Determining location of an audience member having a portable media monitor

• US 20030171833A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Arbitron Inc. (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Crystal, Jack C., Jensen, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,471,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/38 for identifying broadcast time or space
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for gathering data concerning media usage by predetermined audience members. An audience measurement code in acoustic energy produced by a media receiver is detected by a portable media monitor. The monitor also detects a location code produced in a vicinity of the media receiver.

Claims

1. A system for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences based on acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver, comprising:

a first acoustic transmitter emitting a first acoustic location code in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located, the first acoustic location code indicating a location of the media receiver; and

a portable media monitor capable of being carried on the person of an audience member, the portable media monitor comprising;

an acoustic transducer producing transducer output data in response to received acoustic energy, including acoustic energy from the media receiver and from the first acoustic transmitter;

an audience measurement code detector coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the transducer output data, the audience measurement code detector detecting audience measurement codes emitted acoustically from the media receiver based on the transducer output data and producing detected audience measurement code data based on the detected audience measurement codes;

a location code detector coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the transducer output data, the location code detector detecting the first acoustic location code emitted by the first acoustic transmitter based on the transducer output data and producing detected first location code data based on the detected first acoustic location code; and

a first communication device communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data to an audience estimate producing system for producing audience estimate data based on the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic transmitter emits the first acoustic location code so that it is inaudible.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first acoustic transmitter emits the first acoustic location code within an audible frequency range.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first acoustic transmitter evaluates a masking ability of ambient acoustic energy in the predetermined area to produce masking evaluation data, and establishes an amplitude of the first acoustic location code based on the masking evaluation data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the portable media monitor comprises a memory coupled with the audience measurement code detector and the location code detector to receive and store the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first communication device is coupled to the memory to communicate the stored detected audience measurement code data and detected first location code data to the audience estimate producing system.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first docking station coupled with the portable media monitor and having a second communication device in data communication with the first communication device of the portable media monitor, the first docking station having a third communication device, the first docking station receiving the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data from the first communication device via the second communication device and communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data to the audience estimate producing system via the third communications device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first docking station includes the first acoustic transmitter.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first docking station comprises a power supply coupled with the first acoustic transmitter to supply power thereto.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a hub having a fourth communications device coupled with a plurality of docking stations, including the first docking station, to receive audience measurement code data and location code data from the plurality of docking stations, including the detected audience measurement code data and detected first location code data from the first docking station, to communicate the received audience measurement code data and location code data therefrom to the audience estimate producing system.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second acoustic transmitter emitting a second acoustic location code in a predetermined area including the hub.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hub comprises a power supply coupled with the second acoustic transmitter to supply power thereto.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the audience measurement code detector and the location code detector comprise a processor detecting the audience measurement codes and the first acoustic location code based on the transducer output data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor detects the audience measurement codes and the first acoustic location code in accordance with a common, predetermined detection algorithm.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic transmitter is positioned in a household of a predetermined audience member, the system comprising a second acoustic transmitter emitting a second acoustic location code, the second acoustic transmitter being positioned at a location outside the household.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second acoustic transmitter is positioned in a vehicle used by the predetermined audience member.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second acoustic transmitter is positioned in a workplace of the predetermined audience member.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic transmitter emits the first acoustic location code asynchronously with audience measurement codes emitted by the media receiver.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic transducer comprises first and second acoustic transducers, the first acoustic transducer being coupled to the audience measurement code detector to supply the transducer output data thereto and the second acoustic transducer being coupled to the location code detector to supply the transducer output data thereto.

20. A method for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences based on acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver, comprising:

receiving acoustic energy in a portable media monitor, the acoustic energy including acoustic energy from a media data receiver and a first acoustic location code emitted acoustically from an acoustic transmitter in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located;

transducing the received acoustic energy to produce transduced output data;

detecting audience measurement codes based on the transduced output data;

producing detected audience measurement code data based on the detected audience measurement codes;

detecting the first acoustic location code based on the transduced output data;

producing detected first acoustic location code data based on the detected first acoustic location code; and

communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data to an audience estimate producing system for producing audience estimate data based on the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising emitting the first acoustic location code in the predetermined area.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising emitting the first acoustic location code so that it is inaudible.

