Methods and apparatus to collect media exposure information

• US 8,326,212 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Arun, Hoynoski, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/164,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.05, 455/408, 455/412.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.4, 455/420, 455/425, 455/9, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/507, 455/514, 455/515, 455/552.1, 455/434, 455/3.06, 455/154.2, 725/9, 725/13, 725/14, 705/7, 705/10, 340/539.11, 235/380, 235/492
• US Class Current: 455/2.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to collect media exposure information are described. An example apparatus includes an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations and a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.

Claims

1. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:

an identifier card including a plurality of printed machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations; and

a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the printed codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the printed codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the printed codes was read.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metering device stores a member identifier corresponding to the user.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metering device further comprises a timing device to generate the timestamp associated with the media exposure information.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metering device further comprises a communication port to export the media exposure information.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein metering device is to transfer the media exposure information to a central facility.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metering device is portable.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metering device comprises a key fob attachable to a key ring.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifier card is attached to a key ring.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the metering device is stationary and located proximate a media presentation system.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising a personal identifier card having machine readable codes identifying potential audience members.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifier card further comprises an end code to be scanned when a media exposure session ends.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the scanner is a bar code scanner.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the machine readable codes are bar codes.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the memory stores a list of media stations.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the metering device further comprises a display device to display the media stations of the list.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising an input to select a media station from the list to indicate exposure to the selected media station.

17. A method of collecting media exposure information, comprising:

generating an identifier card including a plurality of printed codes, each of the printed codes corresponding to a respective media station;

receiving a first reading of a first one of the printed codes; and

storing the first reading and a timestamp to gather media exposure information regarding exposure to a first one of the media stations.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising receiving a second reading from the scanner associated with a second one of the printed codes.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the first reading indicates a start of a media exposure session and the second reading indicates an end of the media exposure session.

20. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising timestamping the second reading.

21. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising assigning a member identifier corresponding to a user of to a metering device that stores the first reading and the timestamp.

22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the metering device is attachable to a key ring.

23. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising transferring the first reading and timestamping to a central facility.

24. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:

an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations; and

a metering device comprising a key fob attachable to a key ring, the metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.

25. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:

an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations, wherein the identifier card is attachable to a key ring; and

a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.

26. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:

an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations and an end code to be scanned when a media exposure session ends; and

a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.

27. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:

an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations; and

a metering device including a bar code scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.

28. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:

an identifier card including a plurality of bar codes corresponding to one or more media stations; and

a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the bar codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the bar codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the bar codes was read.

29. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:

an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations;

a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read, wherein the memory stores a list of media stations; and

an input to select a media station from the list to indicate exposure to the selected media station.

30. A method of collecting media exposure information, comprising:

generating an identifier card including a plurality of codes, each of the codes corresponding to a respective media station;

receiving a first reading of a first one of the codes;

storing the first reading and a timestamp to gather media exposure information regarding exposure to a first one of the media stations; and

receiving a second reading from the scanner associated with a second one of the codes.

31. A method of collecting media exposure information, comprising:

generating an identifier card including a plurality of codes, each of the codes corresponding to a respective media station;

receiving a first reading of a first one of the codes; and

storing the first reading and a timestamp on a metering device to gather media exposure information regarding exposure to a first one of the media stations, wherein the metering device is attachable to a key ring.