Media Program Audience Measurement Using Blockchains

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are presented for measuring the consumption of content data intended for serial presentation. The method comprises generating n random numbers, where n > 0, generating a first value Pi at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers, publishing the first value Pi in a smart contract associated with a blockchain, embedding consumption monitoring data comprising the n random numbers at different temporal locations within the content data, and transmitting the content data to a client device for consumption. A client device extracts each of the n random numbers and transmits the extracted n random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain. The smart contract verifies that the n random numbers match the embedded n random numbers and executes a smart contract transaction.

Description

AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT OF MEDIA PROGRAMS THROUGH CHANNELS BLOCKS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62 / 984,645, entitled “MEDIA PROGRAM VIEWERSHIP MEASUREMENT USING BLOCKCHAINS,” by Sudeepta Bhuyan, filed March 3, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND 1. FIELD This disclosure relates to systems and methods for measuring audience demographics, and in particular to a system and method for verifiably measuring audience demographics of media programs using blockchains. 2· DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE The streaming of program content is generally commercially supported by the use of sponsored advertising presented alongside the program content. The value of such advertisements is largely related to the "reach" of the program content stream, which provides information about the people who actually consume (e.g., watch) the content. Such information may simply include the number of people watching the content, but may also include additional details such as audience demographics. Typically, the more people watch or consume the program content, the more valuable the advertising opportunities associated with the streaming of the program content. The number of people watching a particular content is also important information for other reasons.For example, it informs content providers about the number and demographics of their content viewers, allowing them to favor the production of more popular content over less popular content. It's also important to determine what advertising content is actually being presented. Current linear TV audience / viewing measurement techniques are based on surveys and extrapolations of sample data. For example, the Nielsen ratings seek to determine the size and composition of the audience for television programming in the United States using a ratings system. In the past, this information was obtained through printed diaries completed by individuals selected by the Nielsen company. Viewers submitted the printed diaries or answered phone calls to collect information. Later, electronic data collection techniques were used, including the use of fixed meters, which gathered information on which channels (and, by inference, what content) were being watched at which times in the home.Even later, other electronic data collection techniques were used, including devices embedded in set-top boxes (STBs) and digital video recorders (DVRs), to account for time-shifted viewing of media programs. Such systems are probabilistic in nature and therefore may not provide sufficiently detailed or accurate information. With the emergence of on-demand paradigms, such as over-the-top (OTT) content streaming (e.g., over the Internet), it is possible to obtain audience information and demographic data by placing a "tag" on the streamed content and tracking the tag to determine if and when the content is consumed. However, in more traditional broadcaster-initiated delivery paradigms (e.g., broadcast), it is more difficult to accurately measure viewership. This is because OTT content delivered via HTTP / HLS can be tracked by the backend simply by keeping track of all HTTP requests coming from the client. However, for broadcast, there is no notion of a client request. Clients tune into a channel locally without talking to the backend. It is also not unusual for viewership numbers to be misrepresented or fraudulently reported. For example, as described in the appendix, one technique is to "retitle" an episode of a series (e.g., use a slightly different name) when the episode is expected to have lower viewership, so that the average viewing numbers for the series are not negatively affected by the decline in viewership for that episode. For example, if an episode of "The Simpsons" is expected to be less viewed due to the airing of a popular sports program, the title of that particular episode may be changed to "The Simpsons" so that it is not counted in the aggregate statistics for the series. What is needed is a system and method for verifiably monitoring the viewing of content, such that the determined number of viewers of the content is increased if and only if the consumer device presenting the content is able to demonstrate that it has actually presented that particular content for viewing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form, which are described in more detail below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. An apparatus, method, and system for measuring consumption of content data having content for serial presentation is described. The method comprises generating n random numbers, where n>0, generating a first Pi value at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers, publishing the first Pi value to a smart contract associated with a blockchain, incorporating consumption monitoring data including the MA / IZ / ZUZZ / UOOl ÓD n random numbers at different temporal locations of the content data and transmit the content data to a client device for consumption. A client device draws each of the n random numbers only after a portion of the content data associated with a temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed and transmits the n drawn random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain. A smart contract verifies that the n transmitted drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers from the first published value P1 and a second value P2 generated from the n drawn random numbers and executes a transaction of the smart contract only if the n transmitted drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers. Another embodiment is demonstrated by a system for measuring content data consumption having content for serial presentation. The system comprises a content producer processor and a content producer memory, communicatively coupled to the content producer processor. The content producer memory stores content producer instructions including instructions for generating n random numbers, where n>0, generating a first Pi value at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers, publishing the first Pi value to a smart contract associated with a blockchain, and incorporating consumption monitoring data comprising the n random numbers at different temporal locations of the content data.The system also includes a transmitter, for transmitting the content data to a client device for consumption, and a client device having a client device processor and a client device memory that stores instructions for the client device including instructions for extracting each of the n random numbers only after a portion of the content data associated with a temporary location of the associated random number has been consumed and transmitting the extracted n random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain.The system also includes a verification processor, a verification memory storing verification processor instructions comprising instructions for verifying that the transmitted n drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers of the first published value P1 and a second value P2 generated from the n drawn random numbers and automatically executing a transaction of the smart contract only if the transmitted n drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers. The features, functions, and advantages described above may be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined in still other embodiments, further details of which may be seen with reference to the following description and figures. MA / E / ZUZZ / UOO IÓD BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Referring now to the figures in which similar reference numbers represent corresponding parts in all figures: Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an illustrative content distribution system; Figure 2 is a diagram presenting an overview of a blockchain-based audience monitoring system; Figure 3 is a diagram presenting additional details regarding the operation of the blockchain-based audience monitoring system; and Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary processing system that could be used to implement processing elements of this disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following description, reference is made to the attached figures, which are part of this description and which show various embodiments for illustrative purposes. It is understood that other embodiments may be used, and structural changes may be made, without departing from the scope of this description. CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary content distribution system (CDS) 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the system 100 may comprise one or more content providers 120A, 120B (hereinafter, content providers 120), in communication with a communication network 104 such as the Internet, a cable system, or a satellite system. The content distribution system (CDS) 100 transmits content data having content to one or more client devices, such as content consumption devices (CCDs) 102A-202D. Such CCDs 102 may include a tablet 102A, a smartphone 102B, a desktop or laptop computer 102C, and / or a set-top box (STB) 102D. The CCDs 102 may be enabled to receive content from the service provider 110 and directly from the content providers 120. Typically, content providers own the rights to media programs (hereinafter referred to as "content"). Content providers may own such rights either because they created the content itself, or by transferring rights from the content's creators or former owners. In one service paradigm, content providers 120 transmit content to service providers 110 (typically via high-bandwidth secure communication links 134), and the service providers 110 transmit the content to the CCDs 102. In another service paradigm, content providers 120 transmit content to service providers 110 (typically via high-bandwidth secure communication links 134), and the service providers 110 transmit the content to the CCDs 102. MA / t / ZUZZ / UOO IÓD directly to the CCDs 102. In the first service paradigm, the service provider 110 licenses the content from the content providers 120. In the second service paradigm, no such license is required. The content providers 120 and the service providers 110 may each include one or more video servers and one or more databases for storing and transmitting content. The content providers 120 and the service providers 110 may transmit content data to the CCDs 102 via the Internet, a cable transmission system, a satellite transmission system, or terrestrial transmission, and such transmission may comprise broadcast (e.g., transmission to any CCD 102 via a communication channel shared by the CCDs 102), multicast (e.g., transmission to a pre-specified group of CCDs 102), or via OTT streaming and / or video-on-demand. The content data transmitted to the CCD 102 includes the content itself (e.g., the video and audio data that together comprise the content program), as well as other data attached to the content provided to the CCD 102 and used to support decompression and decoding of the content or otherwise present the content. Such attached data may include, for example, clock references, program identifiers, conditional access data, and