System and method for verifying content displayed on an electronic visual display

• US 20030115591A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NExT-e Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Automated Media Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Weissmueller, William Robert Jr., Tell, Ernest Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,614,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/48 for recognising items expressed in broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/962 Operator interface for marketing or sales

Abstract

A system and method for providing multiple levels of verification of displaying visual content on an electronic visual display. One embodiment includes a method that displays a visual verification code signal in relation to a visual content signal representative of the visual content displayed on the electronic visual display. The visual verification code signal is sensed as displayed by the electronic visual display, and, based thereon, the verification code is determined and verification of the display of the visual content on the electronic visual display is performed. The visual verification code signal may be displayed in different colors to verify the operation of the electronic visual display with respect to color and intensity.

Claims

1. A system for verifying visual content displayed on an electronic visual display, said system comprising:

a first electronic circuit operable to display the visual content and verification code associated therewith on the electronic visual display;

an optical sensor disposed to sense illumination of the verification code;

a second electronic circuit operable to determine that the sensed verification code is indicative of the verification code associated with the visual content.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said third electronic circuit is remotely located from the electronic visual display.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said third electronic circuit is wirelessly remotely located from the electronic visual display.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said optical sensor includes a plurality of optical sensor elements for sensing multiple regions or colors.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a receiver electrically coupled to the electronic visual display and operable to receive the visual verification code signal and visual content signal.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said first electronic circuit includes a processor operable to convert the visual verification code and visual content signals received by said receiver into video signals for display on the electronic visual display.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second electronic circuit includes a transmitter for performing the communication of the data associated with the sensed visual verification code signal.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said third electronic circuit includes a processor operable to process the sensed visual verification code signal and logically determine that the data is indicative of the verification code.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the verification code is representative of alphanumeric information associated with the visual content.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit operable to store at least one database for maintaining information associated with the visual content.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the information associated with the visual content includes alphanumeric information.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the information includes log data derived by the determination of data being indicative of the verification code.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second electronic circuit includes a processor.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second electronic circuit is further operable to verify color of the display of the visual content.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second electronic circuit is further operable to determine intensity of the display of the visual content.

17. A method for verifying display of visual content displayed on an electronic visual display, said method comprising:

converting a digital verification code signal to a visual verification code signal, the digital verification code signal being representative of a verification code associated with the visual content;

displaying the visual verification code signal in relation to a visual content signal representative of the visual content on the electronic visual display;

sensing the visual verification code signal as displayed by the electronic visual display; and

based on the sensed visual verification code signal, determining the verification code displayed to verify the display of the visual content on the electronic visual display.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising generating the digital verification code signal representative of the verification code.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising forming the verification code based on alphanumeric information associated with the visual content.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising forming the visual verification code signal automatically, the visual verification code signal including a timestamp associated with time of communication or display of the visual content signal.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising communicating the sensed visual verification code signal across a network.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the network is at least one of the Internet and a wireless communication network.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising communicating data associated with said determining of the verification code across a network.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the network is at least one of the Internet, local area network, and a wireless network.

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein said converting includes:

receiving the digital verification code signal; and

modulating a video signal to form the visual verification code signal.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said modulating includes modulating multiple portions of the video signal to form the visual verification code signal with multiple regions.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said modulating of the multiple portions of the video signal is performed to provide an inverse relationship therebetween.

28. The method according to claim 17, further comprising receiving the digital verification code signal prior to said converting.

29. The method according to claim 17, wherein said displaying includes displaying the visual verification code in a plurality of colors.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said displaying includes displaying the visual verification code in each component of the electronic visual display over distinct time durations.

31. The method according to claim 17, further comprising verifying color of the display of the visual content.

32. The method according to claim 17, further comprising verifying intensity of the display fo the visual content.

33. A system for verifying display of visual content on an electronic visual display, said method comprising:

means for converting a digital verification code signal to a visual verification code signal, the digital verification code signal being representative of a verification code associated with the visual content;

means for displaying the visual verification code signal in relation to the visual content signal on the electronic visual display;

means for sensing the visual verification code signal as displayed by the electronic visual display; and

means for determining, based on the sensed visual verification code signal, the verification code to verify the display of the visual content on the electronic visual display.

34. The system according to claim 33, further comprising means for generating the digital verification code signal representative of the verification code.

35. The system according to claim 33, further comprising means for forming the verification code based on alphanumeric information associated with the visual content.

36. The system according to claim 33, further comprising means for generating the alphanumeric information to relate to the visual content.

37. The system according to claim 33, further comprising means for communicating the sensed visual verification code signal across a network.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the network is at least one of the Internet and a wireless communication network.

39. The system according to claim 33, further comprising means for receiving the digital verification code signal prior to said means for converting.

40. The system according to claim 33, further comprising means for forming the verification code.

41. The system according to claim 33, further comprising means for verifying color of the display of the visual content.

42. The system according to claim 33, further comprising means for verifying intensity of the display of the visual content.

43. A system for verifying visual content displayed on an electronic visual display, said system comprising:

a first electronic circuit operable to display the visual content and verification code associated therewith on the electronic visual display;

an optical sensor disposed to sense illumination of the verification code; and

a second electronic circuit operable to determine that the sensed verification code is indicative of the verification code associated with the visual content.

44. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions including instructions, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

convert a digital verification code signal to a visual verification code signal, the digital verification code signal being representative of a verification code associated with visual content signal;

display the visual verification code signal in relation to the visual content signal on the electronic visual display;

measure the visual verification code signal as displayed by the electronic visual display and sensed by an optical sensor; and

determine the verification code, based on the measured visual verification code signal, to verify the visual content signal displayed by the electronic visual display.

45. The computer-readable medium according to claim 44, further including instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to generate alphanumeric information related to the display of the visual content signal.

46. The computer-readable medium according to claim 44, further including instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to communicate the measured visual verification code signal across a network.

47. The computer-readable medium according to claim 44, further including instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive the digital verification code signal prior to the conversion thereof.

48. A method for verifying display of visual content, said method comprising:

communicating the visual content via a visual content signal to an electronic visual display for displaying between a start time and an end time;

recording a first indicator indicative of the occurrence of the communication of the visual content signal to the electronic visual display;

displaying the visual content signal between the start and end times;

sensing an operational parameter of the electronic visual display between the start and end times; and

recording a second indicator indicative of the sensed operational parameter, the first and second indicators providing for verification of the visual content being displayed by the electronic visual display.

49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising associating said first and second indicators by said recording of the first and second indicators.

50. The method according to claim 48, further comprising determining whether the sensed operational parameter is indicative of the visual content being displayed.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein said determining includes determining whether the visual content is substantially properly displayed based on the sensed operational parameter and an expected operational parameter profile associated with said displaying of the visual content signal.

52. The method according to claim 48, wherein said communicating is performed via an analog transmission path.

53. The method according to claim 48, wherein said communicating is performed via a digital transmission path.

54. The method according to claim 48, wherein said start and end times represent the times for a single display of the visual content.

55. The method according to claim 48, wherein said start and end times represent the times between which the visual content is displayed.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein the visual content is displayed multiple times if the visual content is dynamic.

57. The method according to claim 48, wherein said recording of the first indicator is performed for each communication of the visual content.

58. The method according to claim 48, wherein said sensing of the operational parameter is performed each time the visual content signal is displayed between the start and end times.

59. The method according to claim 48, wherein said recording of the second indicator is performed each time said sensing occurs.

60. The method according to claim 48, further comprising determining a measured value indicative of the sensed operational parameter to form the second indicator.

61. The method according to claim 60, further comprising determining if the measured value indicative of the sensed operational parameter is inside an expected measured value range.

62. The method according to claim 61, further comprising forming a notification identifier indicative of the measured value indicative of the sensed operational parameter being inside or outside the expected range.

63. The method according to claim 48, further comprising forming a database having the first and second indicators being recorded therein.

64. A system for verifying display of visual content, said method comprising:

means for communicating the visual content via a visual content signal to an electronic visual display for displaying between a start time and an end time;

means for recording a first indicator indicative of the occurrence of the communication of the visual content to the electronic visual display;

means for displaying the visual content signal between the start and end times;

means for sensing an operational parameter of the electronic visual display between the start and end times; and

means for recording a second indicator indicative of the sensed operational parameter, the first and second indicators providing for verification of the visual content being displayed by the electronic visual display.

