AppSDK - Android guide Czech

last modification 25.7.2019 by Josef Vancura

Overview

The Nielsen SDK is one of multiple framework SDKs that Nielsen provides to enable measuring linear (live) and on-demand TV viewing using TVs, mobile devices, etc. The App SDK is the framework for mobile application developers to integrate Nielsen Measurement into their media player applications for Android and iOS operating systems.
It supports a variety of Nielsen Measurement Products like Digital in TV Ratings, Digital Content Ratings (DCR, DTVR), Digital Ad Ratings (DAR), Digital Audio. This guide covers implementation steps for Android using Android Studio.

Prerequisites

To start using the App SDK, the following details are required:

  • App ID (appid): Unique ID assigned to the player/site and configured by product.

If you do not have any of these prerequisites or if you have any questions, please contact our SDK sales support team - see Contact list for Czech Republic.

Step 1: Get SDK

For AppSDK versions, release dates and release notes - refer to Android AppSDK release notes.

The Nielsen AppSDK can either be

  • downloaded directly as jar file - download ZIP package at Nielsen Downloads. Package contains SDK appsdk.jar as well as sample applications. You will have to update SDK manually always when new version of AppSDK is released.
  • or can be integrated within an application through the use of Gradle - read Gradle implementation guide - Recommended solution that will keep your SDK copy latest

Step 2: Setting up your Development Environment


Configuring Android Development Environment

1) (if using downloaded package) - Ensure to unzip the Nielsen App SDK sample app and copy the AppSdk.jar into the app/libs folder on the App’s project. Add it as dependency.

2) Add the following permissions on the project’s AndroidManifest.xml file.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>

3) Add Google Play Services lib into dependencies as Nielsen AppSDK uses the following packages/classes from the Google Play service. Libraries:

  • com.google.android.gms:play-services

Requiered Google Play Service CLasses and Packages :

  • com.google.android.gms.ads.identifier.AdvertisingIdClient;
  • com.google.android.gms.ads.identifier.AdvertisingIdClient.Info;
  • com.google.android.gms.common.ConnectionResult;
  • com.google.android.gms.common.GooglePlayServicesUtil;
  • com.google.android.gms.common.GooglePlayServicesRepairableException;
  • com.google.android.gms.common.GooglePlayServicesNotAvailableException;

4) In AndroidManifest.xml under <application> node add the following metadata 
<meta-data
android:name="com.google.android.gms.version"
android:value="@integer/google_play_services_version"/>


5) Once the files are in place, import com.nielsen.app.sdk to the java source code and start accessing the public interface.

import com.nielsen.app.sdk.*;

Notes:

  • The Nielsen App SDK (located in the com.nielsen.app.sdk package) class is the primary application interface to the Nielsen App SDK on Android.
  • The Nielsen App SDK class is defined as the only public class belonging to the com.nielsen.app.sdk package.
  • Nielsen App SDK is compatible with Android OS versions 2.3+.
  • Clients can control / configure the protocol to be used – HTTPS or HTTP to suit their needs.
  • The Android OS hosting the App SDK should use a media player supporting HLS streaming (Android 3.0 and later will support it natively).
  • If the player application uses a 3rd party media player implementing its own HLS, then the minimum Android version will be limited to version 2.3, since the SDK depends on Google Play support to work properly.

Step 3: SDK Initialization

The latest version of the Nielsen App SDK allows instantiating multiple instances of the SDK object, which can be used simultaneously without any issue. The sharedInstance API that creates a singleton object was deprecated prior to version 5.1.1. (Version 4.0 for Android)

  • A maximum of four SDK instances per appid are supported. When a fifth SDK instance is launched, the SDK will return “nil” from initWithAppInfo:delegate:
  • When four SDK instances exist, you must destroy an old instance before creating a new one.

The following table contains the list of arguments that can be passed via the AppInfo JSON schema.

