METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETECT CARRYING OF A PORTABLE AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT DEVICE

• US 20100077420A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Nelson, Daniel J., Nielsen, Christen V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,843,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• 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

Methods and apparatus to detect carrying of a portable audience measurement device are disclosed herein. An example portable audience measurement device includes a housing; a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data; an attachment mechanism coupled to the housing to secure the housing to a person; and a sensor to detect a status of the attachment mechanism to enable determination of whether the device is being carried by the person.

Claims

1. A portable audience measurement device, comprising:

a housing;

a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data;

an attachment mechanism coupled to the housing to secure the housing to a person; and

a sensor to detect a status of the attachment mechanism to enable determination of whether the device is being carried by the person.

2. A portable device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a spring and the sensor is coupled to the spring.

3. A portable device as defined in claim 2, wherein the sensor detects a tension of the spring indicative of whether the attachment mechanism is attached to an object.

4. A portable device as defined in claim 2, wherein the sensor comprises a strain gauge.

5. A portable device as defined in claim 2, wherein the spring biases an arm of the attachment mechanism away from the housing, and further comprising a clasp to secure the attachment mechanism in a closed position.

6. A portable device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises an elongated arm to contact the housing in a closed position, and wherein the sensor comprises a first sensor disposed on a face of an end of the elongated arm and a second sensor disposed on the enclosure in juxtaposition with the first sensor such that the first and second sensors cooperate to detect closure of the attachment mechanism.

7. A portable device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a spring and an elongated arm to contact the housing in a closed position, wherein the sensor comprises a first sensor disposed on a face of an end of the elongated arm and a second sensor disposed on the enclosure in juxtaposition with the first sensor such that the first and second sensors cooperate to detect closure of the attachment mechanism, and a third sensor coupled to the spring, wherein the third sensor detects a tension of the spring indicative of whether the attachment mechanism is attached to an object.

8. A portable device as defined in claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a hinge and the sensor is coupled to the hinge.

9. A portable device as defined in claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises a rotary indicator to indicate an angular position of the hinge.

10. A portable device as defined in claim 9, wherein the rotary indicator comprises a light source and a photodetector, wherein the photodetector is to sense light conveyed from the light source through a pattern disc onto the photodetector.

11. A portable meter as defined in claim 1, further comprising a compliance detector to calculate a likelihood that the device was being worn by the person during a period of time based on an output of the sensors.

12. A portable meter as defined in claim 11, wherein the compliance detector is to credit the media exposure data collected during the period of time when the likelihood is greater than a threshold.

13. A portable meter as defined in claim 11, wherein the compliance detector is to not credit the media exposure data when the likelihood is less than a threshold.

14. A portable meter as defined in claim 11, wherein the likelihood comprises a primary likelihood based on information gathered by the sensor, wherein the compliance detector adjusts the primary likelihood based on an output of a secondary sensor indicative of a position of the attachment mechanism.

15. A method of detecting wearing of a portable audience measurement device, comprising:

determining whether an attachment mechanism is in a position indicative of the device being worn by a person;

calculating a frequency of indications that the device is being worn by the person for a period of time; and

calculating a likelihood that the device is being worn by the person based on the frequency.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising comparing the likelihood to a threshold.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising generating a message of non-compliance in response to determining that the likelihood is lower than the threshold.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising comparing a time of the last detected actuation of the attachment mechanism to a threshold in response to determining that the attachment mechanism is in a position indicating that the device is not being worn by the person.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising generating a message of non-compliance in response to determining that the time is greater than the threshold.

20. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising using the likelihood to determine whether collected media measurement information is to be credited.

21. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein a change in a status of the attachment mechanism as detected by a sensor indicates actuation of the attachment mechanism by the person.

22. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising conveying the calculated likelihood to a central facility.

23. A method of crediting audience measurement data, comprising:

collecting audience measurement data with a portable device;

sensing a first position of an attachment mechanism of the portable device using a primary sensor;

calculating a likelihood that the attachment mechanism is attached to an object based on information related to the first position of the attachment mechanism;

sensing a second position of the attachment mechanism using a secondary sensor;

adjusting the likelihood that the attachment mechanism is attached to the object based on the second position of the attachment mechanism; and

invalidating the audience measurement data for a time period the likelihood for the time period is below a threshold.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the primary sensor comprises at least one of a strain gauge coupled to a spring of the attachment mechanism, a rotary indicator coupled to a hinge of the attachment mechanism, a first contact sensor coupled to the body of the device, and a second contact sensor coupled to an arm of the attachment mechanism.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein the strain gauge is to detect a force applied to the attachment mechanism, the rotary encoder is to detect an angular position of the hinge, and the first and second contact sensors are to detect whether the arm of the attachment mechanism is in contact with the body of the device.