METHODS AND APPARATUS TO METER VIDEO GAME PLAY

• US 20080318672A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Inventors: Peiffer, John C., Ramaswamy, Arun
• Granted Patent: US 8,430,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to meter video game play are described. An example apparatus to meter video game play includes a tag to be attached to a video game controller, the tag having a sensor to detect a user interaction with the video game controller. The apparatus also includes a meter to receive information reflecting the user interaction.

Claims

1. An apparatus to meter video game play, comprising:

a tag to be attached to a video game controller, the tag having a sensor to detect a user interaction with the video game controller; and

a meter to receive information reflecting the user interaction without affecting operation of a video game system to be controlled by the video game controller.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a filter to identify a motion detected by the sensor as unrelated to video game play.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first timer to cause the tag to periodically transmit the information to the meter.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, further comprising a second timer to cause the tag to transmit the information to the meter when a motion has been detected by the sensor during a time interval.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising an audio sensor to detect audio signals associated with the metered video game system.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the audio signals comprise at least one embedded audio code.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the audio signals comprise an audio signature.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the tag is removably attached to at least one of a body of the video game controller or a wire of the video game controller.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a liquid metal switch, an accelerometer, an electronic compass, or a motion sensor.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the video game controller comprises a motion detector to control the operation of the video game system.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the motion detector is housed within the video game controller, and wherein the sensor is externally mounted to at least one of a body of the video game controller or a wire of the video game controller,

10. A method of metering video game play, comprising:

detecting a user interaction with a video game controller via a sensor operatively attached to the video game controller;

timestamping the detected user interaction;

generating one or more signals representing information indicative of the timestamped user interaction; and

transmitting the one or more signals to a meter without affecting operation of a video game system to be controlled by the video game controller.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising transmitting data from the meter to a metering entity.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein detecting the user interaction further comprises detecting a magnitude of the movement of the controller.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising discarding the detected user interaction if the magnitude of the movement is less than a threshold value.

14. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising associating the user interaction with an identification number assigned to the sensor.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the identification number is at least locally unique.

16. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising detecting a status of the sensor and transmitting the status of the sensor to the meter.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising supplying a replacement monitor if the detected status is an inoperative status.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein detecting the status comprises detecting a battery status.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising supplying at least one replacement battery if the detected battery status is below a battery status threshold.

20. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein detecting the user interaction with the video game controller comprises monitoring at least three directions of movement.

21. A video game play tag, comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a video game controller;

a sensor carried by the housing to detect a user interaction with the controller; and

a transmitter to send information generated by the sensor to a remote device without affecting operation of a video game system to be controlled by the video game controller.

22. A video game play tag defined in claim 21, further comprising an identification number.

23. A video game play tag as defined in claim 21, wherein the housing comprises two interlocking halves to form an annular body.

24. A video game play tag as defined in claim 21, wherein the housing defines a central aperture to receive a wire of the video game controller.

25. A video game play tag as defined in claim 21, wherein the sensor is to detect at least one of an orientation, a tilt, a movement, or an acceleration of the controller.

26. A video game play tag as defined in claim 21, wherein the transmitter further comprises at least one of an optical transmitter, an acoustic transmitter, an ultrasonic transmitter, or a radio frequency transmitter.