AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AUDIENCE INFORMATION OF A MEDIA PRESENTATION

• US 20080155583A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Media Instruments S.A.
• Inventors: FALCON, Fernando Diego
• Granted Patent: US 8,359,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• 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

Abstract

Audience measurement methods and systems for producing audience information of a media presentation. At least one embodiment includes a moveable apparatus comprising an audio capturing means for picking up audio from a media presentation distributed to an audience through at least one media rendering device to produce an audio signal, processing means for processing the audio signal to derive the content identification information, user interface means for entering the presence information of panel members, memory means to store the content identification information and the presence information, and communication means for transmitting the content identification information and the presence information for further processing to generate audience information.

Claims

1. A moveable apparatus for capturing content identification information and presence information declared by at least one panel member, comprising:

audio capturing means for picking up audio from a media presentation distributed to an audience through at least one media rendering device to produce an audio signal;

processing means for processing the audio signal to derive the content identification information;

user interface means for entering the presence information of panel members;

memory means to store the content identification information and the presence information; and

communication means for transmitting the content identification information and the presence information for further processing to generate audience information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface means comprises:

a keyboard for entering the presence information of panel members; and

at least one feedback signaling means for providing feedback to the panel members about the presence information.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the keyboard comprises a set of member keys.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the keyboard a set of guest keys.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the keyboard comprises keys for entering gender information.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the keyboard comprises keys for entering age information.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the keyboard further comprises keys for entering session attribute information.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the feedback signalling means comprises a visual indicator arrangement.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the visual indicator arrangement displays a plurality of visible items, wherein each one of the visible items is exclusively assigned to a distinct panel member.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the visual indicator arrangement comprises a plurality of light emitting devices.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the visual indicator arrangement comprises a graphic display.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the audio capturing means comprises a microphone.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication means comprises a data port for exchanging data with a host device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication means comprises a wireless data link for exchanging data with a host device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is included in a palmar device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is powered by a battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the feedback signaling means comprises an acoustic transducer adapted to generate an audible stimulus.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the audible stimulus comprises a voice message.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media presentation is a television program.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media presentation is a radio program.

21. An audience measurement system for producing audience information of a media presentation distributed to an audience through a plurality of media rendering devices, the system comprising:

a moveable apparatus for capturing content identification information and presence information declared by at least one panel member, comprising

audio capturing means for picking up audio from a media presentation distributed to an audience through at least one media rendering device to produce an audio signal;

processing means for processing the audio signal to derive the content identification information;

user interface means for entering the presence information of panel members;

memory means to store the content identification information and the presence information; and

communication means for transmitting the content identification information and the presence information for further processing to generate audience information.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a host device comprising means for exchanging data with the apparatus via the communication means.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the host device further comprises means for recharging the battery of the apparatus.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the host device is a docking station.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the media presentation is a television program.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the media presentation is a radio program.

27. A method for producing audience information to a media presentation by means of at least one media presentation device, the audience information being captured through a moveable apparatus, the method comprising:

placing the moveable apparatus in proximity of one of the at least one media presentation device to pick up audio from the media presentation;

generating at the moveable apparatus an audio signal from the picked-up audio;

processing the audio signal to extract content identification information from the audio signal;

capturing presence information of at least one panel member;

transmitting the content identification information and the presence information to a remotely located processing centre; and

,

processing the content identification information and the presence information to generate the audience information.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising providing feedback about the presence information to the at least one panel member.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing feedback further comprises providing feedback by means of an arrangement of visual indicators included in the moveable apparatus.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the providing feedback by means of an arrangement of visual indicators further comprises providing feedback by means of at least one of the visual indicators providing feedback about at least one panel member.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing feedback further comprises providing feedback using visual indicators realized through a graphic display.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the capturing presence information further comprises capturing presence information by declaration by means of a keyboard layout included in the moveable apparatus.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein capturing presence information by declaration further comprises performing the declaration, by the at least one panel member, by activating a distinct respective key.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising entering session attribute information.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the entering further comprises entering the session attribute information by activating a set of session attribute keys.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the entering further comprises entering session attribute information about a type of media presentation device.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the processing of the audio signal comprises deriving signatures from the audio signal.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the processing of the audio signal comprises deriving identification codes previously inserted in the audio signal.

39. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing feedback further comprises generating an audible stimulus.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the generating comprises generating a stimulus that comprises a recorded voice message.

41. A moveable apparatus for capturing content identification information and presence information declared by at least one panel member, comprising:

an audio capturing element adapted to pick up audio from a media presentation distributed to an audience through at least one media rendering device to produce an audio signal;

a processor connected to the audio capturing element and configured to process the audio signal to derive the content identification information;

a user interface in communication with the processor and adapted for entry of the presence information of panel members;

a memory connected to the processor and configured to store the content identification information and the presence information; and

a communication element connected to the processor and adapted to transmit the content identification information and the presence information for further processing to generate audience information.