Television viewer reaction determining systems
First Claim
1. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
- providing switching devices for receiving different reactions to said programs;
employing said switching devices for distinctly indicating different viewer reactions to said programs;
generally classifying part of said viewer reactions as reactions to unspecified displayed persons;
gathering said viewer reactions; and
identifying said unspecified persons from said gathered viewer reactions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Television viewer reaction determining systems generate distinct signals indicative of different viewer reactions to television programs. These systems generate a further signal identifying any of the mentioned distinct signals as indicative of a viewer reaction to an unspecified person appearing in any video program. The mentioned distinct and further signals are gathered, and the unspecified person is identified from such gathered signals. The gathering of the mentioned signals is preferably effected in real time within a tolerance corresponding to an average rate of change of persons appearing in the video programs.
286 Citations
81 Claims
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1. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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providing switching devices for receiving different reactions to said programs; employing said switching devices for distinctly indicating different viewer reactions to said programs; generally classifying part of said viewer reactions as reactions to unspecified displayed persons; gathering said viewer reactions; and identifying said unspecified persons from said gathered viewer reactions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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generating distinct electric signals indicative of different viewer reactions to said programs; generating a further electric signal identifying any of said distinct signals as indicative of a viewer reaction to an unspecified displayed person; gathering said distinct and further signals; and identifying said unspecified person from said gathered signals. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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providing on/off type push buttons; distinctly indicating viewer reactions originating with individual viewers; and
specifically identifying said viewer reactions in terms of said individual viewers, by having viewers each viewer selectively and simultaneously actuate more than one of said push buttons at a time. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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generating distinct electric signals indicative of different viewer reactions to said programs; generating a further electric signal identifying any of said distinct signals as originating with a particular viewer; and gathering said distinct and further signals essentially in real time by instantly transmitting each viewer reaction over a transmission channel to a remote location.
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12. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs broadcast over different television channels and displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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providing switching devices for receiving different reactions to said programs; employing said switching devices for distinctly indicating viewer reactions originating with individual viewers; determining for each viewer reaction the channel over which the program watched by the particular viewer is being broadcast; specifically identifying said viewer reactions in terms of said individual viewers and television channels; and gathering said viewer reactions essentially in real time by instantly transmitting each viewer reaction over a transmission channel to a remote location. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed to participating viewers by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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providing switching devices for receiving different reactions to said programs; employing said switching devices for distinctly indicating viewer reactions originating with individual viewers; specifically identifying said viewer reactions in terms of said individual viewers; generally classifying part of said viewer reactions as reactions to unspecified displayed persons; and identifying said unspecified persons from said classified part of said viewer reactions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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generating distinct electric signals indicative of different viewer reactions to said programs; generating a first further electric signal identifying any of said distinct signals as originating with a particular viewer; generating a second further electric signal identifying any of said distinct signals as indicative of a viewer reaction to an unspecified displayed person; and identifying said unspecified persons from said second further signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons and being broadcast over different television channels and displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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providing switching devices for receiving different reactions to said programs; employing said switching devices for distinctly indicating viewer reactions originating with individual viewers; determining for each viewer reaction the channel over which the program watched by the particular viewer is being broadcast; generally classifying part of said viewer reactions as reactions to unspecified displayed persons; and specifically identifying said viewer reactions and unspecified persons in terms of said individual viewers and said television channels. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. In a method of determining, in terms of different criteria, viewer reaction to video programs displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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providing a number of possible types of viewer reactions and indicating viewer reactions in terms of said possible types; providing distinct first electric signals representative of said indicated viewer reactions in terms of a first criterion; and providing distinct second electric signals representative of said indicated viewer reactions in terms of a second criterion, including the step of expressing said second signals in terms of a reaction to the performance of a person displayed in one of said video programs. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. In a method of determining viewer reaction to video programs displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:
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providing a plurality of input devices for selective actuation by viewers; having viewers selectively actuate said input devices, one at a time, to indicate different first viewer reactions; and having viewers selectively actuate said input devices, more than one at a time, to indicate different second viewer reactions. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. In apparatus for determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination:
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means for distinctly indicating different viewer reactions to said programs; means connected to said indicating means for generally classifying part of said viewer reactions as reactions to unspecified displayed persons; means connected to said indicating and classifying means for gathering said viewer reactions; and means connected to said gathering means for identifying said unspecified persons from said gathered viewer reactions. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. In apparatus for determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination:
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means for generating distinct signals indicative of different viewer reactions to said programs and for generating a further signal identifying any of said distinct signals as indicative of a viewer reaction to an unspecified displayed person; means connected to said generating means for gathering said distinct further signals; and means connected to said gathering means for identifying said unspecified persons from said gathered signals. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. In apparatus for determining viewer reaction to video programs displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising:
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means for generating distinct signals indicative of different viewer reactions to said programs; means combined with said generating means for generating a further signal identifying any of said distinct signals as originating with a particular viewer; and means connected to said means for generating distinct signals and said means for generating a further signal for gathering said distinct and further signals essentially in real time including means for instantly transmitting each viewer reaction over a transmission channel to a remote location.
