Method and apparatus for monitoring audio listening

• US 7,486,925 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marguerite M. Breen
• Original Assignee: Marguerite M. Breen
• Inventors: Breen, Julian H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John J
• Application Number:
  US11/657,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2.01, 455/3.01, 455/405, 455/456.1, 455/428, 455/422.1, 455/509, 455/517, 455/419, 455/420, 455/67.11, 455/418, 455 302- 4, 4554141- 2, 455/69, 455/404.2, 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/414.4, 725/18, 725/9, 725/10
• US Class Current: 455/2.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/91 Mobile communication networks for accessing the Internet H04H60/85

Abstract

A method and apparatus receive, detect, collect and analyze program-identifying (“PI”) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals. Each audio signal represents the sounds (audio portion) in a plurality of sequential program segments, such as program material or commercials. The method comprises the steps of receiving a selected one of the audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations; reproducing the sounds represented by the selected audio signal at each remote location; converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location; detecting the PI information from the second signal at each remote location; storing the detected PI information at each remote location; establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the PI information to the central computer; storing the PI information received from the plurality of remote locations at the aforesaid central computer; and analyzing the stored PI information to obtain a statistical estimate of the relative number of persons who listened to the sounds in each given program segment.

Claims

1. A method for receiving, detecting, collecting and analyzing program material-identifying (“

PMI”

) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of sequential program segments, each item of PMI information corresponding to a particular program segment, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving a selected one of said audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations;

(b) reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location;

(c) converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location;

(d) detecting the PMI information from the second signal at each remote location;

(e) storing the detected PMI information at each remote location;

(f) storing the date and time of receipt of said selected audio signal in association with said PMI information;

(g) establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the PMI information and its associated date and time to said central computer;

(h) storing the PMI information and its associated date and time received from said plurality of remote locations at said central computer; and

(i) analyzing the stored PMI information and its associated date and time;

wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

2. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of downloading instructions to said remote locations via said communication link.

3. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said PMI information comprises a code.

4. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said communication link is established in a public cellular telephone network, and wherein said PHI information is transmitted via said cellular telephone network to said central computer.

5. The method defined in claim 1,

wherein said communication link is established by said central computer calling each remote location at periodic intervals.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said communication link is established by each remote location calling said central computer at periodic intervals.

7. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said PMI information is analyzed to obtain a statistical estimate of the relative number of persons who listened to the sounds in each given program segment.

8. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location by means of a loudspeaker and converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location, by means of a microphone.

9. The method defined in claim 1, wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

10. A method for receiving, detecting, collecting and analyzing program material-identifying (“

PMI”

) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of sequential program segments, each item of PMI information corresponding to a particular program segment, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving a selected one of said audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations, wherein each remote location has an associated, location-identifying (“

LI”

) information;

(b) reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location;

(c) converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location;

(d) detecting the PMI information from the second signal at each remote location;

(e) storing the detected PMI information at each remote location;

(f) storing the respective LI information at each remote location in association with said PMI information;

(g) establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the PMI information and the respective LI information for that remote location to said central computer;

(h) storing the PMI information and the respective LI information received from said plurality of remote locations at said central computer; and

(i) analyzing the stored PMI information and LI information;

wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

11. The method defined in claim 10, wherein said PMI information comprises a code.

12. The method defined in claim 10, wherein said communication link is established in a public cellular telephone network, and wherein said PMI information is transmitted via said cellular telephone network to said central computer.

13. The method defined in claim 10, wherein said communication link is established by said central computer calling each remote location at periodic intervals.

14. The method defined in claim 10, wherein said communication link is established by each remote location calling said central computer at periodic intervals.

15. The method defined in claim 10, wherein said PMI information is analyzed to obtain a statistical estimate of the relative number of persons who listened to the sounds in each given program segment.

16. The method defined in claim 10, further comprising the steps of reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location by means of a loudspeaker and converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location, by means of a microphone.

17. The method defined in claim 10, wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

18. A method for receiving, detecting, collecting and analyzing program material-identifying (“

PMI”

) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of sequential program segments, each item of PHI information corresponding to a particular program segment, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving a selected one of said audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations;

(b) reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location;

(c) converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location;

(d) detecting the PMI information from the second signal at each remote location;

(e) storing the detected PMI information at each remote location;

(f) storing the place of receipt of said PMI information in association with said PMI information;

(g) establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the PMI information and its associated place of receipt to said central computer;

(h) storing the PMI information and its associated place of receipt, as received from said plurality of remote locations, at said central computer; and

(i) analyzing the stored PMI information and associated place of receipt;

wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

19. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said step of storing the place of receipt comprises the step of determining said place of receipt by means of the global positioning system (GPS).

20. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said PMI information comprises a code.

21. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said communication link is established in a public cellular telephone network, and wherein said PMI information is transmitted via said cellular telephone network to said central computer.

22. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said communication link is established by said central computer calling each remote location at periodic intervals.

23. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said communication link is established by each remote location calling said central computer at periodic intervals.

24. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said PMI information is analyzed to obtain a statistical estimate of the relative number of persons who listened to the sounds in each given program segment.

25. The method defined in claim 18, further comprising the steps of reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location by means of a loudspeaker and converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location, by means of a microphone.

26. The method defined in claim 18, wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

27. A method for receiving, detecting, collecting and analyzing program material-identifying (“

PMI”

) information contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of sequential program segments, each item of PMI information corresponding to a particular program segment, said method comprising the steps of;

(a) receiving a selected one of said audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations;

(b) reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location;

(c) converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location;

(d) detecting the PMI information from the second signal at each remote location;

(e) storing the detected PMI information at each remote location;

(g) establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the PMI information and its associated date and time to said central computer;

(h) determining the place of said remote location when establishing a communication link between said remote location and said central station, and transmitting said place to said central station together with said PMI information;

(i) storing the PMI information and the place information received from said plurality of remote locations at said central computer; and

(j) analyzing the stored PMI information and the place information;

wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

28. The method defined in claim 27, wherein said communication link includes a public cellular telephone network having a plurality of wireless transmission towers, and wherein said place of said remote location is determined by identifying the nearby wireless transmission tower which is employed in the communication link.

29. The method defined in claim 27, wherein said PMI information comprises a code.

30. The method defined in claim 27, wherein said communication link is established in a public cellular telephone network, and wherein said PMI information is transmitted via said cellular telephone network to said central computer.

31. The method defined in claim 27, wherein said communication link is established by said central computer calling each remote location at periodic intervals.

32. The method defined in claim 27, wherein said communication link is established by each remote location calling said central computer at periodic intervals.

33. The method defined in claim 27, wherein said PMI information is analyzed to obtain a statistical estimate of the relative number of persons who listened to the sounds in each given program segment.

34. The method defined in claim 27, further comprising the steps of reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location by means of a loudspeaker and converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location, by means of a microphone.

35. The method defined in claim 27, wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.

36. A method for receiving, detecting, collecting and analyzing program segments contained in a plurality of broadcast or recorded electronic audio signals, each audio signal representing sounds in a plurality of program segments arranged sequentially, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a selected one of said audio signals at each of a plurality of remote locations;

(b) reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location, by means of a loudspeaker;

(c) converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location, by means of a microphone;

(d) detecting the program segments from the second signal at each remote location;

(e) storing the identity of the detected program segments at each remote location;

(f) establishing a wireless communication link between each remote location and a central computer at another location and transmitting the program segment information to said central computer along with information as to the location, date and time at which said selected one of said audio signals was received;

(g) storing the program segment information received from said plurality of remote locations at said central computer; and

(h) analyzing the stored program segment information.

37. The method defined in claim 36, wherein said PMI information comprises a code.

38. The method defined in claim 36, wherein said communication link is established in a public cellular telephone network, and wherein said PMI information is transmitted via said cellular telephone network to said central computer.

39. The method defined in claim 36, wherein said communication link is established by said central computer calling each remote location at periodic intervals.

40. The method defined in claim 36, wherein said communication link is established by each remote location calling said central computer at periodic intervals.

41. The method defined in claim 36, wherein said PMI information is analyzed to obtain a statistical estimate of the relative number of persons who listened to the sounds in each given program segment.

42. The method defined in claim 36, further comprising the steps of reproducing the sounds represented by said selected audio signal at each remote location by means of a loudspeaker and converting the sounds into a second electronic signal at each remote location, by means of a microphone.

43. The method defined in claim 36, wherein said PMI information comprises inaudible information embedded in said audio signals.