the like. By using CCD 102, remote users 132 may also communicate data to service providers 110 or content providers 120 via communications network 104. The CDS 100 may also comprise one or more advertising providers 140, which supply advertising content that is presented in conjunction with the content, typically at intervals within the content. In the illustrated embodiment, the advertising provider 140 includes an advertising provider server communicatively coupled to an associated and communicatively coupled advertising provider database. GENERAL INFORMATION To achieve the goal of allowing an entity such as content provider 120, service provider 110, or advertising provider 140 to determine that media content has been played by CCDs 102, the entity creates a puzzle that can only be solved with data provided by a CCD 102 that has actually played the content. The viewership count is then determined from the number of times the puzzle has been solved by different CCDs 102. In this system, the CCDs 102 do not function as blockchain nodes and do not run any blockchain node software. Instead, they function as wallet clients that can send transactions to a blockchain network. This technique can be used in any streaming paradigm, including broadcast, multicast, or OTT. MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UOO1 ÓO BLOCKCHAINS AND SMART CONTRACTS A blockchain is a list or ledger of records (blocks) that are linked serially using cryptography. Each block typically contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data (usually represented as a Merkle tree). The ledger is distributed and open, and is typically managed by a peer-to-peer network. Once recorded, the data in a given block of the blockchain cannot be retroactively altered without altering all subsequent blocks, which cannot be done without a majority of entities in the network agreeing to the change. A smart contract is a self-executing contract embedded in computer code managed by a blockchain. The code contains a set of rules under which the parties to that contract agree to interact with each other. If and when the predefined rules are met, the contract is automatically enforced. Essentially, smart contracts function as a cryptographic vault that holds value and is only unlocked if certain conditions are met. The underlying values ​​and the access rights they manage are stored on a blockchain, which is a shared and transparent ledger. The transparent and shared nature of the blockchain protects transactions from being deleted, revised, or tampered with. Figure 2 is a diagram presenting an overview of a blockchain-based audience monitoring system 200. Viewership information is recorded on a blockchain using a smart contract 206, making that viewership information immutable and tamper-proof and visible to all interested parties, including content providers, service providers, advertising providers, and media program sponsors. Both the CCDs 102 and the content data (e.g., which has been embedded with pseudo-random numbers) currently displayed play an indispensable role in the measurement process, and the audience count is incremented if and only if the CCD 102 is able to prove that it has actually played that particular content.This is achieved by solving a puzzle 210 having a puzzle solution P generated from a plurality of random or pseudo-random values ​​(alternatively referred to hereinafter as numbers) Ni + N2 + ... + Nn. The random numbers Ni + N2 + ... + Nn are inserted into the content data where they can be retrieved by the CCD 102 and provided to a smart contract 206 of a blockchain 208. The 210 puzzle and the pseudorandom numbers Ni + N2 + ... + Nn are selected such that only the pseudorandom numbers Ni + N2 + ... + Nn will reliably generate MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UOO1 ÓO the value of P if the CCD 102 has recovered all the plurality of numbers Ni + N2 + ... + Nna from the content data 204. In one embodiment, the puzzle comprises at least one cryptographic function of a combination of pseudo-random numbers, for example, as shown in equation (1) below: P = fcrypt(Ni + N2 + ... + Nn) Equation (1) Equation (1) describes the use of a single cryptographic function, but a plurality of cryptographic functions may be used, for example, as described in Equation (2). P = fcryptol(Ni + N2 + ·· + Nn-m) + fcrypt2(Nm + Npn+1 + + Nn) Equation (2) Preferably, the cryptographic function (fCrypto) is deterministic, can be computed quickly, and is such that it is infeasible to generate the same output for the function with different inputs, and that small changes to the input result in a function value that appears uncorrelated with that of the unaltered input value. In one embodiment, the cryptographic function is a one-way hash function. In an illustrative embodiment, the puzzle for the CCD 102 to solve is to compute the solution to puzzle P from n random numbers that are provided in the media content, as described in Equation (3) below: P = Hash (Ni + N2 + ... + Nn) Equation (3) where: • Hash() is a secure one-way cryptographic hash function such as SHA256, • Ni, N2,.. ,Nn are the n random numbers generated by the content producer 202; and • the “+” operation refers to a combination operation such that x + y is a combination of x and y. The “+” operation can involve any combination of x and y. Examples include an exclusive OR (XOR) operation, a bitwise OR, a bitwise AND, and a concatenation of digits representing the values ​​of x and y. In a bitwise OR operation, the result is obtained by performing a bitwise exclusive OR of each digit's value. For example, six = 10 and y = 7 in base 10, the bitwise OR of x and y is a MA / E / ZUZZ / UOO IÓD Bitwise exclusive OR of 1010 and 0110, which is 1101. A bitwise AND operation is similar, with the result obtained through a bitwise AND operation (in the example above, resulting in a value of 0010). A concatenation of digits in the example above would result in 10100110. Other operations that combine the operands x and y can also be used. The puzzle 210 is used to measure viewership as follows. Prior to streaming the media content, the content producer 202 (e.g., content provider 120 or advertising provider 140) generates n random numbers Ni, N2, ... , Nn, and calculates the puzzle solution Pi using those random numbers, for example, using Equation (3). These numbers may be expressed using any combination of value representations, including alphanumeric characters. The content producer 202 then posts / publishes the value of P 212 to a blockchain 208 using a dedicated smart contract 206. The blockchain 208 and smart contract 206 operations (described below) are performed by a processing system, and the resulting blockchain is shared among other computers on a network. The content producer 202 embeds the n random numbers within the content data at random or specific intervals. For example, in embodiments where the content data is transmitted in a serially presented MPEG2 transport stream (TS) having packets that include an adaptation field, each N random number may be embedded in the content data as private data within the adaptation field of the TS packet, along with an optional unique media content identifier. Other techniques may be used to transmit the n random numbers, including inserting the random numbers into other unused data fields in the content data, or inserting the data into the content itself, for example, using steganographic or similar techniques.The unique media content identifier allows the content that is the subject of the audience survey to be identified, so that the puzzle solution can be compared with the appropriate puzzle solution calculated by the content producer 202. When each CCD 102 plays content, it analyzes the content data and retrieves the built-in random numbers Ni, N2.....Nn from the content stream, and transmits the retrieved random numbers to the smart contract 206 via the communication channel 214. The smart contract 206 calculates the puzzle value P2 from the numbers Ni, N2, ... , Nn it receives from the CCD 102 and determines whether the calculated puzzle value P2 is equal to the puzzle value P1 received from the content producer 202 (e.g., satisfies P = Hash(Ni + N2 + ... + Nn)). The audience count of the content is incremented by one if and only if the value of P received from the content producer 202 matches the value calculated from the numbers Ni, N2.....Nn received from the CCD 102. MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UOO1 ÓO Figure 3 is a diagram presenting additional details regarding the operation of the blockchain-based audience monitoring system 200. In block 302, n random numbers are generated, where N is an integer greater than zero. A first Pi value is generated at least in part from a cryptographic function of one or more of the n generated random numbers, as shown in block 304. The values ​​of the N random numbers are kept private, but the content producer publishes the first Pi value to the smart contract 206 associated with the blockchain 208, as shown in block 306. In block 308, consumption monitoring data comprising the n random numbers is incorporated into different temporal locations of the content data. The consumption monitoring data includes the n generated random numbers, but may include other information as described below. The consumption monitoring data may be incorporated into data attached to the data carrying image and sound information, or into the image and sound information itself. For example, the random numbers may be incorporated into the data carrying the image information by steganography, or by modifying the least significant bits of an image pixel.In another example, in embodiments where the content is transmitted in an MPEG2 TS stream, each N random number may be embedded in the content data as private data within the adaptation field of the TS packet, along with an optional unique content identifier or other information. In a still further example, the information may be embedded in unused closed captions or multi-dimensional sound. In embodiments where the content data conforms to the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) transmission protocol, one of the N random numbers may be embedded in each HLS-encoded fragment of the content data. In block 310, the content data 204 with the embedded random numbers are transmitted (e.g., by broadcast) to the CCDs 102. The CCD 102 receives the content data 204, and extracts each of the N random numbers from the content data 204, as shown in block 312. The extracted random numbers are transmitted to the smart contract 206 associated with the blockchain 208, as shown in block 314. At block 318, smart contract 206 verifies that CCD 102 has presented the content by verifying that the drawn and transmitted random numbers n match the embedded random numbers n. This is accomplished by generating a second puzzle value P2 from the drawn and transmitted random numbers and comparing that generated second puzzle value P2 to the puzzle value P1 received from content producer 202. Finally, at block 320, the smart contract 206 executes a smart contract transaction only if the n random numbers drawn and transmitted match the MΛ / E / ZUZZ / UOO IÓO built-in random numbers (i.e., the calculated puzzle value P2 matches the puzzle value P1 received from the content producer 202). In one embodiment, each random number is extracted from the content data and transmitted essentially immediately after extraction. In another embodiment, each random number is transmitted only after that portion of the content data associated with a temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed (e.g., decrypted, decompressed, decoded). In still further embodiments, the random numbers may be aggregated and sent in a group, where each group of random numbers provides information by which it may be determined whether the associated portion of the content has been consumed. For example, it is typical for common broadcast television to begin with a commercial break, have a second commercial break after the first third of the program, a third commercial break after the second third of the program, and a fourth commercial