Audience measurement system

• US 20030037333A1
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ghashghai, John, Barton, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,943,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72

Abstract

An audience measurement system plays and records television program material on a client system'"'"'s persistent storage device. Program guide objects are stored on the client system and indicate when television programs are broadcast. A client system stores a viewer'"'"'s television viewing habits and behavior. Information such as what television programs a viewer watches and/or prefers, and when a viewer uses trickplay functions while watching a television program (such as: variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, index, pause, variable rate reverse play, variable rate play, and play) are stored on the client system which the client sends to a central server. The central server stores viewer information from all client systems such that the information obtained is anonymous. The aggregated information is used by the central server to compile statistical reports and make predictions. Data are analyzed to create reports covering information that includes, but is not limited to: aggregate viewer behavior in relation to a specific television program; aggregate viewer response to specific commercial pods; and aggregate viewer behavior in relation to tuning out of a specific television program and viewer tune-in destinations. The central server also analyzes aggregate information to predict viewing activity and program ratings.

Claims

1. A process for measuring viewer television viewing behavior and habits in a client system, comprising the steps of:

providing a persistent storage device on said client system;

providing a program guide database on said persistent storage device;

wherein said program guide indicates when television programs are broadcast during a certain time period;

storing a viewer'"'"'s television program preferences on said persistent storage device;

correlating a viewer'"'"'s input via a remote control with segments of a television program and storing said correlated inputs on said persistent storage device;

wherein information about a television program is obtained from said program guide and stored along with said viewer'"'"'s program preferences and said correlated inputs; and

sending said television program information, said viewer'"'"'s program preferences, and said correlated inputs stored on said persistent storage device to a server.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

recording television programs selected by the viewer onto said persistent storage device;

displaying a list of recorded television programs to a viewer;

allowing the viewer to select a specific recorded television program from said list;

playing back said specific recorded television program to the viewer; and

correlating the viewer'"'"'s input via said remote control with segments of said specific recorded television program and storing said correlated inputs on said persistent storage device along with information pertaining to said specific recorded television program.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein said server stores said television program information, said viewer'"'"'s program preferences, and said correlated inputs in a central database, and wherein said television program information, said viewer'"'"'s program preferences, and said correlated inputs are stored as anonymous information.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein said anonymous information is aggregated into said central database with other anonymous information received from other client systems.

5. The process of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

providing reporting means on said server for filtering said aggregated information into statistical reports as specified by a user.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein said server analyzes said aggregate information to predict viewing activity and program ratings.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein said server analyzes said aggregate information to chart aggregate viewer behavior in relation to a specific television program.

8. The process of claim 5, wherein said server analyzes said aggregate information to chart aggregate viewer response to specific commercial pods.

9. The process of claim 5, wherein said server analyzes said aggregate information to chart aggregate viewer behavior in relation to tuning out of a specific television program and viewer tune-in destinations.

10. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

inserting tags into a television program;

providing means on said client for recognizing said tags while displaying said tagged television program to a viewer; and

wherein said client system uses said tags to more accurately track viewer behavior during certain events in said tagged television program.

11. An apparatus for measuring viewer television viewing behavior and habits in a client system, comprising:

a persistent storage device on said client system;

a program guide database on said persistent storage device;

wherein said program guide indicates when television programs are broadcast during a certain time period;

a module for storing a viewer'"'"'s television program preferences on said persistent storage device;

a module for correlating a viewer'"'"'s input via a remote control with segments of a television program and storing said correlated inputs on said persistent storage device;

wherein information about a television program is obtained from said program guide objects and stored along with said viewer'"'"'s program preferences and said correlated inputs; and

a module for sending said television program information, said viewer'"'"'s program preferences, and said correlated inputs stored on said persistent storage device to a server.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a module for recording television programs selected by the viewer onto said persistent storage device;

a module for displaying a list of recorded television programs to a viewer;

a module for allowing the viewer to select a specific recorded television program from said list;

a module for playing back said specific recorded television program to the viewer; and

a module for correlating the viewer'"'"'s input via said remote control with segments of said specific recorded television program and storing said correlated inputs on said persistent storage device along with information pertaining to said specific recorded television program.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said server stores said television program information, said viewer'"'"'s program preferences, and said correlated inputs in a central database, and wherein said television program information, said viewer'"'"'s program preferences, and said correlated inputs are stored as anonymous information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said anonymous information is aggregated into said central database with other anonymous information received from other client systems.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

reporting means on said server for filtering said aggregated information into statistical reports as specified by a user.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said server analyzes said aggregate information to predict viewing activity and program ratings.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said server analyzes said aggregate information to chart aggregate viewer behavior in relation to a specific television program.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said server analyzes said aggregate information to chart aggregate viewer response to specific commercial pods.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said server analyzes said aggregate information to chart aggregate viewer behavior in relation to tuning out of a specific television program and viewer tune-in destinations.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a module for inserting tags into a television program;

means on said client for recognizing said tags while displaying said tagged television program to a viewer; and

wherein said client system uses said tags to more accurately track viewer behavior during certain events in said tagged television program.