AUTOMATED PRESENCE FOR SET TOP BOXES
First Claim
1. A system for identifying the physical presence of a personal device associated with a particular viewer within a monitoring zone, the system comprising:
- at least one personal identification device comprising a wireless radio frequency transmitter, wherein the personal identification device is associated with a specific viewer and the effective range of the transmitter defines a media monitoring zone;
a content delivery component, wherein the component resides within said media monitoring zone;
a set top box component comprising a wireless radio frequency receiver, wherein the set top box component is communicatively coupled to said content delivery component and is operable to;
receive signal frequencies transmitted from the at least one personal identification device;
identify the viewer associated with the personal identification device, based at least in part on data transmitted via the received signal frequencies from the personal identification device; and
monitor media content displayed on a content display component.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Exemplary automated presence detection systems comprise set top box components equipped with a Bluetooth receiver, or another receiver configured to receive data from a personal identification device via a wireless and automatic radio frequency standard. In various embodiments, the Bluetooth receiver may be integrated into the set top box or may operate as an adjunct to an existing set top box. The wireless radio frequency receiver in the set top box will poll to determine the presence of previously paired personal identification devices. If any such device is present, then the set top box will track and record the presence of a viewer that is associated with the device and correlate the viewer'"'"'s presence with content displayed on the television or other local content display component. Alternatively, based on detected viewer presence, some embodiments of an automated presence detection system may be configured to push and/or restrict specific content. Further, some embodiments are configured to gather statistical data concerning viewer behavior and/or exposure to displayed content.
169 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for identifying the physical presence of a personal device associated with a particular viewer within a monitoring zone, the system comprising:
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at least one personal identification device comprising a wireless radio frequency transmitter, wherein the personal identification device is associated with a specific viewer and the effective range of the transmitter defines a media monitoring zone; a content delivery component, wherein the component resides within said media monitoring zone; a set top box component comprising a wireless radio frequency receiver, wherein the set top box component is communicatively coupled to said content delivery component and is operable to; receive signal frequencies transmitted from the at least one personal identification device; identify the viewer associated with the personal identification device, based at least in part on data transmitted via the received signal frequencies from the personal identification device; and monitor media content displayed on a content display component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for gathering statistical data via a set top box that comprises a wireless radio frequency receiver, a means for monitoring media content and a means for displaying media content, the method comprising the steps of:
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polling a media monitoring zone; detecting the presence of a personal identification device within the media monitoring zone that identifies an associated viewer; associating demographics of the identified viewer with media content to be displayed; tracking displayed media content while personal identification device remains within media monitoring zone; and mapping identified viewer demographics data to tracked displayed content data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for pushing media content via a set top box that comprises a wireless radio frequency receiver, a means for monitoring media content and a means for displaying media content, the method comprising the steps of:
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polling a media monitoring zone; detecting the presence of a personal identification device within the media monitoring zone that identifies an associated viewer; and based on the demographics of the identified viewer, pushing specific content to a content display component.
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Specification