts represent sums of component dayparts in a proposed advertising schedule. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 computing, by executing program instructions in a computer system, a reach of the proposed advertising schedule based on an inverse exponential function of spot count.   
     
     
         8 . A computer system comprising:
 one or more processors to process program instructions;   a memory device coupled to said one or more processors; and   program instructions residing in said memory device, said program instructions configured to implement a method including:   obtaining sets of input data including input CUME values associated with a plurality of individual radio stations from a plurality of different ratings-data-vendor devices connected via a communications network, the input CUME values from a first ratings-data-vendor device being associated with a first limited set of input dayparts, and the input CUME values from a second ratings-data-vendor device being associated with a second limited set of input dayparts different from the first limited set of input dayparts;   obtaining a list of media stations and schedule information associated with the media stations, the scheduling information including arbitrary client-specified dayparts, by executing program instructions in a computer system;   consolidating the input CUME values obtained from the first and second ratings-data-vendor devices;   generating translated consolidated data by translating the input CUME values for the individual radio stations from the first and second limited set of input dayparts to determine an output CUME value associated with the arbitrary client-specified dayparts different from the input dayparts; and   presenting the translated consolidated data in a single interface that provides the ability to switch between the sets of input data obtained from different ratings-vendor devices.   
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the translating comprises:
 identifying a minimal parent daypart, wherein the minimal parent daypart corresponds to a smallest input daypart that encompasses a particular arbitrary client-specified daypart, by executing program instructions in a computer system;   determining at least a first CUME value associated with a maximal input daypart encompassed by the particular arbitrary client-specified daypart, by executing program instructions in a computer system; and   determining at least a second CUME value associated with an intersection of the particular arbitrary client-specified daypart and selected input dayparts, by executing program instructions in a computer system.   
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the method includes:
 computing an output CUME value for a particular arbitrary client specified daypart according to the following formula:   
       
         
           
             
               C 
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                 * 
                 
                   P 
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         where n is the number of media stations included in a set of media stations comprising the plurality of individual radio stations, P cumesubstitute  is a CUME value of the minimal parent daypart, and C i  is each CUME value for an individual media station i. 
       
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the method includes:
 computing a CUME value for the set of media stations based on the following formula:   
       
         
           
             
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         where n is the number of media stations included in the set of media stations, P is the population value, and C i  is each CUME value for an individual media station i. 
       
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the method includes:
 adding the CUME value of the particular arbitrary client specified daypart to a list;   removing the maximal input daypart from the particular arbitrary client specified daypart;   adding the Cume value of the intersection to the list; and   removing the intersection from the particular arbitrary client specified daypart.   
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the arbitrary client-specified dayparts represent sums of component dayparts in a proposed advertising schedule. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 computing a reach of the proposed advertising schedule based on an inverse exponential function of spot count.   
     
     
         15 . A computer program product comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and   program instructions residing in said non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, said program instructions including:   at least one instruction to obtain sets of input data including input CUME values associated with a plurality of individual radio stations from a plurality of different ratings-data-vendor devices connected via a communications network, the input CUME values from a first ratings-data-vendor device being associated with a first limited set of input dayparts, and the input CUME values from a second ratings-data-vendor device being associated with a second limited set of input dayparts different from the first limited set of input dayparts;   at least one instruction to obtain a list of media stations and schedule information associated with the media stations, the scheduling information including arbitrary client-specified dayparts, by executing program instructions in a computer system;   at least one instruction to consolidate the input CUME values obtained from the first and second ratings-data-vendor devices;   at least one instruction to generate translated consolidated data by translating the input CUME values for the individual radio stations from the first and second limited set of input dayparts to determine an output CUME value associated with the arbitrary client-specified dayparts different from the input dayparts; and   at least one instruction to present the translated consolidated data in a single interface that provides the ability to switch between the sets of input data obtained from different ratings-vendor devices.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one instruction to translate comprises:
 at least one instruction to identify a minimal parent daypart, wherein the minimal parent daypart corresponds to a smallest input daypart that encompasses a particular arbitrary client-specified daypart;   at least one instruction to determine at least a first CUME value associated with a maximal input daypart encompassed by the particular arbitrary client-specified daypart; and   at least one instruction to determine at least a second CUME value associated with an intersection of the particular arbitrary client-specified daypart and selected input dayparts.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the program instructions include:
 at least one instruction to compute an output CUME value for the particular arbitrary client specified daypart according to the following formula:   
       
         
           
             
               C 
               = 
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     1 
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                             i 
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                           , 
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                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
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                   ] 
                 
                 * 
                 
                   P 
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         where n is the number of media stations included in a set of media stations comprising the plurality of individual radio stations, P cumesubstitute  is a CUME value of the minimal parent daypart, and C i  is each CUME value for an individual media station i. 
       
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , wherein the program instructions include:
 at least one instruction to compute a CUME value for the set of media stations based on the following formula:   
       
         
           
             
               C 
               = 
               
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     1 
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                         Π 
                         
                           
                             i 
                             = 
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                           , 
                           n 
                         
                       
                        
                       
                         ( 
                         
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                               C 
                               i 
                             
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                   ] 
                 
                 * 
                 P 
               
             
           
         
         where n is the number of media stations included in the set of media stations, P is the population value, and C i  is each CUME value for an individual media station i. 
       
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the program instructions include:
 at least one instruction to add the CUME value of the particular arbitrary client specified daypart to a list;   at least one instruction to remove the maximal input daypart from the particular arbitrary client specified daypart;   at least one instruction to add the Cume value of the intersection to the list; and   at least one instruction to remove the intersection from the particular arbitrary client specified daypart.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the arbitrary client-specified dayparts represent sums of component dayparts in a proposed advertising schedule.