Method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment
First Claim
1. A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device located at a remote location for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of:
- automatically sensing, at said remote location, when said signal reproduction device is in use;
producing data, at said remote location, representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device;
transmitting the data from said remote location to a centralized data processing facility; and
determining, at said centralized data processing facility, whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment. In a household in which viewing patterns are to be monitored, for example, a relatively inexpensive and simple set usage device is installed in proximity to a television set which is expected to receive little or no use. Times when the set is in use are sensed, and data concerning those times are stored and transmitted to a central location. At the central location, the times represented by the transmitted data are compared to a minimum usage threshold, and a more sophisticated monitoring device, able to detect the channel tuning state of the T.V. set, is installed in proximity to the T.V. set only if the usage of the T.V. set exceeds the minimum usage threshold. The number of relatively expensive and complex tuning-monitoring devices required to be installed is thereby reduced.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device located at a remote location for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of:
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automatically sensing, at said remote location, when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data, at said remote location, representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; transmitting the data from said remote location to a centralized data processing facility; and determining, at said centralized data processing facility, whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of:
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automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based Upon said data representing said usage amount.
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11. A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of:
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automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and determining that said signal reproduction device is qualified for installation of monitoring equipment if said times represented by said data exceed a predetermined minimum usage threshold.
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12. A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of:
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automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount; and installing, in association with said signal reproduction device, monitoring equipment including means for monitoring at least one of a source of a signal reproduced by said signal reproduction device and the audience using said signal reproduction device, only if said signal reproduction device satisfies said predetermined qualification criterion. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device located at a remote location for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising:
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a usage sensing device installed in association with said signal reproduction device at said remote location for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; a centralized data processing facility for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount; and means for transmitting the data from said remote location to the centralized data processing facility. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising:
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means for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and means for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount.
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26. A method of monitoring usage of a signal reproduction device, comprising the steps of:
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automatically sensing by means of a usage sensing device when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing usage of said signal reproduction device; and comparing said data with information concerning usage of said signal reproduction device provided from a source other than said usage sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising:
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means for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and means for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment if said times represented by said data exceed a predetermined minimum usage threshold.
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Specification