Audience research system

• US 20010007149A1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Published: 07/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pace Micro Technology Ltd. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Gerard
• Application Number:
  US09/731,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20010007149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A television system is provided which includes a display means having a number of selectable channels and a digital data receiver connected thereto. Data is transmitted from the receiver to the television for viewing when a designated television channel is selected. The system further includes a remote control device, which can be selectively used to control the television set and receiver functions and, if a function selection is made with respect to the television set, an indicative signal is also sent to the receiver.

Claims

1. A television system, said system including a television set having a number of selectable channels and a digital data receiver connected thereto, data being transmitted from the receiver to the television and viewable when a designated television channel is selected on the television set and characterised in that said system includes a remote control device which can be selectively used to control the television set and receiver functions and, if a function selection is made with respect to the television set, an indicative signal is also transmitted to the receiver to indicate said change of function of the television set.

2. A television system according to

claim 1

characterised in that the receiver includes a memory in which the received remote control signals are stored.

3. A television system according to

claim 2

characterised in that the received signal data stored in the receiver is transferred via a communications link between the receiver and a designated remote location at intervals and/or upon demand.

4. A television system according to

claim 1

characterised in that the control signals generated from the remote control to control the television set are distinguishable from the control signals generated for the receiver.

5. A television system according to

claim 4

characterised in that the remote control has a processing function to distinguish the control functions selected.

6. A television system according to

claim 5

characterised in that the processing function can determine the length of depression of a button on the remote control.

7. A television system according to

claim 5

characterised in that the processing function can generate and transmit a signal to the receiver indicative of the control function selected.

8. A television system according to

claim 1

characterised in that the remote control device includes a memory in which function selection data is held and is transmitted to the receiver at intervals.

9. A television system according to

claim 1

characterised in that the remote control transmits function selection data to the receiver on every occasion when a signal is sent from the remote control to the receiver.

10. A television system according to

claim 1

characterised in that the time at which a function selection is made by the remote control is recorded in the remote control and said information transmitted to the receiver at a time thereafter in conjunction with the function selection identification data.

11. A television system, said system including a television set having a number of selectable channels, said television set connected to a receiver for receiving broadcast digital data and characterised in that said receiver is provided with a means for receiving data relating to the usage and selection of functions on the television set and said data is received via a SCART connection between the television set and the receiver.

12. A television system according to

claim 11

characterised in that the receiver is provided with a processor to allow the vertical blanking interval of the television data to be sampled.

13. A television system according to

claim 11

characterised in that the time at which the data is received is transmitted with the data to provide a record of usage of the television set.

14. A television system according to

claim 11

characterised in that alteration of the audio or volume control of the television system results in alteration of the amplitude of the data signal received via the SCART connection.

15. A television system, said system including a television set having a number of selectable channels and a digital data receiver connected thereto, data transmitted from the receiver to the television or from the television to the receiver, said system including a remote control device which can be selectively used to control the television set and receiver functions and, if a function selection is made with respect to the television set using the remote control, an indicative signal is sent to the receiver, and a SCART connection is provided which connects the television and receiver to enable the receiver to receive data directly from the television set relating to the usage and selection of functions on the television set.

16. A television system according to

claim 16

characterised in that the receiver receives data from both the remote control and from the SCART connection to provide information on whether the television is being used to watch data received via the receiver or data received from a different source.