Parameter / Argument Description Source Required/Obligatory? Example
appid Unique id for the application assigned by Nielsen. It is GUID data type. Nielsen-specified ✓ PXXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX
appname Name of the application Client-defined No Nielsen Sample App
appversion Current version of the app used Client-defined No "1.0.2"
sfcode Nielsen collection facility to which the SDK should connect. Put "cz" (for both dev phase + testing and production) Nielsen-specified ✓ "cz"
nol_devDebug Enables Nielsen console logging. Only required for testing Nielsen-specified Optional "DEBUG"


Sample SDK Initialization Code


1) AppSDK() is no longer a singleton object and should be initialized as below.

try{
  // Prepare AppSdk configuration object (JSONObject)
  JSONObject appSdkConfig = new JSONObject()
          .put("appid", "PXXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX")
          .put("appversion", "1.0")
          .put("appname", "Sample App Name")
          .put("sfcode", "cz")
          .put("nol_devDebug", "DEBUG"); // only for debug builds

         // Pass appSdkConfig to the AppSdk constructor
         mAppSdk = new AppSdk(appContext, appSdkConfig, this);
}
catch (JSONException e){
         Log.e(TAG, "Couldn’t prepare JSONObject for appSdkConfig", e);
}

2) implement IAppNotifier into your activity like

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements IAppNotifier

3) implement callback

@Override
public void onAppSdkEvent(long timestamp, int code, String description){
Log.d(TAG, "SDK callback onAppSdkEvent " + description);
}

So whole Activity will look like 

package com.example.josefvancura.nlsdemotmp;

import android.content.Context;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.Log;

import com.nielsen.app.sdk.*;

import org.json.JSONException;
import org.json.JSONObject;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements IAppNotifier {

    private AppSdk mAppSdk = null;
    private String TAG = "MainActivity";

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

        Context context = getApplicationContext();

        try{
            // Prepare AppSdk configuration object (JSONObject)
            JSONObject appSdkConfig = new JSONObject()
                    .put("appid", "PXXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX")
                    .put("appversion", "1.0")
                    .put("appname", "Sample App Name")
                    .put("sfcode", "cz")
                    .put("nol_devDebug", "DEBUG"); // only for debug builds

            // Pass appSdkConfig to the AppSdk constructor
            mAppSdk = new AppSdk(context, appSdkConfig, this ); // Notifier - activity implements IAppNotifier, callback in onAppSdkEvent()

        }
        catch (JSONException e){
            Log.e(TAG, "Couldn’t prepare JSONObject for appSdkConfig", e);
        }

    }

    @Override
    public void onAppSdkEvent(long timestamp, int code, String description) {
        Log.d(TAG, "SDK callback onAppSdkEvent " + description);
    }

}

APP SDK Error & Event Codes

To view the Error and Event codes for iOS and Android, please review the App SDK Event Code Reference page.

Life cycle of SDK instance

Life cycle of SDK instance includes four general states:

  1. Initial state – The SDK is not initialized and hence, not ready to process playing information. Once the SDK is moved out of this state, it needs instantiation of the new SDK instance in order to get the instance in the Initial state.
  2. Idle state – The SDK is initialized and is ready to process playing information. Once Initialized, the SDK instance is not processing any data, but is listening for the play event to occur.
  3. Processing state – The SDK instance is processing playing information. API calls "play" and "loadMetadata" move the SDK instance into this state. In this state, the SDK instance will be able to process the API calls (see below)
  4. Disabled state – The SDK instance is disabled and is not processing playing information. SDK instance moves into this state in one of the following scenarios.
    1. Initialization fails
    2. appDisableApi is called
@property (assign) BOOL appDisableApi;

Step 4: Create Metadata Objects

The parameters passed must be either a JSON formatted string. The JSON passed in the SDK must be well-formed.

  • JSON value must be string value.
    • This includes boolean and numeric values. For example, a value of true should be represented with "true", number value 123 should be "123".
    • All the Variable Names are case-sensitive. Use the correct variable name as specified in the documentation.


ChannelName metadata

channelName should remain constant throughout the completion of an episode or live stream.

Key Description Values Required
channelName Any string representing the channel/stream custom ✓

Content metadata

Content metadata should remain constant throughout the entirety of an episode/clip including when ads play. For detailed information of metadata and custom variables see specitication of Metadata for Czech Republic.

