SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING AN AUDIENCE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A metering system for measuring an audience, said system comprising:
- (i) one or more light sources directed in the direction of said audience;
(ii) one or more light detectors for detecting reflections of said one or more light sources from said audience to form an image representing eyes in said audience;
(iii) a scanning module to direct said one or more light sources and said one or more light detectors at narrow portions of said audience at a time;
(iv) a scanning controller for driving said scanning module; and
(v) a processing unit for analyzing the images received on said one or more light detectors to form an image representing said audience eyes and to identify and count the number of eyes on said image.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for measuring an audience by: directing a light source in the direction of the audience; detecting reflections of the light source from the audience by a light detector in order to form an image representing the audience eyes; and analyzing the image received on the light detector to identify and count the number of eyes on the image. Preferably, the analyzed information is communicated to a remote facility. The light source can be in the visible spectrum, infrared (IR) spectrum or even ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. The reflected light from the retina or cornea is then captured by a light detector.
24 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A metering system for measuring an audience, said system comprising:
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(i) one or more light sources directed in the direction of said audience; (ii) one or more light detectors for detecting reflections of said one or more light sources from said audience to form an image representing eyes in said audience; (iii) a scanning module to direct said one or more light sources and said one or more light detectors at narrow portions of said audience at a time; (iv) a scanning controller for driving said scanning module; and (v) a processing unit for analyzing the images received on said one or more light detectors to form an image representing said audience eyes and to identify and count the number of eyes on said image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for counting an audience, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) directing one or more light sources in the direction of said audience; (ii) detecting reflections of said one or more light sources by one or more light detectors in order to form an image representing eyes in said audience; (iii) scanning the audience by directing said one or more light sources and said one or more light detectors at narrow portions of said audience at a time; and (iv) analyzing images received on said one or more light detectors to form an image representing said audience eyes and to identify and count the number of eyes on said image. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An advertising method for sending commercial advertisements to an audience in front of a television set, the method comprising the steps of:
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(i) detecting the presence of at least one viewer in front of said television set; and (ii) sending an advertisement to said television set only when said at least one viewer is detected. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification