Systems and Methods to Wirelessly Meter Audio/Visual Devices

• US 20090222848A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Arun
• Granted Patent: US 8,763,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/63 to plural spots in a confined site, e.g. MATV [Master Antenna Television]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/50 characterised by the use of watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

Example systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual (A/V) devices are disclosed. A disclosed example method receives media content from an A/V source device, embeds a video overlay in the wirelessly received media content, and wirelessly transmits the media content and the video overlay to the wireless A/V device. The example method wirelessly receives audience identification information in response to the transmitted video overlay, and wirelessly receives audience behavior information.

Claims

1. A method of wireless audio/visual (A/V) device metering comprising:

receiving media content from an A/V source device;

embedding a video overlay in the wirelessly received media content;

wirelessly transmitting the media content and the video overlay to the wireless A/V device;

wirelessly receiving audience identification information in response to the transmitted video overlay; and

wirelessly receiving audience behavior information.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media content is received as an A/V signal having an audio portion and a video portion.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the A/V signal is at least one of a set-top box A/V signal, a video game console A/V signal, a video cassette recorder (VCR) A/V signal, a digital video recorder (DVR) A/V signal, or a digital versatile disk (DVD) A/V signal.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the A/V signal is converted to a radio frequency (RF) signal.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the RF signal is transmitted as an 802.11 compliant signal.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the video overlay comprises an audience identification request.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising removing the embedded video overlay after wirelessly receiving audience identification information.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving audience behavior information comprises receiving at least one of an embedded watermark, channel change information, or volume change information.

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17. A system to meter a wireless audio/visual (A/V) device comprising:

an A/V source device to provide media content;

a wireless interface to embed an audience message in the media content and wirelessly transmit the audience message and media content to the wireless A/V device;

a mobile device interface to receive audience information and media content from the A/V device; and

a data acquisition interface to receive the audience information.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the A/V source device comprises at least one of a set-top box, a video game console, a digital versatile disk (DVD) player, a digital video recorder (DVR), or a video cassette recorder (VCR).

19. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the wireless interface comprises a wireless user identifier to receive the media content and embed the audience message therein.

20. A system as defined in claim 19, wherein the wireless user identifier comprises a timer to embed the audience message in the media content on a periodic basis.

21. A system as defined in claim 19, wherein the wireless user identifier comprises a bitmap generator to store a plurality of bitmap images.

22. A system as defined in claim 19, wherein the wireless user identifier comprises a position controller to adjust a display position of the audience message.

23. A system as defined in claim 19, wherein the wireless user identifier comprises a radio frequency (RF) receiver to receive a signal indicative of audience member identity.

24. A system as defined in claim 23, wherein the wireless user identifier removes the audience message from the media content if the signal indicative of audience member identity is received.

25. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the wireless interface comprises a wireless access point to convert the media content to a radio frequency (RF) signal.

26. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the mobile device interface comprises:

a microphone to receive an audio signal from the A/V device;

an infra-red (IR) receiver to receive an IR signal from an audience remote control; and

an RF modulator to modulate at least one of the audio signal or the IR signal to an RF signal.

27. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein the wireless interface comprises a wireless microphone receiver to receive the RF signal from the mobile device interface.

28. A system as defined in claim 27, wherein the wireless microphone receiver comprises an RF demodulator to demodulate the received RF signal, the demodulated signal transmitted to the data acquisition interface.

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39. An apparatus to acquire data from wireless televisions comprising:

a home interface unit to meter audience behavior data; and

a wireless television interface unit operatively connected to a wireless television to transmit and receive signals from the wireless television, the wireless television interface unit further adapted to acquire and transmit the audience behavior data to the home interface unit.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein a central data store receives the audience behavior data from the home interface unit.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein the home interface unit comprises a data meter.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein the wireless television interface unit comprises one or more of a wireless access point, a wireless user identifier (WUI), a wireless microphone transmission device, a wireless microphone receiving device, and an audience control device.

43. An apparatus as defined in claim 42 wherein the wireless access point comprises a transmitter and receiver for transmitting and receiving audio-visual signals via an 802.11-type format.

44. An apparatus as defined in claim 42 wherein the WUI comprises at least one of a video overlay module, a radio frequency (RF) receiver, an RF to infra-red (IR) converter, or a bitmap generator.

45. An apparatus as defined in claim 44, wherein the WUI is a peoplemeter.

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