Ad Metadata

The ad metadata (if applicable) should be passed for each individual ad, if ads are available during or before the stream begins. For detailed information of metadata and custom variables see specitication of Metadata for Czech Republic.


MetaData Example

JSONObject channelInfo = new JSONObject()
    .put("channelname","My Channel Name 1")

JSONObject contentMetadata = new JSONObject()
   .put("assetid", "assetid_example")
   .put("type", "content")
   .put("program", "ProgramName")
   .put("title", "Bunny in Woods")
   .put("length", "579") // 9min 39sec
   .put("mediaUrl", "") // empty
   .put("airdate", "20171013 20:00:00")
   .put("isfullepisode", "y")
   .put("crossId1", "IDEC")
   .put("nol_c1", "p1,") // empty for VOD
   .put("nol_c2", "p2,TV ident")
   .put("segB", "Program type")
   .put("segC", "") // empty
   .put("adloadtype", "1")
   .put("hasAds",  "1");

JSONObject adMetadata = new JSONObject()
   .put("assetid", "assetid_example_postroll")
   .put("type", "postroll")
   .put("length", "30")
   .put("title", "Nielsen postroll")
   .put("nol_c4", "p4,ASMEAcode")
   .put("nol_c5", "p5,AtributForAd")
   .put("nol_c6", "p6,postroll");

Step 5: Configure API Calls

API Calls Types

play

The play method prepares the SDK for reporting once an asset has loaded and playback has begun. Use play to pass the channel descriptor information through channelName parameter when the user taps the Play button on the player. Call play only when initially starting the video. 

mAppSdk.play(JSONObject channelInfo);

loadMetadata

Needs to be called at the beginning of each asset, pass JSON object for relevant content or ad. Make sure to pass as 1st loadMetadata for content at the begining of playlist - see below API call sequence examples. 

mAppSdk.loadMetadata(JSONObject contentMetadata);

playheadPosition

Pass playhead position every second during playback. for VOD: pass current position in seconds. for Live: current UTC timestamp - if possible to seek back in Live content than pass related UTC time (not current). Pass whole number that increments only by 1 like 1,2,3.. 

mAppSdk.setPlayheadPosition(long videoPositon);

stop

Call when

  • content or ads complete playing
  • when a user pauses playback
  • upon any user interruption scenario - see bellow chapter Interruption scenario
mAppSdk.stop();

end

Call when the content asset completes playback. Stops measurement progress. 

mAppSdk.end();


API Call sequence

Use Case 1: Content has no Advertisements

Only content in playlist, A Sample API sequence follow this flow:

Playlist Sample code Description
1. Start of stream play(channelName) channelName contains JSON metadata of channel/video name being played
loadMetadata(contentMetadataObject) contentMetadataObject contains the JSON metadata for the content being played
2. Content playheadPosition(position) playheadPosition is position of the playhead while the content is being played
3. End of Stream end Content playback is completed.

Use Case 2: Content has Advertisements

Playlist : ad preroll - content - ad midroll - content continues - ad postroll.
The sample API sequence can be used as a reference to identify the specific events that need to be called during content and ad playback.

Playlist Sample code Description
1. Start of stream play(channelName); channelName contains JSON metadata of channel/video name being played
loadMetadata(contentMetaDataObject); contentMetadataObject contains the JSON metadata for the content being played
2. Preroll loadMetadata(prerollMetadataObject); prerollMetadataObject contains the JSON metadata for the preroll ad
setPlayheadPosition(playheadPosition); position is position of the playhead while the preroll ad is being played
stop(); Call stop after preroll occurs
3. Content loadMetadata(contentMetaDataObject); contentMetadataObject contains the JSON metadata for the content being played
setPlayheadPosition(playheadPosition); position is position of the playhead while the content is being played
stop(); Call stop after the content is paused (ad starts)
4. Midroll loadMetadata(midrollMetaDataObject); midrollMetadataObject contains the JSON metadata for the midroll ad
setPlayheadPosition(playheadPosition); position is position of the playhead while the midroll ad is being played
stop(); Call stop after midroll occurs
5. Content (End) loadMetadata(contentMetaDataObject); contentMetadataObject contains the JSON metadata for the content being played
setPlayheadPosition(playheadPosition); position is position of the playhead while the content is being played
stop(); Always call stop irrespective of postroll is followed or not
6. End of Stream end(); Call end() at the end of content
7. Postroll loadMetadata(postrollMetaDataObject); postrollMetadataObject contains the JSON metadata for the postroll ad
setPlayheadPosition(playheadPosition); position is position of the playhead while the postroll ad is being played
stop(); Call stop after postroll occurs
Note: Each Ad playhead should reset or begin from 0 at ad start. When content has resumed following an ad break, playhead position must continue from where previous content segment was left off.

