System for collecting audience response data

• US 6,011,578 A
• Filed: 11/20/1997
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Consumer Dynamics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Consumer Dynamics, LLC
• Inventors: Castler, David P., Zager, Eric Louis, Shatto, Billy Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/975,285
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2, 455/154.1, 348/1, 348/2, 348/12, 348/13, 341/20, 341/22, 341/35, 345/184, 345/168, 364/709.01, 340/825.77, 340/825.96
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions

Abstract

A system and apparatus for collecting response data. A response unit is provided having a dial, keypad, and a biconditional response mechanism. The response unit operates in two modes, a dial mode and a keypad mode. Mode is determined by the power supplied to the response unit. If the power supply supplies a first voltage, the response unit will be in one mode, and if the power supply supplies a second voltage, the response unit will be in a second mode. In dial mode, the keypad is inactive. The response unit sources a voltage along a continuum based on the positioning of the dial. The biconditional response mechanism may also be active and when activated, causes the response unit to source an analog voltage outside the dial'"'"'s continuum. In keypad mode, the dial is inactive, and each key of the keypad is associated with a unique voltage within a voltage range such that pressing a key causes the associated voltage to be sourced by the response unit. Regardless of the mode, the response unit sources an analog voltage reflecting user response. That voltage is converted to a digital voltage by an analog to digital (A/D) converter. The A/D converter is controlled by a response collection driver operating on a host computer. The driver directs the A/D to sample the data from the response unit, receives the digital value and manipulates the data to provide meaningful market research information.

Claims

1. A method of collecting audience response data comprising the steps of:

providing a response unit having a dial, and keypad and a biconditional response mechanism, the response unit operable in a dial mode and a keypad mode;

driving the response unit into a first mode or a second mode, wherein in the first mode only the keypad and the biconditional response mechanism are active and wherein in the second mode only the dial and the biconditional response mechanism are active, the mode being driven responsive to application of a first power supply voltage or a second power supply voltage;

sampling an analog voltage generated by the response unit; and

converting the analog voltage to a digital voltage.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a mode of operation;

converting a digital voltage to a score if the voltage is generated by the dial;

adding a key to a key press list if the voltage is generated by the keypad.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

calibrating the response unit.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of calibrating comprises turning the dial all the way to the left;

sampling an output voltage corresponding to a dial minimum;

turning the dial all the way to the right; and

sampling a dial maximum.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the biconditional response mechanism is active at both the first and the second voltage levels.

5. An apparatus for obtaining response data from a user, the apparatus comprising:

a dial defining a response continuum, the dial active at a first voltage level;

a keypad having a plurality of keys, the keypad active at a second voltage level;

a biconditional response mechanism active at least at the first voltage level; and

circuitry coupled to each of the dial, the keypad, and the biconditional mechanism, the circuitry generalizing an analog voltage within a dynamic range, the voltage determined by a position of the dial when the dial is active and generating a voltage corresponding to the key pressed predefined as when a key is pressed if the keypad is active.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein when the dial is active, wherein one biconditional response generates a voltage above the dynamic range and another biconditional response generates a voltage below the dynamic range.

8. A system for obtaining audience response data comprising:

an analog to digital converter A/D;

a processor coupled to the A/D;

a response unit coupled to the A/D, the response unit having a keypad, a dial for response and a biconditional response mechanism;

a power supply coupled to the A/D generating a first voltage and a second voltage wherein when the power supply generates the first voltage, only the keypad and the biconditional response mechanism are active, and when the power supply generates the second voltage, only the dial and the biconditional response mechanism are active; and

a response collection driver executing on a host processor.