Media monitor

• US 5,768,680 A
• Filed: 05/05/1995
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yuzalla Investments LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomas C. David
• Inventors: Thomas, C. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lo, Linus H.
• Application Number:
  US08/435,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 348/1, 348/2, 348/13, 348/467
• US Class Current: 455/2.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time

Abstract

The instant invention is an electronic audio monitor and recording device designed to be worn upon the person, in connection with audience research systems, for purposes of capturing special identifying signals embedded in audio and video programs, appending the date and time each signal is received, and recording and retaining the data until it is transferred for further processing.

Claims

1. An electronic audio monitor and recording apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

self contained portable receiver means carried by an individual for detecting a coded audio signal transmitted at a frequency not detectable by the human ear by multiple television or radio broadcasts delivery at various locations;

signal processor means for converting said audio signal into a digitized signal;

means for appending a time stamp to said digitized signal;

means for storing data corresponding to said digitized signal;

a rechargeable power supply

a means for coding signals for transmission in a television or radio broadcast comprising;

a computer means having an EPROM and a real-time digital clock with pre-programmed identification signals;

an audio tone generator operatively associated with said computer means for producing a series of tones for identifying a program source defined as a first tone for indicating transmittal, a second tone for indicating program type, a third tone for indicating program source, a forth tone for indicating validating said digitized signal, and a fifth tone for ending of transmittal and placing said receiver into a wait state mode in correspondence to said identification signals for placement in said program, said forth tone is compared to a algorithmic value to determine whether said third tone is a program source to be recorded; and

a means for insertion of said series of tones into a television or radio signal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said series of tones are predefined to identify a program source and identification of a commercial played by said program source.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pre-programmed identification signals is further defined as a series of tones for identifying a program defined as a first tone providing a binary coded alphabetic code assigned to a specific commercial execution or program, a second tone for providing a binary coded alphabetic code to represent a calendar year, a third tone for indicating program source, a forth tone for indicating validating said signal, and a fifth tone for ending of transmittal and placing said receiver into a wait state mode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 including a support structure for placement of said receiver means comprising:

a means for retrieving said data;

means for transferring said retrieved data to a remote central computer.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for transferring said retrieved data is further defined as telephone interface having a modem transfer of accumulated data to said central computer.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a means for recharging said rechargeable power supply.