Method and apparatus for monitoring audio listening

• US 20070124757A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marguerite M. Breen
• Original Assignee: Marguerite M. Breen
• Inventors: Breen, Julian
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85

Abstract

A method and apparatus receive, detect, collect and analyze program-identifying (“PI”) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals. Each audio signal represents the sounds (audio portion) in a plurality of sequential program segments, such as program material or commercials. The method comprises the steps of receiving a selected one of the audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations; reproducing the sounds represented by the selected audio signal at each remote location; converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location; detecting the PI information from the second signal at each remote location; storing the detected PI information at each remote location; establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the PI information to the central computer; storing the PI information received from the plurality of remote locations at the aforesaid central computer; and analyzing the stored PI information to obtain a statistical estimate of the relative number of persons who listened to the sounds in each given program segment.

Claims

1. A method for receiving, detecting, collecting and analyzing program material-identifying (“

PMI”

) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of sequential program segments, each item of PMI information corresponding to a particular program segment, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving a selected one of said audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations;

(b) reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location;

(c) converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location;

(d) detecting the PMI information from the second signal at each remote location;

(e) storing the detected PMI information at each remote location;

(f) establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the PMI information to said central computer;

(g) storing the PMI information received from said plurality of remote locations at said central computer; and

(h) analyzing the stored PMI information.

2. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the date and time of receipt of said selected audio signal in association with said PMI information contained in said audio signal and transmitting said date and time to said central computer together with said PMI information.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein each remote location has an associated, location-identifying (“

LI”

) information, and further comprising the step of transmitting said LI information to said central computer when transmitting said PMI information from the respective remote location.

4. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of downloading instructions to said remote locations via said communication link.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said PMI information is inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

6. The method defined in claim 5, wherein said PMI information comprises a code.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said PMI information is audible information contained in said audio signals.

8. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the place of receipt of said PMI information in association with said PMI information and thereafter transmitting the place of receipt to said central station together with said PMI information.

9. The method defined in claim 8, wherein said step of storing the place of receipt comprises the step of determining said place of receipt by means of the global positioning system (GPS).

10. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the place of said remote location when establishing a communication link between said remote location and said central station, and transmitting said place to said central station together with said PMI information.

11. The method defined in claim 10, wherein said communication link includes a public cellular telephone network having a plurality of wireless transmission towers, and wherein said place of said remote location is determined by identifying the nearby wireless transmission tower which is employed in the communication link.

12. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said communication link is established in a public cellular telephone network, and wherein said PMI information is transmitted via said cellular telephone network to said central computer.

13. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said communication link is established by said central computer calling each remote location at periodic intervals.

14. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said communication link is established by each remote location calling said central computer at periodic intervals.

21. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said PMI information is analyzed to obtain a statistical estimate of the relative number of persons who listened to the sounds in each given program segment.

22. The method defined in claim 1, comprising:

reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location by means of a loudspeaker; and

converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location, by means of a microphone.

15. A portable apparatus for detecting, storing and forwarding program-material identifying (“

PMI”

) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of sequential program segments, each item of PMI information corresponding to a particular program segment, said apparatus comprising, in combination;

(a) means for converting the sounds represented by a selected one of said audio signals into a second electronic signal;

(b) means for detecting the PMI information from the second signal;

(c) means for storing the detected PMI information; and

(d) communication means for establishing a wireless communication link to a central computer via the public telephone network and for transmitting the PMI information to said central computer.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein means (a), (b) and (c) comprise a Portable People Meter (“

PPM”

).

17. The apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein said communication means comprises a cellular telephone device.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 15, further comprising a battery for powering electronic components in said apparatus and a battery charging device for periodically charging said battery.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 15, further comprising a global positioning receiver and detector for determining the location of said apparatus, and wherein said communication means includes means for transmitting the location of said apparatus to said central computer.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 15, further comprising means, connected to said communications means, for receiving and storing instructions from said central computer.

23. The portable apparatus defined in claim 15, wherein:

the communication means also transmits a current date and time, along with the PMI information.

24. A method for receiving, detecting, collecting and analyzing program segments contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of program segments arranged sequentially, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a selected one of said audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations;

(b) reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location, by means of a loudspeaker;

(c) converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location, by means of a microphone;

(d) detecting the program segments from the second signal at each remote location;

(e) storing the identity of the detected program segments at each remote location;

(f) establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the program segment information to said central computer;

(g) storing the program segment information received from said plurality of remote locations at said central computer; and

(h) analyzing the stored program segment information.

25. A cellular telephone adapted to detect, store and forward program material-identifying (“

PMI”

) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of sequential program segments, each item of PMI information corresponding to a particular program segment, said cellular telephone being responsive to the sounds represented by a selected one of said audio signals and comprising, in combination;

(a) a microphone for converting said sounds into a second electronic signal;

(b) a detector for detecting the PMI information from the second signal; and

(c) a memory for storing the detected PMI information;

wherein;

(d) the cellular telephone is configured to automatically transmit the PMI information to a central computer.

26. The cellular telephone defined in claim 25, wherein:

the cellular telephone is configured to also transmit a current date and time, along with the PMI information.

27. A method of measuring listenership of a particular program segment within broadcast audio signals, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving over a wireless network, from a plurality of wireless devices in the possession of persons at various locations, first signals comprising information sufficient to identify at least one program segment within broadcast audio signals emitted in the proximity of each such wireless device, said information being automatically determined from said broadcast audio signals; and

(b) analyzing the information.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said information is automatically determined from said broadcast audio signals and transmitted over said wireless cellular network without intervention by said persons.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of receiving date and time information corresponding to said at least one program segment of at least one such wireless device.

30. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of receiving geographical information corresponding to a location of at least one such wireless device.

31. The method according to claim 27, wherein said broadcast audio signals include inaudible information embedded therein.

32. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of downloading instructions to said wireless devices.

33. The method according to claim 27, wherein said first signals are received from at least one of said wireless devices at periodic intervals.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said at least one of said wireless devices is polled at periodic intervals.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein said at least one of said wireless devices calls at periodic intervals to provide said signals comprising information sufficient to identify at least one program segment.

36. The method according to claim 27, wherein each of said wireless devices comprises a cellular telephone.