METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ENCODE AND DECODE AUDIO FOR SHOPPER LOCATION AND ADVERTISEMENT PRESENTATION TRACKING

• US 20100134278A1
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US) LLC (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: Nielsen Company (US) LLC (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Arun, Srinivasan, Venugopal, Topchy, Alexander Pavlovich
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to encode and decode audio for shopper location and advertisement presentation tracking are disclosed. A method for tracking a shopper includes receiving a first audio signal at a first location with a decoder attached to a shopping implement, determining a first code encoded in the first audio signal, receiving a second audio signal at a second location with the decoder, determining a second code encoded in the first audio signal, and transmitting the first code and the second code to a data retrieval device.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a shopper, the method comprising:

receiving a first audio signal at a first location with a decoder attached to a shopping implement;

determining a first code encoded in the first audio signal;

receiving a second audio signal at a second location with the decoder;

determining a second code encoded in the first audio signal; and

transmitting the first code and the second code to a data retrieval device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data retrieval device is integrated in a store checkout device.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising determining that the shopping implement was at the first location based on receiving the first code from the shopping implement.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving an identification of a person associated with the shopping implement.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the shopping implement is at least one of a shopping cart, a shopping basket, a shopping bag, or a portable electronic device.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data retrieval device is a store checkout device.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a shopper identification;

receiving purchase information; and

storing the first code, the second code, and the purchase information in association with the shopper identification.

8. A system for tracking a shopper, the system comprising:

a decoder attached to a shopping implement to receive a first audio signal at a first location, determine a first code encoded in the first audio signal, receive a second audio signal at a second location with the decoder, and determine a second code encoded in the first audio signal, and transmit the first code and the second code to a data retrieval device; and

the data retrieval device to receive the first code and the second code and to store the first code and the second code.

9. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the data retrieval device is integrated in a store checkout device.

10. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the data retrieval device is further to determine that the shopping implement was at the first location based on receiving the first code from the shopping implement.

11. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the data retrieval device is further to receive an identification of a person associated with the shopping implement.

12. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the shopping implement is at least one of a shopping cart, a shopping basket, a shopping bag, or a portable electronic device.

13. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the data retrieval device is a store checkout device.

14. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein the data retrieval device is further to:

receive a shopper identification;

receive purchase information; and

store the first code, the second code, and the purchase information in association with the shopper identification.

15. A machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to track a shopper by:

receiving a first audio signal at a first location with a decoder attached to a shopping implement;

determining a first code encoded in the first audio signal;

receiving a second audio signal at a second location with the decoder;

determining a second code encoded in the first audio signal; and

transmitting the first code and the second code to a data retrieval device.

16. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the data retrieval device is integrated in a store checkout device.

17. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to determine that the shopping implement was at the first location based on receiving the first code from the shopping implement.

18. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to receive an identification of a person associated with the shopping implement.

19. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the shopping implement is at least one of a shopping cart, a shopping basket, a shopping bag, or a portable electronic device.

20. A machine readable medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the data retrieval device is a store checkout device.

21-39. -39. (canceled)