Logging Individuals for TV Measurement Compliance
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for determining the TV viewing activities of an individual using a master device adjacent a TV and a tag carried by the individual, the method comprising:
- at the master device having memory and one or more processors;
detecting a plurality of audio signals from the TV;
in response to detecting the plurality of audio signals, generating a plurality of TV broadcast records, each TV broadcast record including an audio fingerprint derived from the plurality of audio signals;
detecting a plurality of heartbeat signals from the tag;
in response to detecting the plurality of heartbeat signals, generating a TV audience record for the individual, the TV audience record including a plurality of audience status update entries, wherein the plurality of audience status update entries keep track of the individual'"'"'s locations relative to the master device; and
sending the plurality of TV broadcast records and the TV audience record to a remote server, wherein the remote server is configured to correlate the plurality of TV broadcast records with the TV audience record to determine one or more TV programs watched by the individual.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A TV audience survey system for determining the TV viewing activities of a plurality of individuals in a household includes a master device and multiple tags, each tag assigned to an individual. After an individual logs into the system and starts watching the TV, the master device communicates with the corresponding tag repeatedly to accumulate data representing the individual'"'"'s TV viewing activities. Such data can be used to determine when the individual stops watching the TV for an extended period of time without logging out of the system and when the household member remains watching the TV after logging or being logged out of the system. The master device then reports the accumulated data to a remote server, which uses the data to determine whether the individual complies with the logging protocol defined by the TV audience survey system and update the TV viewership data associated with this household.
100 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for determining the TV viewing activities of an individual using a master device adjacent a TV and a tag carried by the individual, the method comprising:
at the master device having memory and one or more processors; detecting a plurality of audio signals from the TV; in response to detecting the plurality of audio signals, generating a plurality of TV broadcast records, each TV broadcast record including an audio fingerprint derived from the plurality of audio signals; detecting a plurality of heartbeat signals from the tag; in response to detecting the plurality of heartbeat signals, generating a TV audience record for the individual, the TV audience record including a plurality of audience status update entries, wherein the plurality of audience status update entries keep track of the individual'"'"'s locations relative to the master device; and sending the plurality of TV broadcast records and the TV audience record to a remote server, wherein the remote server is configured to correlate the plurality of TV broadcast records with the TV audience record to determine one or more TV programs watched by the individual. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A TV audience survey system, comprising:
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a tag, wherein the tag is carried by an individual; and a master device including memory and one or more processors, wherein the master device is located adjacent a TV, wherein the memory of the master device stores one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors of the master device, the one or more programs comprising instructions for; detecting a plurality of audio signals from the TV; in response to detecting the plurality of audio signals, generating a plurality of TV broadcast records, each TV broadcast record including an audio fingerprint derived from the plurality of audio signals; detecting a plurality of heartbeat signals from the tag; in response to detecting the plurality of heartbeat signals, generating a TV audience record for the individual, the TV audience record including a plurality of audience status update entries, wherein the plurality of audience status update entries keep track of the individual'"'"'s locations relative to the master device; and sending the plurality of TV broadcast records and the TV audience record to a remote server, wherein the remote server is configured to correlate the plurality of TV broadcast records with the TV audience record to determine one or more TV programs watched by the individual.
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19. A computer-implemented method for determining TV viewership data of individuals in a household equipped with a TV audience survey system, comprising:
at a computer server having memory and one or more processors; receiving a plurality of TV audience records from the TV audience survey system, wherein a respective TV audience record includes an individual'"'"'s TV viewing activities; receiving a plurality of TV broadcast records from the TV audience survey system, wherein a respective TV broadcast record includes an audio fingerprint derived from a TV program being broadcast at the household and an associated timestamp; and correlating the plurality of TV broadcast records with the plurality of TV audience records to determine TV viewership data for the individuals in the household, wherein the TV viewership data includes a plurality of TV audience measurement records, each record identifying a TV program broadcast at the household and one or more individuals that have watched the TV program. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A computer system for determining TV viewership data of individuals in a household equipped with a TV audience survey system, comprising:
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one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for; receiving a plurality of TV audience records from the TV audience survey system, wherein a respective TV audience record includes an individual'"'"'s TV viewing activities; receiving a plurality of TV broadcast records from the TV audience survey system, wherein a respective TV broadcast record includes an audio fingerprint derived from a TV program being broadcast at the household and an associated timestamp; and correlating the plurality of TV broadcast records with the plurality of TV audience records to determine TV viewership data for the individuals in the household, wherein the TV viewership data includes a plurality of TV audience measurement records, each record identifying a TV program broadcast at the household and one or more individuals that have watched the TV program.
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Specification