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49. In apparatus for determining viewer reaction to video programs broadcast over different television channels and displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination:
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means for distinctly indicating viewer reactions originating with individual viewers; means for determining for each viewer reaction the channel over which the program watched by the particular viewer is being broadcast; means connected to said indicating and determining means for specifically identifying said viewer reactions in terms of said individual viewers and television channels; and means for gathering said viewer reactions essentially in real time including means for instantly transmitting each viewer reaction over a transmission channel to a remote location. - View Dependent Claims (50)
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51. In apparatus for determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed to participating viewers by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination:
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means for distinctly indicating viewer reactions originating with individual viewers; means for specifically identifying said viewer reactions in terms of said individual viewers; means for generally classifying part of said viewer reactions as reactions to unspecified displayed persons; and means connected to said classifying means for identifying said unspecified persons from said classified part of said viewer reactions. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. In apparatus for determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination:
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means for generating distinct signals indicative of different viewer reactions to said programs, for generating a first further signal identifying any of said distinct signals as originating with a particular viewer and for generating a second further signal identifying any of said distinct signals as indicative of a viewer reaction to an unspecified displayed person; and means connected to said generating means for identifying said unspecified persons from said second further signals. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. In apparatus for determining viewer reaction to video programs including persons being broadcast over different television channels and displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination:
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means for distinctly indicating viewer reactions originating with individual viewers; means for determining for each viewer reaction the channel over which the program watched by the particular viewer is being broadcast; means for generally classifying part of said viewer reactions as reactions to unspecified displayed persons; and means connected to said indicating, determining and classifying means for specifically identifying said viewer reactions and unspecified persons in terms of said individual viewers and said television channels. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61)
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62. In apparatus for determining, in terms of different criteria, viewer reaction to video programs displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination:
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means for indicating viewer reactions in terms of number of possible types of viewer reactions; means connected to said indicating means for providing distinct first signals representative of said indicated viewer reactions in terms of a first criterion, and means connected to said indicating means for providing distinct second signals representative of said indicated viewer reactions in terms of a second criterion, including means for expressing said second signals in terms of a reaction to the performance of a person displayed in one of said video programs. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. In apparatus for determining viewer reaction to video programs displayed by different video display sets, the improvement comprising in combination:
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a plurality of input devices for selective actuation by viewers; means connected to said input devices for indicating different first viewer reactions in response to actuation of said input devices, one at a time; and means connected to said input devices for indicating different second viewer reactions in response to actuation of more than one of said input devices at a time. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. In a unit for receiving viewer reactions to video programs, the improvement comprising in combination:
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a series of switching devices for receiving a number of possible types of viewer reactions; and a further switching device for indicating that any of said viewer reactions is a reaction to a person appearing in any of said video programs. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification