Determining location of an audience member having a portable media monitor

• US 7,471,987 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Arbitron Inc. (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Crystal, Jack C., Jensen, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Faulk; Devona E.
• Application Number:
  US10/093,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,489 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 455/2.01, 4553432-3434, 455/556.1, 725/22, 725/14, 725/20, 725/35, 725/10, 725/9, 725/11, 348/837, 348/838, 381/2, 381/56, 381/58, 381/77, 381/6, 381/14, 381/16, 381/310, 381/311, 381/124
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/38 for identifying broadcast time or space
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for gathering data concerning media usage by predetermined audience members. An audience measurement code in acoustic energy produced by a media receiver is detected by a portable media monitor. The monitor also detects a location code produced in a vicinity of the media receiver.

Claims

1. A portable media monitor for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences based on acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver, the portable media monitor capable of being carried on the person of an audience member, the portable media monitor comprising:

acoustic transducer for producing transducer output data in response to received acoustic energy including acoustic energy from a media receiver;

audience measurement code detector for detecting audience measurement codes emitted acoustically from the media receiver based on the transducer output data to produce detected audience measurement code data;

location code detector for detecting a location code transmitted wirelessly from a location code emitter in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located, to produce detected location code data relating to the audience member, wherein the location code detector comprises a radio frequency receiver for receiving the location code as a radio frequency transmission;

means for supplying power to operate the radio frequency receiver in response to detection of an audience code by the audience measurement code detector; and

a communicator for communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data to an audience estimate producing system for producing audience estimate data based on the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data.

2. A system for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences, comprising the portable media monitor of claim 1, wherein the location code emitter comprises, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the location code wirelessly in the predetermined area.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter, for transmitting the location code as a radio frequency transmission.

4. A method for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences based on acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver, comprising:

transducing acoustic energy received by a portable media monitor to produce transduced output data;

detecting audience measurement codes emitted acoustically from a media receiver based on the transduced output data to produce detected audience measurement code data;

detecting a wirelessly transmitted location code related to a member of the media audiences in the portable media monitor to produce detected location code data, the location code being wirelessly receiver as a radio frequency transmission from a location code emitter located in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located;

supplying power to operate the radio frequency receiver means in response to detection of an audience measurement code by the audience measurement code detector means; and

communicating the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data to an audience estimate producing system for producing audience estimate data based on the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising transmitting the location code wirelessly in the predetermined area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein transmitting the location code comprises transmitting a radio frequency location code, and detecting the wirelessly transmitted location code comprises receiving the radio frequency location code.

7. A portable media monitor for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences based on acoustic energy emitted by a media receiver,

the portable media monitor capable of being carried on the person of an audience member, the portable media monitor comprising:

an acoustic transducer operative to produce transducer output data in response to received acoustic energy including acoustic energy from a media receiver;

an audience measurement code detector operative to detect audience measurement codes emitted acoustically from the media receiver based on the transducer output data to produce detected audience measurement code data;

a location code detector operative to detect a location code, transmitted wireless from a location code emitter in a predetermined area in which the media receiver is located, to produce detected location code data relating to the audience member, wherein the location code detector comprises a radio frequency receiver for receiving the location code as a radio frequency transmission;

a power supply, coupled with the radio frequency receiver, to supply power thereto in response to detection of an audience measurement code by the audience measurement code detector; and

a communications device operative to communicate the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data to an audience estimate producing system for producing audience estimate data based on the detected audience measurement code data and the detected location code data.

8. A system for gathering data to produce estimates of media audiences, comprising the portable media monitor of claim 7, wherein the location code emitter comprises, a wireless transmitter operative to transmit the location code wirelessly in the predetermined area.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

10. The portable media monitor of claim 7 wherein the power supply is operative to cut off power to the radio frequency receiver when audience measurement codes are not detected by the audience measurement code detector.

11. The portable media monitor of claim 7, wherein the audience measurement code detector comprises a processor.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless transmitter is positioned at a location of the media receiver.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the media receiver and the wireless transmitter are located in a room.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the media receiver and the wireless transmitter are located in a household.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless transmitter is located in a vehicle of an audience member.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless transmitter is located with the media receiver at an audience member'"'"'s workplace.