APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TRACKING AND ANALYZING DIGITAL RECORDING DEVICE EVENT SEQUENCES

• US 20080253748A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Conklin, Charles Clinton
• Granted Patent: US 9,991,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/124
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for tracking a sequence of events associated with a digital recording device are disclosed. An example method involves monitoring data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device. The example method also involves identifying event information associated with the digital media device based on the data and identifying the viewing information based on the event information.

Claims

1. A method for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device comprising:

monitoring data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device;

identifying event information associated with the digital media device based on the data; and

identifying the viewing information based on the event information.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein monitoring the data conveyed via the data bus comprises monitoring for a data packet having a characteristic.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein monitoring the data conveyed via the data bus comprises monitoring for at least one of a data packet size, a write command, or a read command.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising generating a sequence of events record based on the event information.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein identifying the viewing information based on the event information comprises identifying at least one of channel information, operational mode information, or recording information.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the channel information comprises at least one of a channel tuned to by the digital media device or a tuning source associated with the channel.

7. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the operational mode information comprises a time-shift speed associated with the digital media device corresponding to at least one of a play mode, a pause mode, a fast forward mode, or a rewind mode.

8. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the recording information comprises at least one of a recording habit, a recording time, or a recording source.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus uses at least one of a serial configuration or a parallel configuration.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data bus operates in accordance with an integrated drive electronics standard.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one of a magnetic storage medium, a solid state storage medium, or an optical storage medium.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the digital media device comprises a video recording device.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting the viewing information to a data collection facility.

14. An apparatus for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device comprising:

a monitor communicatively coupled to a data bus and configured to monitor data conveyed between a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device via the data bus;

a detector coupled to the monitor and configured to detect event information associated with the digital media device based on the data; and

an analyzer coupled to the extractor and configured to identify the viewing information based on the event information.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the monitor is configured to monitor for a data packet having a characteristic.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the monitor is configured to monitor for at least one of a data packet size, a write command, or a read command.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising an event record generator configured to generate a sequence of events record based on the data.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the viewing information comprises at least one of channel information, operational mode information, or recording information.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the channel information comprises at least one of a channel tuned to by the digital media device or a tuning source associated with the channel.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the operational mode information comprises a time-shift speed associated with the digital media device corresponding to at least one of a play mode, a pause mode, a fast forward mode, or a rewind mode.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the recording information comprises at least one of a recording habit, a recording time, or a recording source.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the data bus uses at least one of a serial configuration or a parallel configuration.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the data storage device comprises at least one of a magnetic storage medium, a solid state storage medium, or an optical storage medium.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the digital media device comprises a video recording device.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 further comprising a communication interface configured to transmit the viewing information to a data collection facility.

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

monitor data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with a digital media device;

identify event information associated with the digital media device based on the data; and

identify viewing information associated with the digital media device based on the event information.

27. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 26, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to monitor the data conveyed via the data bus by monitoring for a data packet having a characteristic.

28. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 26, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to monitor the data conveyed via the data bus by monitoring for at least one of a data packet size, a write command, or a read command.

29. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 26, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to generate a sequence of events record based on the event information.

30. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 26, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to identify the viewing information by identifying at least one of channel information, operational mode information, or recording information.

31. An apparatus for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device comprising:

means for monitoring data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device;

means for identifying event information associated with the digital media device based on the data; and

means for identifying the viewing information based on the event information.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring for a data packet having a characteristic.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring at least one of a data packet size, a write command, or read command.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, further comprising means for generating a sequence of events record from the data.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the means for identifying the viewing information comprises means for identifying at least one of channel information, operational mode information, or recording information