23. The method of claim 22, comprising emitting the first acoustic location code so that it is within an audible frequency range.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising evaluating a masking ability of ambient acoustic energy in the predetermined area to produce masking evaluation data, and setting an amplitude of the emitted first acoustic location code based on the masking evaluation data.

25. The method of claim 20, comprising storing the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first acoustic location code data.

26. The method of claim 25, comprising communicating the stored detected audience measurement code data and detected first acoustic location code data to the audience estimate producing system.

27. The method of claim 20, comprising coupling the portable media monitor with a first docking station, communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first acoustic location code data from the portable media monitor to the docking station, and communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first acoustic location code data from the docking station to the audience estimate producing system.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising emitting the first acoustic location code from a first acoustic transmitter within the docking station.

29. The method of claim 28, comprising supplying power from the docking station to the first acoustic transmitter.

30. The method of claim 28, comprising communicating the detected audience measurement code data and detected first acoustic location code data from the docking station to a hub coupled with a plurality of docking stations, and communicating the detected audience measurement code data and detected first acoustic location code data from the hub to the audience estimate producing system.

31. The method of claim 20, comprising detecting the audience measurement codes and the first acoustic location code by means of a processor supplied with the transduced output data.

32. The method of claim 31, comprising detecting the audience measurement codes and the first acoustic location code using a common predetermined detection algorithm.

33. The method of claim 20, comprising emitting the first acoustic location code in a household of a predetermined audience member, emitting a second acoustic location code at a location outside the household, detecting the second acoustic location code using the portable media monitor to produce detected second acoustic location code data and communicating the second acoustic location code data to the audience estimate producing system from the portable media monitor.

34. The method of claim 33, comprising emitting the second acoustic location code in a vehicle used by the predetermined audience member.

35. The method of claim 33, comprising emitting the second acoustic location code in a workplace of the predetermined audience member.

36. The method of claim 20, comprising emitting the first acoustic location code asynchronously with the audience measurement codes emitted by the media receiver.

37. The method of claim 20, wherein transducing the received acoustic energy comprises receiving the acoustic energy in a transducer of the portable media monitor and supplying the transduced output data at an output of the transducer.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein receiving the acoustic energy in a transducer comprises receiving the acoustic energy in first and second transducers of the portable media monitor,

39. A portable media monitor for gathering data concerning media usage by a predetermined audience member, comprising:

an acoustic transducer operative to produce transducer output data in response to received acoustic energy including acoustic energy from a media receiver and a location code emitted acoustically from an acoustic transmitter in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located to indicate a location of the predetermined audience member in such predetermined area;

an audience measurement code detector coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the transducer output data, the audience measurement code detector being operative to detect audience measurement codes in the acoustic energy from the media receiver based on the transducer output data and to produce detected audience measurement code data based on the detected audience measurement codes;

a location code detector coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the transducer output data, the location code detector being operative to detect the location code based on the transducer output data and produce detected location code data based on the detected location code; and

a communication device for communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data for input to an audience estimate producing system.

40. The portable media monitor of claim 39, wherein the location code detector is operative to detect the location code based on transducer output data produced in response to acoustic energy emitted inaudibly by the acoustic transmitter.

41. The portable media monitor of claim 39, wherein the location code detector is operative to detect the location code based on transducer output data produced in response to acoustic energy within an audible frequency range.

42. The portable media monitor of claim 39, comprising a memory coupled with the audience measurement code detector and the location code detector to receive and store the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data.

43. The portable media monitor of claim 42, wherein the communication device is coupled to the memory to communicate the stored detected audience measurement code data and detected location code data to the audience estimate producing system.

44. The portable media monitor of claim 39, wherein the audience measurement code detector and the location code detector comprise a processor programmed to detect the audience measurement codes and the location code based on the transducer output data.

45. The portable media monitor of claim 44, wherein the processor is programmed to detect the audience measurement codes and the location code in accordance with a common, predetermined detection algorithm.

46. The portable media monitor of claim 39, wherein the location code detector is operative to detect the location code emitted asynchronously with the audience measurement codes emitted from the media receiver.

47. The portable media monitor of claim 39, wherein the acoustic transducer comprises first and second acoustic transducers, the audience measurement code detector being coupled with an output of the first acoustic transducer to receive the transducer output data therefrom and the location code detector being coupled with an output of the second acoustic transducer to receive the transducer output data therefrom.

