Systems and Methods for Wirelessly Modifying Detection Characteristics of Portable Devices

• US 20140113557A1
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Arbitron Inc. (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Jain, Anand, Stavropoulos, John, Neuhauser, Alan, Lynch, Wendell, Kuznetsov, Vladimir, Crystal, Jack, Gish, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,992,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/00 Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD] real-time bi-directional transmission of motion video data H04N7/14 ; broadcast or conference over packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for modifying operation of a portable processing device configured to scan for wireless signals under a first scan rate. As wireless signals are received in the portable processing device, characteristics of the wireless signals are analyzed, and if the characteristics match one or more characteristics, the operation of the portable processing device is modified. Under one exemplary embodiment, the first scan rate is modified to a second scan rate, where the second scan rate being different from the first. Under another exemplary embodiment, monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device are activated or modified to collect research data on media data. The characteristics may include identification information or messages/commands that are transmitted wirelessly.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for modifying operation of a portable processing device configured to scan for wireless signals under a first scan rate, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first wireless signal in the portable processing device;

determining a characteristic of the first wireless signal;

processing the characteristic to determine if it conforms with a predetermined characteristic; and

modifying the operation of the portable processing device if the processing step determines that the characteristic conforms with the predetermined characteristic, wherein the modification comprises at least one of (i) modifying the first scan rate to a second scan rate, the second scan rate being different from the first, and (ii) activating monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device to collect research data on media data.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring capabilities comprise at least one of (i) detecting ancillary code and (ii) extracting audio signatures.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second scan rate is a higher rate than the first scan rate.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second wireless signal in the portable processing device;

determining a second characteristic of the second wireless signal and processing the second characteristic to determine if it confirms with a second predetermined characteristic;

performing a second modification on the operation of the portable processing device if the processing step determines that the second characteristic conforms with the second predetermined characteristic, wherein the modification comprises at least one of (i) modifying the second scan rate to a different scan rate, and (ii) modifying the activated monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device to collect research data on media data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising the step of confirming that the first wireless signal continues to be received after the second wireless signal is received.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristic comprises identification information of the sender of the first wireless signal.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristic comprises at least one of a message and command for the portable processing device.

8. A portable processing device configured to scan for wireless signals under a first scan rate, comprising:

a memory;

a microphone operatively coupled to the memory;

an input operatively coupled to the memory, wherein the input is configured to receive a first wireless signal; and

a processor, operatively coupled to the input, wherein the processor is configured to determine a characteristic of the first wireless signal and process the characteristic to determine if it conforms with a predetermined characteristic, and wherein the processor is further configured to modify the operation of the portable processing device if the characteristic conforms with the predetermined characteristic, wherein the modification comprises at least one of (i) modifying the first scan rate to a second scan rate, the second scan rate being different from the first, and (ii) activating monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device to collect research data on media data received via the microphone.

9. The portable processing device of claim 8, wherein the monitoring capabilities comprise at least one of (i) detecting ancillary code and (ii) extracting audio signatures.

10. The portable processing device of claim 8, wherein the second scan rate is a higher rate than the first scan rate.

11. The portable processing device of claim 8, wherein:

the input is configured to receive a second wireless signal in the portable processing device;

the processor is configured to determine a second characteristic of the second wireless signal and processing the second characteristic to determine if it confirms with a second predetermined characteristic; and

performing a second modification on the operation of the portable processing device if the processing step determines that the second characteristic conforms with the second predetermined characteristic, wherein the modification comprises at least one of (i) modifying the second scan rate to a different scan rate, and (ii) modifying the activated monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device to collect research data on media data.

12. The portable processing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to confirm that the first wireless signal continues to be received after the second wireless signal is received.

13. The portable processing device of claim 8, wherein the predetermined characteristic comprises identification information of the sender of the first wireless signal.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined characteristic comprises at least one of a message and command for the portable processing device.

15. A computer-implemented method for modifying operation of a portable processing device, comprising the steps of:

configuring the device to execute a first scan rate for detecting wireless signals

receiving a first wireless signal in the portable processing device;

determining a characteristic of the first wireless signal;

processing the characteristic to determine if it conforms with a predetermined characteristic;

detecting the presence of media data in the portable processing device; and

modifying the operation of the portable processing device if the processing step determines that the characteristic conforms with the predetermined characteristic, wherein the modification comprises at least one of (i) modifying the first scan rate to a second scan rate, the second scan rate being different from the first, and (ii) activating monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device to collect research data on the media data.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the monitoring capabilities comprise at least one of (i) detecting ancillary code and (ii) extracting audio signatures.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the second scan rate is a higher rate than the first scan rate.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second wireless signal in the portable processing device;

determining a second characteristic of the second wireless signal and processing the second characteristic to determine if it confirms with a second predetermined characteristic; and

performing a second modification on the operation of the portable processing device if the processing step determines that the second characteristic conforms with the second predetermined characteristic, wherein the modification comprises at least one of (i) modifying the second scan rate to a different scan rate, and (ii) modifying the activated monitoring capabilities in the portable processing device to collect research data on media data.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising the step of confirming that the first wireless signal continues to be received after the second wireless signal is received.