Step 6: Interruptions during playback

As part of integrating Nielsen App SDK with the player application, the Audio / Video app developer needs to handle the following possible interruption scenarios:

  • Pause / Play
  • Network Loss (Wi-Fi / Airplane / Cellular)
  • Call Interrupt (SIM or Third party Skype / Hangout call)
  • Alarm Interrupt
  • Content Buffering continues for 30 seconds
  • Device Lock / Unlock (Video players only, not for Audio players)
  • App going in the Background/Foreground (Video players only, not for Audio players)
  • Channel / Station Change Scenario
  • Unplugging of headphone

In case of encountering one of the above interruptions, the player application needs to

  • Call stop immediately (except when content is buffering) and withhold sending playhead position.
  • Start sending pings – loadMetadata and playheadPosition for the new viewing session, once the playback resumes.

Please see the Digital Measurement FAQ for more details


Handling Foreground and Background states

Foreground/Background state measurement is a requirement of Nielsen AppSDK implementation. It may be implemented in multiple ways for Android. This includes :

a) ForeGround/Background Measurement via AndroidManifest

The simplest way to measure the app background/foreground state is to add the following application tag to the Manifest XML. Integrating this into the Manifest XML will enable the SDK to measure app state directly. This approach is supported for Android 4.0 and up only; it requires that the application class is not in use for some other purpose. 

<application android:name="com.nielsen.app.sdk.AppSdkApplication">
b) Using the Android SdkBgFbDetectionUtility Class

For developers who are already using the application class, it is recommended that background/foreground state is implemented using the SdkBgFgDetectionUtility class. The SdkBgFgDetectionUtility class is compatible with Android 4+ and has been made available to Nielsen clients. (You will need to copy/paste the code provided into a file).

c) Manual Background/ForeGround State Management

In cases where the developer is not able to use the AndroidManifest.xml solution nor the Nielsen provided SdkBgFgDetectionUtility class the developer will need to manually identify the change of state through the application and call the respective API (appInForeground() or appInBackground()) to inform the SDK regarding the change of state from background to foreground or foreground to background.

The SDK is informed about app state using the below methods:

1. App going from Foreground to Background - call in onPause() 
mAppSdk.appInBackground(mContext);
2. App is going from Background to Foreground - call in onResume() 
mAppSdk.appInForeground(mContext);

Step 7: Privacy and Nielsen Opt-Out

A user can opt-out if they would prefer not to participate in any Nielsen online measurement research.
To opt out, users must have access to "About Nielsen Measurement" web page. Include link to

  • app settings screen
  • or to your Privacy Policy / EULA section
  • or as a button near the link to the app's Privacy Policy.

SDK will be sending the data pings to census even though SDK is opted out (In earlier releases all the traffic from SDK to census will be ceased). However, all the outgoing pings will have the parameter uoo=true using which backend can ignore this data.

1. Get URL

URL for the Nielsen Privacy web page should be retrieved using API call optOutURL 

mAppSdk.userOptOutURLString()

If the App SDK returns NULL in the optOutURL, handle the exception gracefully and retry later.
Example of returned Url is http://priv-policy.imrworldwide.com/priv/mobile/cz/cs/optout.html followed by unique hash.

2. Open URL in webView

Recieved URL should be opened in 'WebView' / External browser. App should provide a UI control like 'close' or 'back' button to close the 'WebView' / External browser.

3. Get current Opt-Out status (voluntarily)

To retrieve the current Opt-Out status of a device, use the getOptOutStatus method. 

mAppSdk.getOptOutStatus()

Put it inside AsyncTask to get proper result


Current Opt-Out page is now updated to have no hyperlinks for Opt-Out / Opt-In operations. SDK Opt-Out has to be done via Google Settings → Ads → Opt out of Ads Personalization.

andr-ads.jpg

Step 8: Test your player by your self

Test SDK API calls

to verify SDK API calls use LogCat console in Android Studio or adb (example of log).

Test outgoing pings

Test setup :

1. Connect your PC and test device (tablet or phone) via same router.
2. Setup Proxy sw - example Charles Proxy (only for Android 6 and lower) - see https://youtu.be/tAL5X6ENQxc
3. Test device: run your player, launch video
4. PC side: in proxy filter trafic by "imrworld" and confirm presence of GN pings - see https://youtu.be/zOKOinb-zdc

Example of GN ping

https://secure-cert.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/gn?prd=dcr&ci=cz-509218&ch=cz-509218_c04_P&asn=defChnAsset&sessionId=epHSOa1alCOKVx84Ghso0nyQbXiAL1558443517&tl=Nielsen%2520preroll&prv=1&c6=vc,c04&ca=cz-509218_c04_assetid_example_preroll&cg=ProgramName&c13=asid,P24E981D1-5A7F-471B-BB3A-9E8207A77B39&c32=segA,NA&c33=segB,Program%2520type&c34=segC,NA&c15=apn,CZ%20demo%20Artifactory&plugv=&playerv=&sup=1&segment2=-1&segment1=cze&forward=0&ad=1&cr=4_00_99_D1_00000&c9=devid,&enc=true&c1=nuid,&at=timer&rt=video&c16=sdkv,aa.6.0.0&c27=cln,27&crs=0&lat=&lon=&c29=plid,P24E981D1-5A7F-471B-BB3A-9E8207A77B39&c30=bldv,aa.6.2.0.0_ga&st=dcr&c7=osgrp,DROID&c8=devgrp,TAB&c10=plt,MBL&c40=adbid,&c14=osver,Android6.0.1&c26=dmap,1&dd=&hrd=&wkd=&c35=adrsid,&c36=cref1,IDEC&c37=cref2,&c11=agg,1&c12=apv,&c51=adl,27&c52=noad,1&sd=30&devtypid=asus-Nexus-7&pc=NA&c53=fef,n&c54=oad,&c55=cref3,&c57=adldf,2&ai=assetid_example_preroll&c3=st%252Ca&c64=starttm,1558443522&adid=assetid_example_preroll&c58=isLive,false&c59=sesid,JVThto0RdZkCNLXyA5TPa2DBNo0CO1558443522&c61=createtm,1558443552&c63=pipMode,&c60=cvarall,p0%252Cdcrcz~~~~~~st%252Ca~~p4%252CASMEAcode~~p5%252CAtributForAd~~p6%252Cpreroll&c62=sendTime,1558443552&c68=bndlid,cz.nielsenadmosphere.androiddemo&c69=cvw,&nodeTM=&logTM=&c73=phtype,Tablet&c74=dvcnm,Google+Nexus+7&c76=adbsnid,&df=-1&uoo=true&c44=progen,&davty=1&si=&c66=mediaurl,&vtoff=0&rnd=1558443552224

Step 9: Provide your app for certification

Once ready please send your application to Nielsen local staff for verification - see Contact list for Czech Republic.

Step 10: Going Live

After the integration has been certified (but not prior that), disable debug logging by deleting {nol_sdkDebug: 'DEBUG'} from initialization call - see Step 2.

Demos

see live demos with sample implementation available at at http://sdkdemo.admosphere.cz/

FAQ

1. When to instantiate Nielsen SDK ?
Answer: right at application start and only once during runtime.


2. Which API calls shall be executed and when ?
Answer : a) for standard runtime - please see Chapter 4 - API Call sequence b) for intertuption scenario - see Chapter 5 Interruptions during playback