Methods and systems for gathering research data for media from multiple sources

• US 20070288277A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Neuhauser, Alan, Crystal, Jack, Flanagan, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US11/643,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20070288277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

Methods and systems for gathering multimedia data with a Portable User Appliance (PUA) are disclosed. Audio data is received from a first source and at least one of presentation data and metadata of presentation data from a second source. First research data is produced from the audio data and second research data is produced from the at least one of the presentation data and the metadata of the presentation data.

Claims

1. A system implemented in a PUA for gathering research data concerning exposure of a user of the PUA to data from multiple sources, comprising:

a first input operative to receive first audio data from a first source;

a second input operative to receive at least one of presentation data and metadata of presentation data from a second source;

a processor coupled with the first input and being operative to produce first research data from the first audio data and coupled with the second input and being operative to produce second research data from the at least one of presentation data and metadata of presentation data; and

storage coupled with the processor and operative to store the first research data and the second research data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a presentation device is coupled with the processor to receive presentation data and operative to provide a presentation to the user based on the presentation data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to execute applications serving to download audio and video data.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the PUA comprises one of a cellular telephone and a PDA.

4. A system implemented in a PUA for gathering research data concerning exposure of a user of the PUA to data from multiple sources, comprising:

a microphone operative to transduce acoustic energy to sound data; and

a processor operative to process the sound data and media data received in non-acoustic form for one of presentation to the user and communication from the PUA;

the processor being configured to gather research data from the sound data and from the media data and/or metadata of the media data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a communications is operative to communicate the research data to a research organization.

6. The system of claim 4, comprising a source of location data indicating a location of the PUA.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the research data collector comprises at least one of a satellite location signal receiver, a terrestrial location signal receiver, a wireless networking device that receives location data from a network, an inertial location monitoring device and a location data producing service provided by a cellular telephone service provider.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the source of location data comprises at least one of a device for monitoring exposure to print media, a device for determining whether the user is at home or out of home, a device for monitoring exposure to products, a device for monitoring exposure to displays, a device for monitoring presence within or near commercial establishments and a device for gathering research data.

9. The system of claim 4, comprising at least one of a motion detector, accelerometer, temperature detector, proximity detector, satellite positioning signal receiver, RFID reader, RF receiver, wireless networking transceiver, wireless device coupling transceiver, pressure detector, deformation detector, electric field sensor, magnetic field sensor, optical sensor, and electrode.

25. The system of claim 4, wherein the PUA comprises one of a cellular telephone and a PDA.

10. A system implemented in a PUA for gathering research data concerning exposure of a user of the PUA to data from multiple sources, comprising:

a microphone operative to transduce acoustic energy to sound data;

a processor operative to process the sound data and media data received in non-acoustic form for at least one of presentation to the user and communication from the PUA;

storage coupled with the processor to store the sound data and the media data; and

a research data monitor coupled with the processor for gathering research data for the sound data and the media data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the research data monitor is affixed to an outer surface of the PUA.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the research data monitor comprises:

a processor operative to process sound data and media data received in non-acoustic form for one of presentation to the user and communication from the PUA;

a research data collector coupled with the processor for gathering research data for the sound data and the media data; and

a communications coupled with the processor to receive the research data and operative to communicate the research data to a research organization;

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor comprises:

a first processing device for processing research data; and

a second processing device for exercising control over operation of the research data monitor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the research data collector comprises a microphone coupled with the processor for gathering research data to be communicated to a research organization.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the research data collector comprises a keypad for enabling the user to input data.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the research data monitor comprises an RF receiver.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the research data monitor comprises a location data producing device for indicating a location of the monitor.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the research data monitor comprises at least one of a device for monitoring exposure to print media, a device for determining whether the user is at home or out of home, a device for monitoring exposure to products, a device for monitoring exposure to displays, a device for monitoring presence within or near commercial establishments and a device for gathering research data.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the research data monitor comprises at least one of a motion detector, accelerometer, temperature detector, proximity detector, satellite positioning signal receiver, RFID reader, RF receiver, wireless networking transceiver, wireless device coupling transceiver, pressure detector, deformation detector, electric field sensor, magnetic field sensor, optical sensor, and electrode.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the research data monitor is fabricated on one of a printed circuit board and a flexible substrate.

21. The system of claim 12, further comprising a research data gathering device adapted to be carried on the person of the user and operative to gather research data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the research data gathering device is separate from the PUA.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the research data gathering device is contained in the PUA.

26. The system of claim 10, wherein the PUA comprises one of a cellular telephone and a PDA.

27. A process carried out in a PUA for gathering research data concerning exposure of a user of the PUA to data from multiple sources, comprising:

receiving first audio data from a first source;

receiving at least one of presentation data and metadata of presentation data from a second source;

producing first research data from the first audio data and second research data from the at least one presentation data and metadata of presentation data; and

storing the first research data and the second research data.

29. The process of claim 27, wherein the PUA comprises one of a cellular telephone and a PDA.

28. A process implemented in a PUA for gathering research data concerning exposure of a user of the PUA to data from multiple sources, comprising:

transducing acoustic energy to sound data;

processing the sound data and media data received by the PUA in non-acoustic form for one of presentation to the user and communication from the PUA;

storing the sound data and the media data; and

gathering research data for the sound data and for the media data to be communicated to a research organization.

30. The process of claim 28, wherein the PUA comprises one of a cellular telephone and a PDA.

31. A method for gathering research data, comprising:

transducing acoustic energy to audio data;

receiving media data in non-acoustic form in a PUA; and

producing research data based on the audio data and based on the media data and/or metadata of the media data.

32. A system for gathering research data, comprising:

a PUA comprising a processor and first communications coupled with the processor;

the PUA being operative to receive media data in non-acoustic form via the first communications and to process the received media data for at least one of presentation to a user and communication from the PUA;

a research data gathering system coupled with or implemented by the processor and operative to gather research data based on the received media data and/or metadata of the media data; and

an acoustic transducer operative to receive acoustic energy and produce audio data therefrom;

the research data gathering system being coupled with the microphone to receive the audio data and operative to gather research data based on the audio data.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the processor is coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the audio data therefrom, and the research data gathering system is coupled with the processor to receive the audio data therefrom.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the research data gathering system is coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the audio data.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the PUA is carried in a first housing and the research data gathering system and the acoustic transducer are carried in a second housing, and comprising second communications in the second housing coupled with the first communications to receive the media data and/or the metadata of the media data and coupled with the research data gathering system to supply the media data and/or the metadata of the media data thereto.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first and second communications are coupled by a wireless link.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein the research data gathering system and the acoustic transducer are implemented by the PUA.