65. The system according to claim 64, further comprising means for determining whether the sensed operational parameter is indicative of the visual content being displayed.

66. The system according to claim 65, wherein said means for determining includes means for determining whether the visual content is substantially properly displayed based on the sensed operational parameter and an expected operational parameter profile associated with said displaying of the visual content signal.

67. The system according to claim 64, further comprising means for determining a measured value indicative of the sensed operational parameter to form the second indicator.

68. The system according to claim 67, further comprising means for determining if the measured value indicative of the sensed operational parameter is inside an expected measured value range.

69. The method according to claim 68, further comprising means for forming a notification identifier indicative of the measured value indicative of the sensed operational parameter being inside or outside the expected measured value range.

70. The system according to claim 64, further comprising means for forming a database having the first and second indicators being recorded therein.

71. A system for verifying display of visual content, said system comprising:

a processor operable to receive a communication of the visual content via a visual content signal and to display the visual content between a start time and an end time, the processor further operable to record a first indicator indicative of the occurrence of the reception of the visual content signal;

a video display driver operable to display the visual content signal between the start and end times;

a sensor operable to sense an operational parameter of the electronic visual display between the start and end times; and

said processor further operable to record a second indicator indicative of the sensed operational parameter, the first and second indicators providing for verification of the visual content being displayed by the electronic visual display.

72. The system according to claim 71, wherein said sensor is at least one of a voltage and a current sensor.

73. The system according to claim 71, wherein the first indicator includes information associated with the visual content.

74. The system according to claim 71, wherein the first indicator includes a timestamp.

75. The system according to claim 71, wherein the second indicator is at least one of a voltage and current measured value.

76. The system according to claim 71, further comprising determining if the second indicator is within an operating parameter range.

77. The system according to claim 71, further comprising forming a results value indicative of the results of said determining.

78. The system according to claim 71, further comprising updating a database including the first and second indicators.

79. A database for verifying display of a visual content on an electronic visual display, said database comprising:

a first data element corresponding to a time of delivery of a visual content signal representative of the visual content; and

at least one second data element representative of an operational parameter of the electronic visual display associated in time with the display of the visual content.

80. The database according to claim 79, further comprising a third data element operable to be utilized as a verification code indicative of the visual content.

81. The database according to claim 79, further comprising a verification identifier indicative of the success or failure of the visual content being displayed on the electronic visual display.

82. The database according to claim 79, wherein the verification identifier is indicative of the results of operation indicated by said first and second data elements.

83. The database according to claim 79, wherein said first data element includes at least one of a date and time.

84. The database according to claim 79, wherein said at least one second data element includes a value related to or derived from a voltage or current of the electronic visual display.

85. The database according to claim 79, further comprising an identifier of an associated expected operational parameter datafile including at least one expected value for an operational parameter in response to a known signal being applied to the electronic visual display.

86. The database according to claim 79, wherein said first identifier is further associated with a time of display of the visual content.

87. A database for verifying display of a visual content on an electronic visual display, said database comprising:

a first data element corresponding to a time of display of a visual content signal representative of the visual content; and

a second data element representative of a verification code displayed by a visual verification code signal in relation to the visual content signal and measured from the visual verification code signal, said first and second data elements being associated to provide a verification that the visual content was displayed on the electronic visual display.

88. The database according to claim 87, further comprising at least one third data element representative of an operational parameter of the electronic visual display associated in time with the display of the visual content.

89. The database according to claim 88, wherein said at least one third data element is derived from a measurement of the visual verification code signal.

90. The database according to claim 87, further comprising a verification identifier indicative of the success or failure of the visual content being displayed on the electronic visual display.

91. The database according to claim 90, wherein the verification identifier is indicative of the results of operation as indicated by said first and second data elements.

96. The method according to claim 91, further comprising storing the information determined from the measured visual verification code signal.

92. A method for determining visual content displayed on an electronic visual display, said method comprising:

displaying a visual verification code signal containing information associated with the visual content on the electronic visual display;

sensing the visual verification code signal displayed by the electronic visual display;

measuring the sensed visual verification code signal; and

determining the information associated with the measured visual verification code signal to determine the visual content displayed by the electronic visual display.

