METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ENFORCE A POWER OFF STATE OF AN AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT DEVICE DURING SHIPPING

• US 20100169908A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Christen V.
• Application Number:
  US12/346,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169908A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/35 Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to enforce a power off state of an audience measurement device during shipping of the device are disclosed herein. An example portable audience measurement device includes a housing, a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data and a packaging sensor to detect an environmental condition exterior to the device. A packaging detector compares the detected environmental condition to a criterion to determine whether the device is located within the package.

Claims

1. An audience measurement device, comprising:

a housing;

a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data;

a packaging sensor to detect an environmental condition exterior to the housing;

a packaging detector to compare the detected environmental condition to a criterion to determine whether the device is located within a package.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the packaging detector causes the device to at least partially power down when the packaging detector determines that the device is located within the package.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a memory to store the collected media exposure data.

4. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein the packaging detector maintains a supply of power to a clock when the packaging detector determines that the device is located within the package.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the package is a mailer.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the media exposure data comprises at least one of a signature or a code to which the device is exposed.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a real-time clock.

8. A device as defined in claim 7, further comprising a user interface to communicate information to a user, the user interface to display a message to the user based upon the real-time clock.

9. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the environmental condition is at least one of a light level, a radio-frequency disturbance, a distance between the housing and an object exterior to the housing, or a volume of free space adjacent the housing.

10. An audience measurement device, comprising:

a housing;

a media detector in the housing to collect media exposure data; and

a light sensor to detect light in the environment adjacent the housing, the light sensor to cause the media detector to at least partially power down when the light sensor detects less than a threshold amount of light.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, further comprising a packaging detector to compare the detected light to a threshold to determine when the device is located within a package.

12. A device as defined in claim 11, further comprising a memory to store the collected media exposure data.

13. A device as defined in claim 11, further comprising a real-time clock.

14. A device as defined in claim 13, further comprising a user interface to communicate information to a user, the user interface to display a message to the user based upon a time indicated by the real-time clock.

15. A method of enforcing a power down state in an audience measurement device during shipping of the device, comprising:

detecting an environmental condition exterior to the audience measurement device;

comparing the detected environmental condition to a criterion to determine whether the device is located within a container; and

powering off at least a portion of the audience measurement device if the device is located within the container.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the environmental condition is a light level and the criterion is a threshold.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the environmental condition is at least one of a light level, a radio-frequency disturbance, a distance between the housing and an object exterior to the housing, or a volume of free space adjacent the housing.

18. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising powering on the audience measurement device if the device is not located within the container.

19. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising collecting media exposure data with the audience measurement device.

20. A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause a machine to:

detect an environmental condition exterior to an audience measurement device;

compare the detected environmental condition to a criterion to determine whether the device is located within a container; and

power off at least a portion of the audience measurement device if the device is located within the container.