Methods and apparatus to collect audience information associated with a media presentation

• US 20050144632A1
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Peiffer, John, Nelson, Dan, Ramaswamy, Arun, Srinivasan, Venugopal, Mears, Paul M., Deng, Kevin K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,225,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/90 characterised by the use of signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/442 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/29; arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information H04H60/35; monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; monitoring in wireless networks H04W24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to collect audience information associated with a media presentation are described herein. In an example method, the presence of one or more other media metering devices is monitored by a first media metering device associated with a media presentation device. A monitoring operation of the first media metering device is varied based on a presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

Claims

1. A method of collecting media consumption data comprising:

monitoring by a first media metering device associated with a media presentation device for a presence of one or more other media metering devices; and

varying a monitoring operation of the first media metering device based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first media metering device is a base metering device and the one or more other media metering devices are portable media metering devices.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein varying the operation of the first media metering device based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices comprises halting monitoring activity by the first media metering device in response to detecting the presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein varying the monitoring operation of the first media metering device based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices comprises emitting by the first media metering device a signal to cause the one or more other media metering devices to identify collected data as data associated with media consumption within a monitored location.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the signal emitted by the first media metering device comprises one of a continuous signal and a periodic signal.

6. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the data associated with media consumption within a monitored location comprises in-home data.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein varying the monitoring operation of the first media metering device based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices comprises monitoring by the first media metering device for media output by the media presentation device in response to failing to detect the presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

8. A machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed, cause a machine to:

monitor for a presence of one or more other media metering devices via a first media metering device associated with a media presentation device; and

vary a monitoring operation of the first media metering device based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

9. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 8, wherein the first media metering device is a base media metering device and the one or more other media metering devices are portable media metering devices.

10. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to vary the operation of the first media metering device based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices by halting monitoring activity by the first media metering device in response to detecting the presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

11. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to vary the monitoring operation of the first media metering device based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices by emitting by the first media metering device a signal to cause the one or more other media metering devices to identify collected data as data associated with media consumption within a monitored location.

12. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to vary the monitoring operation of the first media metering device based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices by monitoring by the first media metering device for media output by the media presentation device in response to failing to detect the presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

13. An apparatus for collecting media consumption data comprising:

a sensor configured to monitor a presence of one or more media metering devices; and

a processor configured to vary a media monitoring operation based on the presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to halt monitoring activity in response to detecting the presence of the one or more other media metering devices.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising a communication interface configured to emit a signal to cause the one or more media metering devices to identify collected data as data associated with media consumption within a monitored location.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to monitor media output by a media presentation device in response to failing to detect the presence of the one or more media metering devices.

17. An apparatus for collecting media consumption data comprising:

means for monitoring the presence of one or more media metering devices; and

means for varying a media monitoring operation based on the presence of the one or more media metering devices.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the means for varying comprises means for halting monitoring activity in response to detecting the presence of the one or more media metering devices.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the means for varying comprises means for emitting a signal to cause the one or more media metering devices to identify collected data as data associated with media consumption within a monitored location.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the means for varying comprises means for monitoring media output by a media presentation device in response to failing to detect the presence of the one or more media metering devices.

21. A method of collecting media consumption data comprising:

counting a first number of individuals proximate to a media presentation device;

counting a second number of signals received from one or more portable devices, each of which is associated with a respective one of one or more monitored individuals;

comparing the first number of individuals to the second number of signals; and

determining a third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device base on the comparison of the first number of individuals to the second number of signals.

22. A method as defined in claim 21 further comprising causing a media metering device to monitor media output by the media presentation device in response to determining that the third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device is greater than or equal to one.

23. A method as defined in claim 21 further comprising identifying at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein identifying the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device comprises using a list of monitored individuals associated with the media presentation device to identify the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

25. A method as defined in claim 24 further comprising prompting the identified at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

26. A method as defined in claim 24, wherein using the list of monitored individuals associated with the media presentation device to identify the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device comprises identifying the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals as a visitor in response to determining that the list of monitored individuals has a smaller number of individuals than the first number of individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

27. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the portable devices include at least one of a radio frequency tag and a portable media metering device.

28. A machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed, cause a machine to:

count a first number of individuals proximate to a media presentation device;

count a second number of signals received from one or more portable devices, each of which is associated with a respective one of one or more monitored individuals;

compare the first number of individuals to the second number of signals; and

determine a third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device based on the comparison of the first number of individuals to the second number of signals.

29. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to cause a media metering device to monitor media output by the media presentation device in response to determining that the third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device is greater than or equal to one.

30. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to identify at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

31. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 30, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to identify the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device by using a list of monitored individuals associated with the media presentation device to identify the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

32. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 31, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to prompt the identified at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

33. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 31, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to use the list of monitored individuals associated with the media presentation device to identify the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device by identifying the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals as a visitor in response to determining that the list of monitored individuals has a smaller number of individuals than the first number of individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

34. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 28, wherein the portable devices include at least one of a radio frequency tag and a portable media metering device.

35. An apparatus for collecting media consumption data comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive a signal indicative of a first number of individuals proximate to a media presentation device;

count a second number of signals received from one or more portable devices, each of which is associated with a respective one of one or more monitored individuals;

compare the first number of individuals to the second number of signals; and

determine a third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device base on the comparison of the first number of individuals to the second number of signals.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to monitor media output by the media presentation device in response to determining that the third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device is greater than or equal to one.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to identify at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein the processor is configured to use a list of monitored individuals associated with the media presentation device to identify the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

39. An apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein the processor is configured to prompt the identified at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein the processor is configured to identify the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals as a visitor in response to determining that the list of monitored individuals has a smaller number of individuals than the first number of individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the portable devices include at least one of a radio frequency tag and a portable media monitoring device.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the processor is configured to receive the first number from a detector configured to count the first number of individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

43. An apparatus for collecting media consumption data comprising:

means for receiving a signal indicative of a first number of individuals proximate to a media presentation device;

means for counting a second number of signals received from one or more portable devices, each of which is associated with a respective one of one or more monitored individuals;

means for comparing the first number of individuals to the second number of signals; and

means for determining a third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device based on the comparison of the first number of individuals to the second number of signals.

44. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 further comprising means for monitoring media output by the media presentation device in response to determining that the third number of unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device is greater than or equal to one.

45. An apparatus as defined in claim 43 further comprising means for identifying at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

46. An apparatus as defined in claim 45, wherein the means for identifying comprises means for using a list of monitored individuals associated with the media presentation device to identify the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

47. An apparatus as defined in claim 46 further comprising means for prompting the identified at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

48. An apparatus as defined in claim 46, wherein means for using comprises means for identifying the at least one of the unidentified ones of the individuals as a visitor in response to determining that the list of monitored individuals has a smaller number of individuals than the first number of individuals proximate to the media presentation device.

49. A method of collecting media consumption data comprising:

receiving at a first media metering device first media consumption information from a portable media metering device;

monitoring second media consumption information at the first media metering device;

comparing the first and second media consumption information; and

discarding at least some of the first and second media consumption information based on the comparison of the first and second media consumption information.

50. A method as defined in claim 49, wherein discarding the at least some of the first and second media consumption information comprises discarding at least one of redundant information and erroneous information.

51. A method as defined in claim 49 further comprising crediting a media program once as a result of the discarding the at least some of the first and second media consumption information.

52. A machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed, cause a machine to:

receive at a first media metering device first media consumption information from a portable media metering device;

monitor second media consumption information at the first media metering device;

compare the first and second media consumption information; and

discard at least some of the first and second media consumption information based on the comparison of the first and second media consumption information.

53. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 52, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to discard the at least some of the first and second media consumption information by discarding at least one of redundant information and erroneous information.

54. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 52, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to credit a media program once as a result of the discarding the at least some of the first and second media consumption information.

55. An apparatus for collecting media consumption data comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive first media consumption information from a portable media metering device;

a sensor configured to monitor second media consumption information; and

a processor configured to compare the first and second media consumption information and to discard at least some of the first and second media consumption information based on the comparison of the first and second media consumption information.

56. An apparatus as defined in claim 55, wherein the processor is configured to discard at least one of redundant information and erroneous information.

57. An apparatus as defined in claim 55, wherein the processor is configured to credit a media program once as a result of the discarding the at least some of the first and second media consumption information.

58. An apparatus for collecting media consumption data comprising:

means for receiving first media consumption information from a portable media metering device;

means for monitoring for second media consumption information;

means for comparing the first and second media consumption information; and

means for discarding at least some of the first and second media consumption information based on the comparison of the first and second media consumption information.

59. An apparatus as defined in claim 58, wherein means for discarding comprising means for discarding at least one of redundant information and erroneous information.

60. An apparatus as defined in claim 58 further comprising means for crediting a media program once as a result of the discarding the at least some of the first and second media consumption information.

61. A method of collecting media consumption data comprising:

generating a query associated with media output by a media presentation device; and

receiving input associated with the query from a monitored individual via a portable media metering device.

62. A method as defined in claim 61, wherein generating the query comprises generating the query in response to receiving media output data associated with the media output at one of a first media metering device and the portable media metering device.

63. A method as defined in claim 62, wherein the media output data comprises at least one of a video code, an audio code, a video signature, an audio signature, and metadata.

64. A method as defined in claim 61, wherein generating the query comprises generating the query in response to detecting a media output identifier associated with the media output.

65. A method as defined in claim 61, wherein the input associated with the query comprises at least one of an entry and a feedback from the monitored individual.

66. A method as defined in claim 61 further comprising coupling the portable media metering device to a docking station to at least one of enable transfer of the input via a network and recharge a battery disposed within the portable media metering device.

67. A method as defined in claim 66 further comprising prompting the monitored individual to at least one of disengage the portable media metering device from the docking station and couple the portable media metering device to the docking station.

68. A method as defined in claim 61 further comprising generating an alert associated with the query at one of a first media metering device and the portable media metering device.

69. A method as defined in claim 68, wherein the alert comprises at least one of an audio alert, a visual alert, and a mechanically-actuated alert.

70. A method as defined in claim 61 further comprising transmitting the input to at least one of a data collection facility and a first media metering device via a communication link.

71. A method as defined in claim 61, wherein the query comprises at least one of a survey question and a polling question.

72. A method as defined in claim 61, wherein the input comprises a feedback associated with the media presentation.

73. A method as defined in claim 61, wherein the portable media metering device comprises one of a portable telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a handheld computer.

74. A method as defined in claim 61, wherein the media output comprises at least one of a broadcast program, a movie, an advertisement, a video game, a website, an Internet file, and a preview of one of a broadcast program and a movie.

75. A machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed, cause a machine to:

generate a query associated with media output by a media presentation device; and

receive input associated with the query from a monitored individual via a portable media metering device.

76. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 75, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to generate the query by generating the query in response to receiving media output data associated with the media output at one of a first media metering device and the portable media metering device.

77. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 75, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to generate the query by generating the query in response to detecting a media output identifier associated with the media output.

78. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 75, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to prompt the monitored individual to at least one of disengage the portable media metering device from a docking station and couple to the portable media metering device to the docking station.

79. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 75, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to generate an alert associated with the query at one of a first media metering device and the portable media metering device.

80. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 75, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to transmit the input to at least one of a data collection facility and a first media metering device via a communication link.

81. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 75, wherein the query comprises at least one of a survey question and a polling question.

82. A portable apparatus for collecting media consumption data comprising:

a processor configured to generate a query associated with media output by a media presentation device; and

an interface configured to receive input associated with the query from a monitored individual.

83. An apparatus as defined in claim 82, wherein the processor is configured to generate the query in response to receiving media output data associated with the media output.

84. An apparatus as defined in claim 82, wherein the processor is configured to generate the query in response to detecting a media output identifier associated with the media output.

85. An apparatus as defined in claim 82, wherein the apparatus is coupled to a docking station to at least one of enable transfer of the input via a network and recharge a battery disposed within the apparatus.

86. An apparatus as defined in claim 85, wherein the processor is configured to prompt the monitored individual to at least one of disengage the apparatus from the docking station and couple the apparatus to the docking station.

87. An apparatus as defined in claim 82, wherein the processor is configured to generate an alert associated with the query.

88. An apparatus as defined in claim 82, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the input to at least one of a data collection facility and a first media metering device via a communication link.

89. An apparatus as defined in claim 82, wherein the query comprises at least one of a survey question and a polling question.

90. An apparatus as defined in claim 82, wherein the apparatus comprises one of a portable telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a handheld computer.

91. An apparatus as defined in claim 82, wherein the media output comprises at least one of a broadcast program, a movie, an advertisement, a video game, a website, an Internet file, and a preview of one of a broadcast program and a movie.

92. A portable apparatus for collecting media consumption data comprising:

means for generating a query associated with media output by a media presentation device; and

means for receiving input associated with the query from a monitored individual.

93. An apparatus as defined in claim 92, wherein the means for generating comprises means for generating the query in response to receiving media output data associated with the media output.

94. An apparatus as defined in claim 92, wherein the means for generating comprises means for generating the query in response to detecting a media output identifier associated with the media output.

95. An apparatus as defined in claim 92 further comprising means for prompting the monitored individual to at least one of disengage the apparatus from a docking station and couple the apparatus to the docking station.

96. An apparatus as defined in claim 92 further comprising means for generating an alert associated with the query.

97. An apparatus as defined in claim 92 further comprising means for transmitting the input to at least one of a data collection facility and a first media metering device.

98. A system for collecting media consumption data comprising:

a portable media metering device configured to monitor media consumption by a monitored individual; and

a first media metering device configured to monitor the portable media metering device and to change a monitoring operation of at least one of the portable media metering device and the first media metering device.

99. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein the portable media metering device is configured to monitor an orientation of the portable media metering device relative to the first media metering device.

100. A system as defined in claim 99, wherein the portable media metering device is configured to generate an alert in response to detecting a change in the orientation of the portable media metering device relative to the first media metering device.

101. A system as defined in claim 100, wherein the alert comprises at least one of an audio alert, a visual alert, and a mechanically-based alert.

102. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein the portable media metering device is configured to monitor for a vocal signal and to identify a monitored individual based on the vocal signal.

103. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein at least one of an identification device and the portable media metering device is configured to emit a registration signal to the first media metering device.

104. A system as defined in claim 103, wherein the registration signal comprises at least one of a continuous signal and a periodic signal.

105. A system as defined in claim 103, wherein the first media metering device is configured to emit a signal associated with a monitored location in response to receiving the registration signal.

106. A system as defined in claim 105, wherein the portable media metering device is configured to identify media consumption data as data associated with media consumption within the monitored location in response to receiving the signal associated with the monitoring location from the first media metering device.

107. A system as defined in claim 106, wherein the portable media monitoring device is configured to transmit the identified media consumption data to the first media metering device.

108. A system as defined in claim 107, wherein the first media metering device is configured to discard media output data from monitoring activity associated with media output by a media presentation device in response to receiving the identified media consumption data from the portable media monitoring device.

109. A system as defined in claim 103, wherein the first media metering device is configured to halt monitoring activity associated with media output by a media presentation device in response to receiving the registration signal.

110. A system as defined in claim 103, wherein the identification device is integrated into at least one of an article of jewelry and an article of clothing.

111. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein the portable media metering device is configured to identify media consumption data as data associated with media consumption outside of a monitored location in response to a failure to receive a signal associated with the monitored location from the first media metering device.

112. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein the first media metering device is configured to generate a query for the monitored individual.

113. A system as defined in claim 112, wherein the first media metering device is configured to prompt the monitored individual to disengage the portable media metering device from a docking station.

114. A system as defined in claim 113, wherein the portable media metering device is configured to prompt the monitored individual to couple the portable media metering device to the docking station in response to receiving an input associated with the query.

115. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein the first media metering device is configured to generate a query in response to detecting a media output identifier associated with a media output of a media presentation device.

116. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein the portable media metering device is configured to transmit an input associated with a query to the first media metering device.

117. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein the portable media metering device is configured to monitor media output by a media presentation device in response to detecting a condition indicative of the media presentation device being turned on.

118. A system as defined in claim 98, wherein the portable media metering device comprises one of a portable telephone, a personal digital assistant, and a handheld computer.