93. The method according to claim 92, wherein the information is a verification code.

94. The method according to claim 92, wherein the verification code is an alphanumeric value.

95. The method according to claim 94, wherein the alphanumeric value includes a timestamp.

97. The method according to claim 92, further comprising verifying color of the display of the visual content.

98. The method according to claim 92, further comprising verifying intensity of the display of the visual content.

99. A system for determining visual content displayed on an electronic visual display, said system comprising:

a first electronic circuit operable to modulate an optical signal with a verification code for display on a screen of the electronic visual display;

an optical sensor disposed in relation to the screen of the electronic visual display and operable to sense the modulated optical signal; and

at least one second electronic circuit in communication with the optical sensor and operable to determine the verification code from the sensed modulated optical signal.

100. The system according to claim 99, wherein the verification code is representative of alphanumeric characters.

101. The system according to claim 99, wherein said optical sensor is coupled to the electronic visual device.

102. The system according to claim 99, wherein the coupling includes an adhesive.

103. The system according to claim 99, wherein said optical sensor is disposed externally from the electronic visual display.

104. The system according to claim 99, wherein said first electronic circuit applies the optical signal to a region on the screen.

105. The system according to claim 99, wherein the electronic visual display is at least one of a cathode ray tube, plasma, light emitting diode, organic light emitting diode, and projection display.

106. The system according to claim 99, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the determined verification code.

107. The system according to claim 106, further wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.

108. The system according to claim 99, wherein the at least one second electronic circuit includes a processor operable to determine if the measured verification code is associated with a visual content signal expected to be displayed.

109. The system according to claim 99, wherein said at least one second electronic circuit is operable to verify color of the display of the visual content.

110. The system according to claim 99, wherein said at least one second electronic circuit is operable to verify intensity of the display of the visual content.

111. A method for producing a visual image for verification of visual content contained in the visual image being displayed on an electronic visual display, said method comprising:

forming a content identifier associated with the visual content;

generating a visual verification code signal based on the content identifier; and

communicating the visual verification code in relation to a visual content signal representative of the visual content for display on the electronic visual display.

112. The method according to claim 111, wherein said forming is performed automatically.

113. The method according to claim 111, further comprising applying the visual verification code signal to the visual content signal for simultaneous display.

114. A method for verifying output of sensory content by an electronic device, said method comprising:

converting a digital verification code signal to a sensory verification code signal, the digital verification code signal being representative of a verification code associated with the content;

outputting the sensory verification code signal in relation to a sensory content signal representative of the sensory content on the electronic device;

sensing the sensory verification code signal as output by the electronic device; and

based on the sensed sensory verification code signal, determining the verification code output to verify the output of the sensory content on the electronic device.

115. The method according to claim 114, wherein the outputting of the sensory content signal is in the form of an audio signal.

116. The method according to claim 114, wherein the outputting of the sensory content signal is in the form of a visual image.

117. The method according to claim 114, further comprising forming the verification code based on alphanumeric information associated with the sensory content.

118. The method according to claim 114, further comprising forming the sensory verification code signal automatically, the sensory verification code signal including a timestamp associated with time of communication or outputting of the sensory content signal.

119. The method according to claim 114, further comprising communicating the sensed sensory verification code signal across a network.

120. The method according to claim 114, wherein said converting includes:

receiving the digital verification code signal; and

modulating a sensory signal to form the sensory verification code signal.

121. A method for verifying output of sensory content, said method comprising:

communicating the sensory content via a sensory content signal to an electronic device for outputting between a start time and an end time;

recording a first indicator indicative of the occurrence of the communication of the sensory content signal to the electronic device;

outputting the sensory content signal between the start and end times;

sensing an operational parameter of the electronic device between the start and end times; and

recording a second indicator indicative of the sensed operational parameter, the first and second indicators providing for verification of the sensory content being displayed by the electronic device.

122. The method according to claim 121, wherein said outputting of the sensory content signal is in audio form.

123. The method according to claim 121, wherein said outputting of the sensory content signal is in video form.

124. The method according to claim 121, further comprising associating said first and second indicators by said recording of the first and second indicators.

125. The method according to claim 121, further comprising determining whether the sensed operational parameter is indicative of the sensory content being output.

126. The method according to claim 125, wherein said determining includes determining whether the sensory content is substantially properly output based on the sensed operational parameter and an expected operational parameter profile associated with said outputting of the sensory content signal.