break after the program has ended.The content producer 202 may generate different random numbers for the first, second, and last thirds of the program, as well as different associated puzzle values. The CCDs 102 may transmit the random numbers for each of the thirds of the program when viewing of those thirds is complete (or as they are completed), thereby indicating which thirds of the program have been consumed. Additionally, content producer 202 may generate multiple puzzle solutions, each requiring more random numbers to solve. For example, content producer 202 may define three puzzles: Pa = fcr¡pto(Ni + N2 + ... + N4) Equation (4) Pb = fcr¡pto(Ni + N2 + ... + N5) Equation (5) Pe = fcrypt(Ni + N2 + ... + Nβ) Equation (6) and send the solution to each puzzle to the smart contract 206. As the CCD 102 plays and presents content, the value of Pa can be determined after the CCD has extracted and transmitted Ni , N2 ... N4 but it cannot determine the value of Pb until N5 has been extracted and transmitted. In this way, a set of random numbers can be used to determine the viewership for a single piece of content, but that viewership can be determined for cumulative portions of the content. SECURE COMMUNICATION OF RANDOM NUMBERS TO THE SMART CONTRACT On many older blockchains the transaction details are public (e.g. Ethereum), and if a CCD simply sends the list of random numbers it has collected MA / E / ZUZZ / UOO IÓD in a transaction to smart contract 206, the values ​​will be known to everyone with access to the network. Therefore, it is possible for a malicious entity to monitor the communication channels 214 to find a valid series of random numbers Ni, N2.....Nnde from a non-malicious and uncompromised CCD 102, and then simply send one or more transactions with the same random number values, thus inflating the audience count. To avoid this problem (known as transaction “frontrunning”), newer blockchains 208 have support for transaction privacy, using techniques such as zero-knowledge proofs. In this example, CCD 102 would provide proof that it drew the random numbers without actually providing the random numbers to smart contract 206.In this case, the CCD 102 can calculate the value of P2 and prove that they have calculated this number, instead of broadcasting the P2 number itself. The smart contract would then execute the transaction based on this proof. A zero-knowledge proof is a means by which one entity can prove to another entity that it knows the value of a variable without revealing the value of the variable itself. Essentially, proving that the value of a variable is known without revealing the variable is performed by the second entity solving a problem that can only be solved if the value of the variable is known, without revealing the value, and using a problem that reveals nothing about the value. For example, to prove knowledge of the variable x, the first entity can perform the calculation y = gxmod p and transmit the result y to the second entity. The first entity can then calculate a random value C = grmod p where r is a random number, p is a large prime number, and g is a generator, and transmit the result C to the second entity. The second entity can request that the first entity transmit the value r.Using this value r, the second entity can confirm that the first entity knows the value of y by confirming that C = grmod p. Another way to avoid this problem is to use a cryptographic primitive such as a commitment disclosure scheme. HARDWARE ENVIRONMENT Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary processing system 400 that could be used to implement processing elements of the foregoing description, including the operations of blocks 302-320 of Figure 3. Similar processing elements may be used to generate the blockchain 208, disseminate the blockchain ledger to other processing systems in the network, enforce the smart contract 206. A computer 402 comprises one or more processors such as general purpose processor 404A and / or special purpose processor 404B and a memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 406. The computer 402 is operatively coupled to a display 422, which presents images such as windows to the user on a graphical user interface 418B. The computer 402 may be coupled to other devices, such as a keyboard 414, a mouse device 416, a printer 428, etc. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize that any combination of the foregoing components, or any number of different components, peripherals, and other devices, may be used with the computer 402. Generally, the computer 402 operates under the control of an operating system 408 stored in memory 406, and interacts with the user to accept input and commands and to present results through a graphical user interface (GUI) module 418A. Although the GUI module 418B is illustrated as a separate module, the instructions that perform the GUI functions may be resident or distributed within the operating system 408, the computer program 410, or implemented with special-purpose processors and memory. The computer 402 may also implement a compiler 412 that allows an application program 410 written in a programming language such as COBOL, C++, FORTRAN, or other language to be translated into code readable by the processor 404.After completion, the application 410 accesses and manipulates the data stored in the memory 406 of the computer 402 by using the relationships and logic that were generated by using the compiler 412. The computer 402 also optionally comprises an external communication device such as a modem, satellite link, Ethernet card, or other device for communicating with other computers. In one embodiment, instructions implementing operating system 408, computer program 410, and compiler 412 are tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium, e.g., data storage device 420, which could include one or more fixed or removable data storage devices, such as a zip drive, floppy disk drive 424, hard disk drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive, etc. Furthermore, operating system 408 and computer program 410 comprise instructions that, when read and executed by computer 402, cause computer 402 to perform the operations described herein. Computer program 410 and / or operating instructions may also be tangibly embodied in memory 406 and / or data communication devices 430, thereby resulting in an article of manufacture or computer program product.As such, the terms “article of manufacture,” “program storage device,” and “computer program product” as used herein are intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device or medium. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications can be made to this configuration without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, those skilled in the art will recognize that any combination of the above components, or any number of different components, peripherals, and other devices, can be used. For example, MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UOO1 ÓO the CCDs 102, or servers at the content providers 120, service providers 110 or advertising providers 140 may include processing systems 400 that exclude elements of Figure 4, such as the GUI module 418A, compiler 412, display 422, keyboard 414 and printer 428. CONCLUSION This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. Described above is an apparatus, method, and system for measuring consumption of content data having content for serial presentation. In one embodiment, the method comprises generating n random numbers, where n>0; generating a first Pi value at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers, publishing the first Pi value to a smart contract associated with a blockchain, incorporating consumption monitoring data including the n random numbers at different temporal locations of the content data, and transmitting the content data to a client device for consumption. The client device extracts each of the n random numbers only after a portion of the content data associated with a temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed, and transmits the n extracted random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain.Furthermore, the smart contract verifies that the broadcast n drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers from the first published value Pi and a second value P2 generated from the n drawn random numbers and executes a smart contract transaction only if the broadcast n drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers. Implementations may include one or more of the following features: Any of the methods described above, where the cryptographic function is a hash of a combination of the n random numbers. Any of the methods described above, wherein the combination of the n random numbers is one of an exclusive OR of the n random numbers, a bitwise OR of the n random numbers, a bitwise AND of the n random numbers, and a concatenation of the n random numbers. Any of the methods described above, wherein the serially presented content data includes a transport sequence that includes packets having an adaptation field; and each of the n random numbers is incorporated as private data of the adaptation field. Any of the methods described above, where serially presented content is encoded in chunks according to an HLS protocol, and one of n random numbers is included in each chunk. MA / E / ZUZZ / UOO IÓO Any of the methods described above, where the n drawn random numbers are transmitted only after all n random numbers associated with the content have been drawn. Any of the methods described above, where the n drawn random numbers are transmitted securely. Any of the methods described above, where the consumption monitoring data also includes a unique content identifier. Another embodiment is demonstrated by a system for measuring consumption of content data having content for serial presentation, including means for generating n random numbers, where n>0, means for generating a first Pi value at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers, means for publishing the first Pi value to a smart contract associated with a blockchain, means for incorporating consumption monitoring data including the n random numbers at different temporal locations of the content data, means for transmitting the content data to a client device for consumption, a client device having means for extracting each of the n random numbers only after a portion of the content data associated with a temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed,and means for transmitting the n drawn random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain. The system also includes means for verifying that the n transmitted drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers of the first published value Pi and a second value Pi generated from the n drawn random numbers, and means for automatically executing a transaction of the smart contract only if the n transmitted drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers. Implementations may include one or more of the following features: Any system described above, where the cryptographic function is a hash of a combination of the n random numbers. Any system described above, wherein the combination of the n random numbers is one of an exclusive OR of the n random numbers, a bitwise OR of the n random numbers, a bitwise AND of the n random numbers, and a concatenation of the n random numbers. Any system described above, wherein the serially presented content data includes a transport sequence including packets having an adaptation field, and each of the n random numbers is incorporated as private data of the adaptation field. MA / E / ZUZZ / UOO IÓD Any system described above, where serially presented content is encoded in chunks according to an HLS protocol, and one of n random numbers is included in each chunk. Any system described above, where the n drawn random numbers are transmitted only after all n random numbers associated with the content have been drawn. Any system described above, where the n random numbers drawn are transmitted securely. Any system described above, where the consumption monitoring data also includes a unique content identifier. Another embodiment is demonstrated by a system for measuring consumption of content data having content for serial presentation, including a content producer processor, and a content producer memory, communicatively coupled to the content producer processor, the content producer memory storing content producer processor instructions. The content producer instructions include instructions for generating n random numbers, where n>0, generating a first Pi value at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers, publishing the first Pi value to a smart contract associated with a blockchain, incorporating consumption monitoring data including the n random numbers at different temporal locations of the content data. The system also includes a transmitter for transmitting the content data to a client device for consumption.The client device has a client device processor, a client device memory that stores client device instructions including instructions for: extracting each of the n random numbers only after a portion of content data associated with a temporary location of the associated random number has been consumed, and transmitting the extracted n random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain.The system also includes a verification processor, a verification memory that stores verification processor instructions that include instructions for verifying that the transmitted n drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers of the first published value P1 and a second value P2 generated from the n drawn random numbers, and that automatically executes a transaction of the smart contract only if the transmitted n drawn random numbers match the n built-in random numbers. Implementations may include one or more of the following features: Any of the systems described above, where the cryptographic function is a hash of a combination of the n random numbers. ΜΛ / t / ZUZZ / UOO IÓD Any of the systems described above, wherein the combination of the n random numbers includes at least one of an exclusive OR of the n random numbers, a bitwise OR of the n random numbers, a bitwise AND of the n random numbers, and a concatenation of the n random numbers. Any of the systems described above, wherein the serially presented content data includes a transport sequence including packets having an adaptation field, and each of the n random numbers is incorporated as private data of the adaptation field. The foregoing description of preferred embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the description to the precise form described. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing teachings. It is intended that the scope of the rights be limited not by this detailed description, but by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A method for measuring the consumption of content data that has content for serial presentation, comprising: incorporating consumption monitoring data at different temporal locations of the content data, the consumption monitoring data comprising random values; transmitting the content data to a client device for consumption; wherein the client device: extracts the random values ​​only after a portion of the content data associated with a temporal location of the associated random values ​​has been consumed; and transmits the extracted random values ​​to a smart contract associated with a blockchain; wherein the smart contract: verifies that the transmitted extracted random values ​​match the embedded random values; and executes a smart contract transaction only if the transmitted extracted random values ​​match the embedded random values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: incorporating consumption monitoring data at different temporal locations of the content data comprises: generating n random numbers, where n>0; incorporating the consumption monitoring data comprising the n random numbers at the different temporal locations of the content data; the method further comprises: generating a first value Pi at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers; publishing the first value Pi to a smart contract associated with a blockchain; wherein the client device: extracts each of the n random numbers only after the portion of the content data associated with the temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed; and transmits the extracted n random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain;MA / E / ZUZZ / UOO IOD where the smart contract: verifies that the n randomly drawn transmitted numbers match the n randomly embedded numbers of the first published Pi value and a second P2 value generated from the n randomly drawn numbers; and executes the smart contract transaction only if the n randomly drawn transmitted numbers match the n randomly embedded numbers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cryptographic function is a hash of a combination of the n random numbers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the combination of the n random numbers is one of an exclusive OR of the n random numbers; a bitwise OR of the n random numbers; a bitwise AND of the n random numbers; and a concatenation of the n random numbers.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein: the serially presented content data comprises a transport sequence that includes packets having an adaptation field; and each of the n random numbers is incorporated as private data of the adaptation field.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the serially presented content is encoded in fragments according to an HLS protocol, and one of the n random numbers is included in each fragment.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the n random numbers drawn are transmitted only after all n random numbers associated with the content have been drawn.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the n randomly drawn numbers are transmitted securely.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the consumption monitoring data further comprises a unique content identifier.

10. A system for measuring the consumption of content data that has content for serial presentation, comprising: means for incorporating consumption monitoring data at different temporal locations of the content data, the consumption monitoring data comprising random values; means for transmitting the content data to a client device for consumption; wherein the client device extracts the random values ​​only after a portion of the content data associated with a temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed; and transmits the extracted random values ​​to a smart contract associated with a blockchain; wherein the smart contract verifies that the transmitted extracted random values ​​match the embedded random values;and executes a smart contract transaction only if the transmitted random extracted values ​​match the embedded random values.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein: the means for incorporating consumption monitoring data at different temporal locations of the content data comprises: means for generating n random numbers, where n>0; means for incorporating the consumption monitoring data comprising the n random numbers at the different temporal locations of the content data; the system further comprises: means for generating a first value Pi at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers; means for publishing the first value Pi to a smart contract associated with a blockchain; wherein the client device: extracts each of the n random numbers only after the portion of the content data associated with the temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed; and transmits the n extracted random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain;where the smart contract: verifies that the n randomly drawn numbers transmitted match the n randomly embedded numbers of the first published Pi value and a second value P2 generated from the n randomly drawn numbers; and executes the smart contract transaction only if the n randomly drawn numbers transmitted match the n randomly embedded numbers.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the cryptographic function is a hash of a combination of the n random numbers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the combination of the n random numbers is one of MA / IZ / ZUZZ / UOOl ÓD an exclusive OR of the n random numbers; a bitwise OR of the n random numbers; a bitwise AND of the n random numbers; and a concatenation of the n random numbers.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein: the serially presented content data comprises a transport sequence that includes packets having an adaptation field; and each of the n random numbers is incorporated as private data of the adaptation field.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the serially presented content is encoded in fragments according to an HLS protocol, and one of the n random numbers is included in each fragment.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the n random numbers drawn are transmitted only after all n random numbers associated with the content have been drawn.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the n randomly drawn numbers are transmitted securely.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the consumption monitoring data further comprises a unique content identifier.

19. A system for measuring the consumption of content data that has content for serial presentation, comprising: a content producer processor; a content producer memory, communicatively coupled to the content producer processor, the content producer memory storing content producer instructions, which include instructions for: incorporating consumption monitoring data at different temporal locations of the content data, the consumption monitoring data comprising random values; a transmitter, for transmitting the content data to a client device for consumption; wherein the client device: extracts the random values ​​only after a portion of the content data associated with a temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed; and transmits the extracted random values ​​to a smart contract associated with a blockchain;a verification processor; MA / E / ZUZZ / UOO IOD a verification memory, which stores verification processor instructions comprising instructions to: verify that the transmitted extracted random values ​​match the embedded random values; and execute a smart contract transaction only if the transmitted extracted random values ​​match the embedded random values.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein: the content producer processor instructions for incorporating the consumption monitoring data into the different temporal locations of the content data comprise the content producer processor instructions for: generating n random numbers, where n>0; and incorporating the consumption monitoring data comprising the n random numbers into the different temporal locations of the content data; the content producer processor instructions further comprise the content producer processor instructions for: generating a first Pi value at least in part from a cryptographic function of the n random numbers; publishing the first Pi value in a smart contract associated with a blockchain;wherein the client device: extracts each of the n random numbers only after the portion of the content data associated with the temporal location of the associated random number has been consumed; and transmits the n extracted random numbers to the smart contract associated with the blockchain; wherein: the verification processor instructions for verifying that the transmitted extracted random values ​​match the embedded random values ​​comprise verification processor instructions to: verify that the transmitted n extracted random numbers match the n embedded random numbers of the first published Pi value and a second P2 value generated from the n extracted random numbers;and the verification processor instructions to execute the smart contract transaction only if the transmitted drawn random values ​​match the embedded random values ​​comprise verification processor instructions to: automatically execute the smart contract transaction only if the n transmitted drawn random numbers match the n embedded random numbers.;

Images