Methods and apparatus for identifying the source of a user selected signal via an intermediate frequency probe

• US 6,523,175 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Chan, Cheuk Wan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, AN SON PHI
• Application Number:
  US09/365,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 725/15,19,9-14 455/2.01
• US Class Current: 725/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/045 Self-contained testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42201 biosensors, e.g. heat sensor for presence detection, EEG sensors or any limb activity sensors worn by the user input arrangements for interaction with the human body based on nervous system activity detection G06F3/015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A non-invasive or minimally invasive intermediate frequency (I.F.) probe is disclosed for use as part of a broadcast audience measurement system. The probe can be used both to acquire a representation of a tuned signal and to inject a recognition signal into a tuned signal. The probe is configurable for use with both analog (e.g., NTSC, PAL or SECAM) and digital (e.g., ATSC) television broadcasts. Optionally, when in the injection mode, the I.F. probe can be used with another sensor;to determine which of several inputs to a monitored receiver is providing the audio and/or video output(s) selected by an audience member.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether a signal of a program tuned by a tuner of a receiver is being output by an output device of the receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

radiating an intermediate frequency recognition signal from an intermediate frequency probe disposed adjacent the tuner of the receiver;

developing a representation of a signal output by the output device of the receiver with an output probe; and

examining the representation of the signal output by the output device of the receiver to determine if the recognition signal is present in the signal.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

detecting a second signal output by the output device of the receiver; and

determining a time interval corresponding to a non-viewable portion of the second signal by examining a representation of the second signal;

wherein the step of radiating an intermediate frequency recognition signal is performed during the time interval determined from the second signal.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the time interval corresponds to an overscan region of a viewable picture on the output device.

4. A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the representation of the second signal comprises the second signal.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the representation of the signal comprises the signal.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the intermediate frequency recognition signal is radiated at a predetermined frequency offset from a tuned frequency by less than a width of a broadcast television channel.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the output device is a display device and the representation of the signal is acquired from a video probe disposed adjacent the display device.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

developing a representation of a tuned intermediate frequency signal radiated by the tuner by parasitically detecting the tuned intermediate frequency signal with the intermediate frequency probe;

obtaining a representation of a direct input signal; and

comparing the direct input signal representation with the signal representation developed by the output probe, and comparing the tuned intermediate frequency signal representation with the signal representation developed by the output probe to determine whether the signal displayed on the output device is the tuned intermediate frequency signal or the direct input signal.

9. An apparatus for determining if a signal output by a receiver having a plurality of local inputs was tuned by a tuner of the receiver, the apparatus comprising:

an intermediate frequency probe disposed in proximity to the tuner of the receiver to receive an intermediate frequency signal radiated by the tuner;

a demodulator in communication with the intermediate frequency probe to demodulate the intermediate frequency signal received from the intermediate frequency probe to develop a first test signal;

an output probe located to develop a second test signal representative of the signal output by the receiver; and

a comparison circuit for comparing the first and second test signals to determine if the signal output by the receiver was tuned by the tuner.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the output probe comprises a video probe disposed in proximity to a display device of the receiver and wherein the second test signal comprises a video signal.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 further comprising an intermediate frequency signal generating circuit in communication with the probe to selectively radiate a recognition signal from the intermediate frequency probe.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising an injected signal detector in communication with the output probe for examining the second test signal developed by the output probe for the presence of the intermediate frequency signal.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the output probe comprises a microphone and wherein the second test signal comprises an audio signal.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the comparison circuit comprises:

a decoder for decoding a first ancillary coded message from the first test signal and for decoding a second ancillary coded message from the second test signal; and

a logic circuit for comparing the first and the second ancillary coded messages.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the comparison circuit comprises:

a program signal extractor for extracting a first program signature from the first test signal and for extracting a second program signature from the second test signal; and

a logic circuit for comparing the first and the second program signatures.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising an intermediate frequency signal generating circuit in communication with the probe to selectively radiate a recognition signal from the intermediate frequency probe.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 further comprising an injected signal detector in communication with the output probe for examining the second test signal developed by the output probe for the presence of the intermediate frequency signal.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the comparison circuit compares a representation of a direct input signal from at least one of the local inputs with the second test signal to determine if the signal output by the receiver originated at the at least one of the local inputs.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 further comprising a library of program signatures and wherein the comparison circuit compares a program signature of at least one of the first test signal, the second test signal and the representation of the direct input signal to at least one signature stored in the library to identify a program associated with the signal output by the receiver.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising a library of program signatures and wherein the comparison circuit compares a program signature of at least one of the first test signal and the second test signal to at least one signature stored in the library to identify a program associated with the signal output by the receiver.

21. In combination,

a broadcast audience measurement circuit for monitoring programs output by a receiver;

and

an intermediate frequency probe for acquiring a replica of a signal tuned by a tuner of the monitored receiver, the intermediate frequency probe comprising;

a wire loop;

a capacitor attached across the wire-loop so as to. form a circuit element tuned to the intermediate frequency of a monitored receiver;

a shielded coaxial cable having a first end coupled to the wire loop and a second end which is adapted to connect to an intermediate frequency signal processing circuit; and

means for attaching the probe to an external surface of the monitored receiver in proximity to the tuner.

22. A combination as defined in claim 21 wherein an outer conductor portion of the coaxial cable comprises a direct metallic connection to a reference electrical ground of the monitored receiver, the intermediate frequency probe having no other direct metallic connection to the monitored receiver.

23. A combination as defined in claim 21 wherein the broadcast audience measurement circuit further comprises an intermediate frequency signal generating circuit in communication with the intermediate frequency probe to selectively radiate a recognition signal from the intermediate frequency probe.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein the broadcast audience measurement circuit further comprises:

an output probe located to develop a test signal representative of a signal output by the receiver; and

an injected signal detector in communication with the output probe for examining the test signal developed by the output probe for the presence of the intermediate frequency signal.