METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ADAPTIVELY SELECT SENSOR(S) TO GATHER AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT DATA BASED ON A VARIABLE SYSTEM FACTOR AND A QUANTITY OF DATA COLLECTIBLE BY THE SENSORS

• US 20100299689A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• 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, Mears, Paul M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,020,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/50 characterised by the use of watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/90 characterised by the use of signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/241 Operating system [OS] processes, e.g. server setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• 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 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 : Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 : Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 : directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to adaptively gather audience information data are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus monitor system factor(s) and select one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors positioned to gather audience measurement data based on the monitored factor(s). Thus, the disclosed methods and apparatus adapt to the conditions they face by selecting an amount and/or type of audience measurement data they gather.

Claims

1. A method of gathering audience measurement data comprising:

monitoring a variable system factor reflecting a current system condition;

summing an amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by a plurality of sensors located to develop the audience measurement data at a local site, the plurality of sensors being located at the same local site;

adaptively selecting, using a processor, at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on a comparison involving (a) the variable system factor and (b) the amount of data per unit of time that that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors to adapt to the current system condition; and

storing the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one of ignoring or discarding data developed from a sensor in the plurality of sensors at the local site that is not one of the at least one selected sensor.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the variable system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) available bandwidth of a communication link between the local site and a remote site, (b) available storage capacity at the local site, (c) available storage capacity at the remote site, (d) processing speed associated with a processor at the local site, and (e) processing speed associated with a processor at the remote site.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the amount of data per unit of time comprises a number of bytes of data per unit of time.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of:

(a) an audio code sensor, (b) a video code sensor, (c) an audio signature sensor, (d) a video signature sensor, (e) a software meter sensor, (f) a digital bitstream sensor;

(g) an on-screen display sensor;

(h) an AMOL decoder;

(i) an audio watermarking sensor; and

(j) a video watermarking sensor.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising selecting the at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on at least one of:

(a) a presence of an audio code, (b) a presence of a video code, (c) audible noise at the local site, and (d) a condition of a set top box.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising transmitting the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor from a local site to a remote site.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising selecting a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein selecting a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality comprises selecting the preference ranking based on a fixed system factor.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

11. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising selecting a rule defining a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality from a set of rules defining a set of preference rankings for the sensors in the plurality.

12. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein selecting a rule defining a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality from a set of rules comprises selecting the rule based on a fixed system factor.

13. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

14. A tangible computer-readable medium storing machine readable instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

monitor a variable system factor;

sum an amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by a plurality of sensors located to develop the audience measurement data at a local site;

adaptively select at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on a comparison involving (a) the variable system factor and (b) the number of bytes of data per unit of time that that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors; and

capture the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor.

15. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to at least one of ignore or discard data developed from a sensor in the plurality of sensors that is not one of the at least one selected sensor.

16. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the variable system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) available bandwidth of a communication link between a local site and a remote site, (b) available storage capacity at the local site, (c) available storage capacity at the remote site, (d) processing speed associated with a processor at the local site, and (e) processing speed associated with a processor at the remote site

17. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors comprises a number of bytes of audience measurement data that that is currently capable of being collectively gathered from the plurality of sensors.

18. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of:

(a) an audio code sensor, (b) a video code sensor, (c) an audio signature sensor, (d) a video signature sensor, (e) a software meter sensor, (f) a digital bitstream sensor;

(g) an on-screen display sensor;

(h) an AMOL decoder;

(i) an audio watermarking sensor; and

(j) a video watermarking sensor.

19. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein, when executed, the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to select the at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on at least one of:

(a) a presence of an audio code, (b) a presence of a video code, (c) audible noise at the local site, and (d) a condition of a set top box.

20. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to transmit the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor from a local site to a remote site.

21. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to store the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor in a local storage device.

22. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to:

transmit the data developed by the at least one selected sensor; and

store the data developed by the at least one selected sensor in a remote storage device.

23. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to select a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality.

24. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 23 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to select the preference ranking based on a fixed system factor.

25. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 24 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

26. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 14 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to select a rule defining a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality from a set of rules defining a set of preference rankings for the sensors in the plurality.

27. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 26 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to select the rule based on a fixed system factor.

28. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 27 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

29. An apparatus to gather audience measurement data comprising:

a plurality of sensors located at a local site to gather audience measurement data;

a switch coupled to the sensors to selectively connect the sensors to an output in communication with a remote site; and

a sensor selector to select which of the sensors the switch connects to the output based on a comparison involving (a) an amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being collectively gathered by the plurality of sensors and (b) at least one variable system factor monitored at the remote site, wherein the sensor selector is to route data collected from one or more of the sensors to the remote site based on the comparison.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein the amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being collectively gathered by the plurality of sensors represents a number of bytes of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being collectively gathered by the plurality of sensors.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein the switch has a first state in which a first set of the sensors in the plurality are connected to the output and a second state in which a second set of the sensors in the plurality are connected to the output.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein the variable system factor comprises a currently available bandwidth of a communication link between the local site and the remote site, and wherein the sensor selector further comprises:

a bandwidth sensor to estimate a currently available bandwidth of a communication link between the local site and the remote site; and

a storage monitor to determine, based on the estimate of currently available bandwidth and an expected rate of data growth, if one or more storage devices have capacity to store at least a subset of data output by one or more of the plurality of sensors.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein the variable system factor comprises an available storage capacity at the local site.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein the variable system factor comprises an available storage capacity at the remote site, wherein the sensor selector is to determine an amount of available storage capacity allocated at the remote site for data collected at the local site, and wherein the sensor selector is to calculate an expected rate of data collection to determine whether the allocated storage capacity at the remote site is sufficient for data collected from one or more of the plurality of sensors at the local site.

35. An apparatus as defined in 29 further comprising a weighting selector to select a preference ranking for the plurality of sensors based on a fixed system factor.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 35 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.