Billboard consumption measurement system

• US 6,252,522 B1
• Filed: 05/25/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verance Corporation
• Original Assignee: Solana Technology Development Corp. (Verance Corporation)
• Inventors: Hampton, Gregory Dean, Moallemi, Kamran, Warren, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/318,368
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/901, 340/908, 340/933, 340/936, 455/39, 455/42, 455/66, 455/517
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/00 Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the variable information is permanently attached to a movable support G09F11/00; abacus G06C1/00; slide-rules G06G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/50 of broadcast or relay stations

Abstract

A system for measuring exposure to a visual display such as a billboard. A transmitter that is proximate to the billboard broadcasts a data signal that carries information relating to the billboard. This information may identify the location of the billboard, the message displayed by the billboard, and time of day. The data signal is provided at a power level that is adapted to reach a pre-defined exposure area in which the billboard can be viewed. A portable receiving device is provided to a defined consumer population to measure the exposure of the consumers to the billboards. The receiving device may be carried or worn by the consumer, or carried in the consumer'"'"'s vehicle. The receiving device is adapted to recover the data signal and store the information relating to the billboard when the viewer is in the pre-defined exposure area. The time of day and duration of the exposure may also be recorded. The recorded information is subsequently downloading for processing by a central processing facility, e.g., via a telephone line or computer link.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring exposure to a billboard, comprising:

a transmitter proximate to said billboard for broadcasting a data signal that carries information relating to said billboard for use in measuring exposure to said billboard;

wherein;

said data signal is provided at a power level that is adapted to reach a pre-defined exposure area in which said billboard can be viewed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said data signal identifies said billboard.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said data signal identifies a location of said billboard.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said data signal provides information regarding a time when the data signal is broadcast.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver associated with a potential viewer of the billboard for receiving said data signal;

wherein;

said receiver is adapted to recover said data signal and store said information relating to said billboard when the potential viewer is in said pre-defined exposure area.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

said information comprises clock data; and

said receiver is responsive to said clock data for determining a duration in which the potential viewer is in the pre-defined exposure area.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

said receiver comprises means for downloading said information for processing by a central processing facility.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said receiver provides information identifying said potential viewer to said central processing facility.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said transmitter comprises means for receiving a control signal from a central controller for defining said data signal.

10. A receiver apparatus adapted to be carried by a potential viewer for measuring exposure to a billboard, comprising:

means for recovering a data signal broadcast by a transmitter proximate to said billboard when the potential viewer is in a pre-defined exposure area in which said billboard can be viewed;

said data signal carrying information relating to said billboard for use in measuring exposure to said billboard; and

means for storing said information;

wherein;

said data signal is provided at a power level that is adapted to reach a pre-defined exposure area.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said data signal identifies said billboard.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said data signal identifies a location of said billboard.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said data signal provides information regarding a time when the data signal is broadcast.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said information comprises clock data, further comprising:

means for processing said clock data to determine a duration in which the potential viewer is in the pre-defined exposure area.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for downloading said information for processing by a central processing facility.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means for providing information identifying said potential viewer to said central processing facility.

17. A method for measuring exposure to a billboard, comprising the step of:

broadcasting a data signal from a transmitter proximate to a billboard at a power level that is adapted to reach a pre-defined exposure area in which said billboard can be viewed;

wherein;

said data signal carries information relating to said billboard for use in measuring exposure to said billboard.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said data signal identifies said billboard.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said data signal identifies a location of said billboard.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

said data signal provides information regarding a time when the data signal is broadcast.

21. The method of claim 17, comprising the further step of:

receiving said data signal at a receiver associated with a potential viewer;

recovering said data signal at said receiver; and

storing said information relating to said billboard at said receiver when the potential viewer is in said pre-defined exposure area.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein said information comprises clock data, comprising the further step of:

using said clock data to determining a duration in which the potential viewer is in the pre-defined exposure area.

23. The method of claim 17, comprising the further step of:

downloading said information from said receiver for processing by a central processing facility.

24. The method of claim 17, comprising the further step of:

providing information identifying said potential viewer from said receiver to said central processing facility.

25. The method of claim 17, comprising the further step of:

providing a control signal from a central controller to said transmitter for defining said data signal.