Methods and apparatus for automatic TV on/off detection

• US 9,692,535 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US) LLC (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Liss, Michael Jordan, Horner, Richard Lee, Vitt, James Joseph, Conklin, Charles Clinton
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Somera, Caroline
• Application Number:
  US13/473,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20130215006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 348 18
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/005 Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for automatic TV ON/OFF detection. An example method includes detecting a power state of an information presentation device. The method includes comparing, using a processor, a measurement indicative of an amount of power drawn by the information presentation device to a first threshold. The method also includes comparing the measurement to a second threshold. The method also includes storing an indication that the information presentation device is in an indeterminate state if the measurement is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold.

Claims

1. A method to detect a power state of an information presentation device, the method comprising:

storing a first indication that the information presentation device is in an indeterminate state if a first measurement indicative of an amount of power drawn by the information presentation device is greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold;

in response to determining that the information presentation device is in the indeterminate state;

initiating a delay period at a first time and

comparing a plurality of second measurements to the first threshold, respective ones of the second measurements indicative of the amount of power drawn by the information presentation device at respective times during the delay period; and

after the first time, at least one of;

when the information presentation device is detected at a second time as being in an OFF power state based on at least one of the plurality of second measurements being less than the first threshold, storing a second indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the OFF power state for a duration between the first and second times;

or

when the information presentation device is detected at the second time as being in an ON power state based on the plurality of second measurements being greater than the first threshold, storing a third indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the ON power state for the duration between the first and second times.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further including, when the information presentation device is in the indeterminate state:

identifying a previous power state associated with the information presentation device, the storing of the third indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the ON power state for the duration between the first and second times being further based on the previous power state being the OFF power state.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further including:

when the information presentation device is detected as being in the ON power state, interrupting the delay period.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, further including adjusting the second threshold based on the third indication.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the third indication indicates that audio data was received from the information presentation device.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the third indication indicates that video data was received from the information presentation device.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the intermediate state of the information presentation device is identifiable separate from the OFF power state which is identifiable when the first measurement is less than the first threshold.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the intermediate state of the information presentation device is identifiable separate from the ON power state which is identifiable when the first measurement is greater than the second threshold.

23. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the storing of the second indication facilitates not crediting media detected between the first and second times as being exposed to an audience.

24. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the storing of the third indication facilitates crediting media detected between the first and second times as being exposed to an audience.

25. The method as defined in claim 1, further including selecting a duration of the delay period based on a power down duration of the information presentation device.

9. An apparatus to detect a power state of an information presentation device, comprising:

memory to store a first indication that the information presentation device is in an indeterminate state when a first measurement indicative of an amount of power drawn by the information presentation device is greater than a first threshold and the first measurement is less than a second threshold;

a timer to initiate a delay period at a first time in response to the indication of the indeterminate state;

a comparator to compare a plurality of measurements to the first threshold, respective ones of the plurality of measurements indicative of the amount of power drawn by the information presentation device at respective times during the delay period; and

the memory further to, at least one of;

when the information presentation device is detected in an OFF power state at a second time based on at least one of the plurality of measurements being less than the first threshold, store a second indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the OFF power state for a duration between the first and second times;

or

when the information presentation device is detected in an ON power state at the second time based on none of the plurality of measurements being less than the first threshold, store a third indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the ON power state for the duration between the first and second times.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including a checker to determine a previous power state of the information presentation device in response to the first indication that the information presentation device is in the indeterminate state, the third indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the ON power state for the duration between the first and second times is to be further based on the previous power state being the OFF power state.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the checker is to determine that the information presentation device was in the OFF power state during the delay period when the information presentation device is detected in the OFF power state at the second time.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the checker is to determine that the information presentation device was in the ON power state when the information presentation device is detected in the ON power state at the second time.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the checker is to determine that the information presentation device is in the OFF power state when the first measurement is less than the first threshold.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including a detector to interrupt the delay period in response to detecting that the information presentation device is in the ON power state at the second time during the delay period.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the third indication indicates that audio data was received from the information presentation device.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the third indication indicates that video data was received from the information presentation device.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the second indication is to facilitate not crediting media detected between the first and second times as being exposed to an audience.

27. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the third indication is to facilitate crediting media detected between the first and second times as being exposed to an audience.

28. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein a duration of the delay period is based on a power down duration of the information presentation device.

17. A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

store a first indication that an information presentation device is in an indeterminate state if a first measurement indicative of an amount of power drawn by the information presentation device is greater than a first threshold and less than a second threshold;

based on a determination that the information presentation device is in the indeterminate state;

initiate a delay period at a first time and

compare a plurality of second measurements to the first threshold, respective ones of the second measurements indicative of the amount of power drawn by the information presentation device at respective times during the delay period; and

after the first time, at least one of;

when the information presentation device is detected at a second time as being in an OFF power state based on at least one of the plurality of second measurements being less than the first threshold, store a second indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the OFF power state for a duration between the first and second times;

or

when the information presentation device is detected at the second time as being in an ON power state based on none of the plurality of second measurements being less than the first threshold, store a third indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the ON power state for the duration between the first and second times.

18. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions are to further cause the machine to, when the information presentation device is in the indeterminate state:

identify a previous power state associated with the information presentation device the third indication to back credit the information presentation device as being in the ON power state for the duration between the first and second times to be further based on the previous power state being the OFF power state.

19. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions are to further cause the machine to store an indication that the information presentation device is in the OFF power state if the first measurement is less than the first threshold.

20. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions are to further cause the machine to store an indication that the information presentation device is in the ON power state if the first measurement is greater than the second threshold.

21. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions are to further cause the machine to interrupt the delay period when the information presentation device is detected as being in the ON power state during the delay period.

22. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the instructions are to further cause the machine to adjust the second threshold based on the third indication.

29. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the second indication is to facilitate not crediting media detected between the first and second times as being exposed to an audience.

30. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein the third indication is to facilitate crediting media detected between the first and second times as being exposed to an audience.

31. The tangible computer readable medium as defined in claim 17, wherein a duration of the delay period is based on a power down duration of the information presentation device.