Radio frequency proximity detection and identification system and method

• US 20040027271A1
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Arbitron Inc. (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Lewis, Douglas L., Schuster, Paul R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• 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 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a critical band encoding technology (CBET) system having at least one portable people meter (PPM) and a home base station and/or household hub, the CBET system containing a radio frequency (RF) proximity detection and identification system, comprising at least one RF transmitter for receiving a control signal, modulating an RF signal to a present modulation frequency upon receipt of the control signal, and wireless transmitting the modulated signal; and an RF receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted modulated signal, determining the modulation frequency, and transmitting the modulation frequency to a remote location, wherein the transmission power of the RF transmitter is preset to transmit the modulated data within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) proximity detection and identification system, comprising:

at least one RF transmitter for receiving a control signal, modulating an RF signal to a preset modulation frequency upon receipt of the control signal, and wirelessly transmitting the modulated signal; and

an RF receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted modulated signal, determining the modulation frequency, and transmitting the modulation frequency to a remote location.

2. The RF proximity detection and identification system of claim 1, wherein a transmission power of the RF transmitter is preset to transmit the modulated signal within a predetermined range.

3. The RF proximity detection and identification system of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one RF transmitters are modulated to a different frequency.

4. A critical band encoding technology (CBET) system having at least one portable people meter (PPM) and a base unit, the CBET system containing a radio frequency (RF) proximity detection and identification system, comprising:

an RF transmitter located in each PPM for receiving a control signal, modulating an RF signal to a preset modulation frequency, and wirelessly transmitting the modulated signal; and

,

an RF receiver located in the base unit for receiving the wirelessly transmitted modulated signal, determining the modulation frequency, and transmitting the modulation frequency to a remote location.

5. The CBET system of claim 4, wherein the transmission power of the RF transmitter is preset to transmit the modulated system within a predetermined range.

6. The CBET system of claim 5, wherein the RF transmitter further comprises an RF modulator for receiving the control signal and outputting an RF signal modulated to a preset frequency.

7. The CBET system of claim 6, wherein the RF receiver further comprises an RF demodulator unit for receiving the wirelessly transmitted RF modulated signal, demodulating the received signal, and determining the modulation frequency of the received signal.

8. The CBET system of claim 4, wherein the RF transmitter located in each of the at least one PPM is modulated to a different frequency.

9. A radio frequency (RF) proximity detection and identification method comprising the steps of:

modulating an RF signal to a preset modulation frequency upon receipt of a control signal;

wirelessly transmitting the modulated signal from a transmitter;

receiving the wirelessly transmitted modulated signal;

determining the modulation frequency of the received signal; and

transmitting the modulation frequency to a remote location.

10. The RF proximity detection and identification method of claim 9, wherein a transmission power of the transmission of the modulated signal is preset to transmit within a predetermined range.

11. A critical band encoding technology (CBET) system having at least one portable people meter (PPM) and a base unit, the CBET system containing a radio frequency (RF) proximity detection and identification system, the RF proximity detection and identification system comprising:

an RF transmitter unit contained in each of the at least one PPM, comprising;

an RF modulation unit for receiving a control signal and modulating an RF signal to a preset modulation frequency; and

a transmitter for transmitting the modulated signal as an RF modulated signal; and

a receiver for receiving the transmitted modulated signal; and

an RF demodulator unit for demodulating the modulated signal, and determining the modulating frequency of the signal.

12. The RF proximity detection and identification system of claim 11, wherein the modulating frequencies are transmitted to a remote location for further processing.

13. The RF proximity detection and identification system of claim 12, wherein a transmission power of the transmitter is preset to transmit the modulated signal within a predetermined range.