48. A portable media monitor for gathering data concerning media usage by a predetermined audience member, comprising:

means for transducing acoustic energy to produce transduced output data;

means for detecting audience measurement codes present in the acoustic energy based on the transduced output data to produce detected audience measurement code data, the audience measurement codes being included in acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver;

means for detecting a first location code present in the acoustic energy based on the transduced output data to produce detected first location code data, the first location code being emitted acoustically from an acoustic transmitter in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located to indicate a location of a predetermined audience member in such predetermined area; and

first communication means for communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data for input to an audience estimate producing system.

49. The portable media monitor of claim 48, wherein the means for detecting the first location code is operative to detect the first location code emitted asynchronously with the audience measurement codes emitted from the media receiver.

50. The portable media monitor of claim 48, wherein the means for detecting the first location code is operative to detect the first location code based on transduced output data produced in response to acoustic energy emitted inaudibly by the acoustic transmitter.

51. The portable media monitor of claim 50, wherein the means for detecting the first location code is operative to detect the first location code within an audible frequency range, based on the transduced output data.

52. The portable media monitor of claim 48, comprising means for storing the detected audience measurement data and the detected first location code data.

53. The portable media monitor of claim 52, wherein the first communication means is operative to communicate the stored detected audience measurement data and detected first location code data to the audience estimate processing system.

54. The portable media monitor of claim 48, wherein the means for detecting audience measurement codes and the means for detecting the first location code comprise a processor programmed to detect the audience measurement codes and the first location code.

55. The portable media monitor of claim 54, wherein the processor is programmed to detect the audience measurement codes and the first location code in accordance with a common, predetermined detection algorithm.

56. A system for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences, comprising the portable media monitor of claim 48, and first acoustic transmitter means for emitting the first location code in the predetermined area.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the first acoustic transmitter means comprises means for evaluating a masking ability of ambient acoustic energy in the predetermined area to produce masking evaluation data, and means for setting an amplitude of the emitted first location code based on the masking evaluation data.

58. The system of claim 56, comprising a first docking station including means for receiving the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data from the first communication means of the portable media monitor and second communication means for communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected first location code data to the audience estimate producing system.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the first docking station includes the first acoustic transmitter.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the first docking station includes power supply means for supplying power to the first acoustic transmitter.

61. The system of claim 58, further comprising a hub coupled with a plurality of docking stations, including the first docking station, to receive audience measurement code data and location code data from the plurality of docking stations, including the detected audience measurement code data and detected first location code data from the first docking station, the hub including third means for communicating the received audience measurement code data and location code data to the audience estimate producing system.

62. The system of claim 61, further comprising second acoustic transmitter means for emitting a second acoustic location code in a predetermined area including the hub

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the hub comprises power supply means for supplying power to the second acoustic transmitter means.

64. The system of claim 56, wherein the first acoustic transmitter means is positioned in a household of a predetermined audience member, the system comprising second acoustic transmitter means for emitting a second acoustic location code, the second acoustic transmitter means being positioned at a location outside the household.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the second acoustic transmitter means is positioned in a vehicle used by the predetermined audience member.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein the second acoustic transmitter means is positioned in a workplace of the predetermined audience member.

67. The system of claim 48, wherein the means for transducing acoustic energy comprises first and second acoustic transducers, the means for detecting audience measurement codes being coupled with the first acoustic transducer to receive the transduced output data therefrom and the means for detecting a first location code being coupled to the second acoustic transducer.

68. An acoustic location code emitter, comprising:

code producing means for emitting an acoustic location code within an audible frequency range; and

monitor means for monitoring ambient acoustic energy in a predetermined area in which the code producing means is located to produce ambient acoustic energy data;

the code producing means being operative to establish an amplitude of the acoustic location code in response to the ambient acoustic energy data such that the acoustic location code is masked by the ambient acoustic energy.

69. The acoustic location code emitter of claim 68, wherein the code producing means is operative to produce an acoustic location code representing a location of a media receiver.

70. The acoustic location code emitter of claim 69, wherein the acoustic location code is formatted to be decoded by a portable media monitor carried on the person of an audience member.

