Gathering data concerning publication usage

• US 8,849,182 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Neuhauser, Alan R., Jensen, James M., Crystal, Jack C., Zhang, Jack K., Pugh, Daniel W., Visnius, Douglas J., Flanagan, Eugene L. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Gishnock, Nikolai A
• Application Number:
  US11/084,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20050272017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,483 Days
• Field of Search: 434/317, 434/281, 434/308
• US Class Current: 434/317
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2221/00 Books or filing appliances with additional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/258 Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data arrangements for services using the result on the distributing side of broadcast systems H04H60/66; profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.

Claims

1. A method of gathering data concerning usage of a publication by a person, comprising:

detecting forces associated with flexing a page of a publication to produce raw data extending over time; and

processing the raw data to produce usage data characterizing a manner of usage of the publication by a person.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting forces associated with flexing a page of a publication comprises producing electrical energy using a piezoelectric element.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising sensing motion of the publication.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein sensing motion comprises sensing at least one of acceleration, speed, velocity and movement of the publication.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising sensing exposure of the publication to light.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising communicating the usage data to a portable monitor carried by the person.

7. A system for gathering data concerning usage of a publication by a person, comprising:

a transducer in or on the publication operative to detect forces associated with flexing a page of a publication to produce raw data extending over time; and

a processor in or on the publication operative to process the raw data to produce usage data characterizing a manner of usage of the publication by a person.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric element.

9. The system of claim 7, comprising a motion sensor in or on the publication operative to sense motion of the publication.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the motion sensor is adapted to sense at least one of acceleration, speed, velocity and movement of the publication.

11. The system of claim 7, comprising a photosensor in or on the publication operative to sense exposure by the publication to light.

12. The system of claim 7, comprising a communication device in or on the publication operative to communicate the usage data to a portable monitor carried by the person.