Automated receiver monitoring method and apparatus

• US 5,278,988 A
• Filed: 06/14/1991
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: A. C. Nielsen Company, LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Dejean, Jean P., Straub, Ken, Zurlinden, Everett, Massetti, Enrico
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charouel, Lisa
• Application Number:
  US07/715,366
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/2, 455/6.3, 455/67.1, 358/84
• US Class Current: 455/2.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/50 of broadcast or relay stations

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for determining a particular transmitting station from which program signals are received and translated by a monitored receiver within a test area and including mobile receivers. A stored transmitter characteristic table includes a corresponding transmitting station identification stored with a predefined subarea of a plurality of predefined subareas within the test area for each predetermined tuned frequency of the monitored receiver. A tuned frequency of the monitored receiver is identified and the particular transmitting station corresponding to the identified tuned frequency is identified responsive to both the identified tuned frequency of the monitored receiver and the stored transmitter characteristic table. The identified transmitting station data is stored with time of occurrence data.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining a particular transmitting station from which program signals are received and translated by a monitored receiver within a test area comprising:

means for storing a transmitter characteristic table;

said transmitter characteristic table including a corresponding transmitting station identification stored with a predefined subarea of a plurality of predefined subareas within the test area for each predetermined tuned frequency of the monitored receiver;

means for identifying a tuned frequency of the monitored receiver;

means responsive to both an identified tuned frequency of the monitored receiver and said stored transmitter characteristic table for identifying the particular transmitting station corresponding to said identified tuned frequency; and

means for storing data corresponding to the identified transmitting station.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

means responsive to an unidentified transmitting station corresponding to a particular identified tuned frequency for storing data corresponding to said particular identified tuned frequency.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising:

a central computer for receiving said stored identified transmitting station data and said particular identified tuned frequency data and said central computer including means for updating said transmitter characteristic table.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said particular transmitting station identifying means includes means for identifying each stored transmitting station identification corresponding to said identified tuned frequency;

means responsive to a plurality of the identified stored transmitting station identifications for identifying a particular predefined subarea of the monitored receiver; and

means responsive to said identified particular predefined subarea for identifying the particular transmitting station corresponding to said identified tuned frequency.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said particular predefined subarea identifying means includes

tuning means responsive to said stored transmitter characteristic table for tuning to at least one selected frequency within one of said plurality of predefined subareas;

means responsive to said tuning means for detecting a signal-to-noise value; and

means responsive to said signal-to-noise detecting means for comparing said detected signal-to-noise value with a threshold value to identify said particular predefined subarea.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for storing the transmitter characteristic table and the means for storing identified transmitting station data include a mailable memory cartridge.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said mailable memory cartridge includes a random access memory (RAM).

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said mailable memory cartridge includes a real time clock.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the stored identified transmitting station data includes date and time data.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said mailable memory cartridge stores identification data to identify the apparatus.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for identifying the tuned frequency of the monitored receiver includes means for detecting a local oscillator signal of the monitored receiver.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for identifying the tuned frequency of the monitored receiver further includes;

frequency synthesized receiver means for tuning to synthesized program signals, said synthesized program signals being essentially the same as the program signals which are received and translated by the monitored receiver;

correlation means for receiving signals of the monitored receiver and said frequency synthesized receiver means and for computing a crosscorrelation signal of said program signals received and translated by the monitored receiver and said synthesized program signals of said frequency synthesized receiver means; and

means for comparing said computed crosscorrelation signal with a threshold value to determine a match between a tuned frequency of the monitored receiver and said frequency synthesized receiver means.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 12 further includes means for identifying a last tuned frequency and control means for first sequentially scanning said last identified tuned frequency.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 12 further includes means for identifying a most tuned frequency and control means for first sequentially scanning said identified most tuned frequency.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the program signals of the monitored receiver and of said frequency synthesized receiver means are audio signals.

16. Apparatus as recited in claim 12 further including means for identifying the use of an alternative signal source responsive to no determined match by said means for comparing said computed crosscorrelation signal with said threshold value.

17. Apparatus as recited in claim 12 further including means for identifying the use of an alternative signal source responsive to a detected absence of said local oscillator signal of the monitored receiver.

18. A method for determining a particular transmitting station from which program signals are received and translated by a monitored receiver within a test area comprising the steps of:

storing a transmitter characteristic table;

said transmitter characteristic table including a corresponding transmitting station identification stored with a predefined subarea of a plurality of predefined subareas within the test area for each predetermined tuned frequency of the monitored receiver;

identifying a tuned frequency of the monitored receiver; and

identifying the particular transmitting station corresponding to said identified tuned frequency in response to the identified tuned frequency of the monitored receiver and to said stored transmitter characteristic table.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 further comprising the step of storing data corresponding to the identified transmitting station, said data including time of occurrence data.

20. Apparatus for determining a particular transmitting station from which program signals are received and translated by a monitored received within a test area comprising:

RAM/clock cartridge means for storing a transmitter characteristic table;

said transmitter characteristic table including a corresponding transmitting station identification stored with a predefined subarea of a plurality of predefined subareas within the test area for each predetermined tuned frequency of the monitored receiver;

local oscillator detection means for identifying a tuned frequency of the monitored receiver;

means responsive to both the identified tuned frequency of the monitored receiver and said stored transmitter characteristic table for identifying the particular transmitting station corresponding to said identified tuned frequency; and

said RAM/clock cartridge means for time-stamping and storing data corresponding to said identified particular transmitting station.