How Devices Track Offline Ad Watching and Share Media Recommendations
A system for tracking which ads a user watches in downloaded video files while offline and reporting that data back to publishers once the device reconnects to the internet.
Original patent title: “Discovery and analytics for episodic downloaded media”
A system for tracking which ads a user watches in downloaded video files while offline and reporting that data back to publishers once the device reconnects to the internet. Granted to Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC in 2014 with 19 claims and 20 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a method for tracking media consumption on devices that are not connected to the internet. When a user downloads an episodic media file containing pre-inserted advertisements at specific timestamps, the client device logs how much of the file is played while offline. By comparing the playback duration against the known insertion points of the ads, the device determines which specific advertisements were viewed. Once the device reconnects to the internet, it transmits this data to the publisher and can facilitate social media recommendations for the content to third parties.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover tracking of media consumed while the device is actively connected to the internet.
- Does not cover systems that stream content in real-time without downloading the file first.
- Does not cover ad insertion methods that occur dynamically on the server side during playback.
- Does not cover the actual content of the advertisements themselves.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system uses the playback duration log as a proxy for ad exposure, effectively 'calculating' ad consumption by comparing the time-stamped log against the known insertion points of the ads within the file.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Downloaded episodes on the PlayStation Video platform
Offline viewing modes in mobile media player apps
Ad-supported video-on-demand services with download-to-go features
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the 'offline gap' in digital advertising. Before this, publishers struggled to prove that ads embedded in downloaded files were actually seen by users. By automating the reporting of offline consumption, it allows companies like Sony to provide accurate metrics to advertisers even when the user is on a plane or in a dead zone.
Filed
February 12, 2009
Granted
July 1, 2014
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Sony continues to maintain a significant footprint in digital media distribution through the PlayStation ecosystem. Other major players in the digital media space, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, utilize similar mechanisms to track offline engagement for their download-to-go features.
Market impact
This patent helped formalize the analytics infrastructure for the 'download-to-go' era of digital media. It provided a framework for publishers to maintain ad revenue streams even when users were not connected to the network, which became a critical requirement for mobile-first media distribution.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a method for tracking media consumption on devices that are not connected to the internet. When a user downloads an episodic media file containing pre-inserted advertisements at specific timestamps, the client device logs how much of the file is played while offline. By comparing the playback duration against the known insertion points of the ads, the device determines which specific advertisements were viewed. Once the device reconnects to the internet, it transmits this data to the publisher and can facilitate social media recommendations for the content to third parties.
The clever bit
The system uses the playback duration log as a proxy for ad exposure, effectively 'calculating' ad consumption by comparing the time-stamped log against the known insertion points of the ads within the file.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover tracking of media consumed while the device is actively connected to the internet.
- Does not cover systems that stream content in real-time without downloading the file first.
- Does not cover ad insertion methods that occur dynamically on the server side during playback.
- Does not cover the actual content of the advertisements themselves.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$94K – $300K
Midpoint $187K · 2.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
19 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
McMullen, G., Shafton, P., Navar, M., & Yruski, A. (2014). How Devices Track Offline Ad Watching and Share Media Recommendations (U.S. Patent No. 8,769,558). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8769558/netflix-adaptive-streaming
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Devices Track Offline Ad Watching and Share Media Recommendations cover?
A system for tracking which ads a user watches in downloaded video files while offline and reporting that data back to publishers once the device reconnects to the internet.
Who owns patent US 8769558?
Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC owns this patent, granted in 2014.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 1, 2034, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8769558 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 20 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the 'offline gap' in digital advertising. Before this, publishers struggled to prove that ads embedded in downloaded files were actually seen by users. By automating the reporting of offline consumption, it allows companies like Sony to provide accurate metrics to advertisers even when the user is on a plane or in a dead zone.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover tracking of media consumed while the device is actively connected to the internet.
Same assignee
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