71. The acoustic location code emitter of claim 68, wherein the code producing means is operative to produce an acoustic location code having at least one code symbol comprising a plurality of predetermined frequency components.

72. The acoustic location code emitter of claim 71, wherein the means for producing an acoustic location code is operative to produce each of the plurality of predetermined frequency components having a fixed frequency.

73. A method for producing an acoustic location code, comprising:

emitting an acoustic location code within an audible frequency range and at an emission location;

monitoring ambient acoustic energy in a predetermined area including the emission location to produce ambient acoustic energy data; and

establishing an amplitude of the acoustic location code in response to the ambient acoustic energy data such that the acoustic location code is masked by the ambient acoustic energy.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the acoustic location code represents a location of a media receiver.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the acoustic location code is formatted to be decoded by a portable media monitor carried on the person of an audience member.

76. An acoustic location code emitter, comprising:

a code emitter operative to emit an acoustic location code within an audible frequency range;

a transducer having an input to receive ambient acoustic energy in a predetermined area in which the code emitter is located and operative to produce transduced ambient acoustic energy data; and

a processor having an input coupled with the transducer to receive the transduced ambient acoustic energy data and operative in response to the ambient acoustic energy data to establish an amplitude of the acoustic location code such that the acoustic location code is masked by the ambient acoustic energy.

77. A portable media monitor for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences based on acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver, the portable media monitor capable of being carried on the person of an audience member, the portable media monitor comprising:

acoustic transducer means for producing transducer output data in response to received acoustic energy including acoustic energy from a media receiver;

audience measurement code detector means for detecting audience measurement codes emitted acoustically from the media receiver based on the transducer output data to produce detected audience measurement code data;

location code detector means for detecting a location code transmitted wirelessly in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located, to produce detected location code data; and

communication means for communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data to an audience estimate producing system for producing audience estimate data based on the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data.

78. A system for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences, comprising the portable media monitor of claim 77, and a wireless transmitter means for transmitting the location code wirelessly in the predetermined area.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the wireless transmitter means comprises a radio frequency transmitter means for transmitting the location code as a radio frequency transmission.

80. The system of claim 78, wherein the wireless transmitter means comprises an acoustic transmitter means for transmitting the location code as acoustic energy.

81. The portable media monitor of claim 77, wherein the location code detector means comprises radio frequency receiver means for receiving a location code transmitted as a radio frequency transmission.

82. The portable media monitor of claim 81, comprising means for supplying power to operate the radio frequency receiver means in response to detection of an audience measurement code by the audience measurement code detector means.

83. The portable media monitor of claim 77, wherein the location code detector means comprises means for receiving a location code transmitted acoustically.

84. A method for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences based on acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver, comprising:

transducing acoustic energy received by a portable media monitor to produce transduced output data;

detecting audience measurement codes emitted acoustically from a media receiver based on the transduced output data to produce detected audience measurement code data;

detecting a wirelessly transmitted location code in the portable media monitor to produce detected location code data, the location code being transmitted wirelessly in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located; and

communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data to an audience estimate producing system for producing audience estimate data based on the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data.

85. The method of claim 84, comprising transmitting the location code wirelessly in the predetermined area.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein transmitting the location code comprises transmitting a radio frequency location code, and detecting the wirelessly transmitted location code comprises receiving the radio frequency location code.

88. The portable media monitor of claim 86, wherein the location code detector comprises a radio frequency receiver for receiving a location code transmitted as a radio frequency transmission.

89. A system for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences, comprising the portable media monitor of claim 86, and a wireless data transmitter operative to transmit the location code wirelessly in the predetermined area.

87. A portable media monitor for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences based on acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver, the portable media monitor capable of being carried on the person of an audience member, the portable media monitor comprising:

an acoustic transducer operative to produce transducer output data in response to received acoustic energy including acoustic energy from a media receiver;

an audience measurement code detector coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the transducer output data, the audience measurement code detector being operative to detect audience measurement codes emitted acoustically from the media receiver based on the transducer output data and to produce detected audience measurement code data based thereon;

a location code detector operative to detect a location code transmitted wirelessly in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located and to produce detected location code data based thereon; and

a communication device for communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data to an audience estimate producing system for producing audience estimate data based on the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data.