Universal display media exposure measurement

• US 6,958,710 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Issued: 10/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Arbitron Inc. (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Jack K., Crystal, Jack C., Jensen, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/329,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 340/999, 340/905, 340/933, 340/825.49, 340/573.1, 455/517
• US Class Current: 340/999
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for gathering data concerning exposure of predetermined survey participants to billboards are provided. A portable transmitter is arranged to transmit a signal containing survey participant data, and a receiver located proximately to the billboard serves to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter.

Claims

1. A system for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the system comprising:

at least one portable transmitter arranged to be carried on the person of at least one survey participant, the at least one portable transmitter operative to transmit signals containing survey participant data;

a receiver/transmitter arranged to receive the signals containing survey participant data from the at least one portable transmitter and operative to transmit a signal containing survey participant data; and

a receiver located proximately to the billboard, the receiver being arranged to receive the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one portable transmitter comprises a plurality of portable transmitters each arranged to be carried on the person of one of a plurality of survey participants and wherein each of the plurality of portable transmitters is operative to transmit a signal containing survey participant data.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the receiver/transmitter is arranged to transmit a plurality of signals, each of the plurality of signals corresponding to a signal from a respective one of the plurality of portable transmitters.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the receiver/transmitter transmits a single signal containing survey participant data based upon survey participant data contained in a plurality of signals from the plurality of portable transmitters.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a portable media monitor arranged to be carried on the person of the at least one survey participant and operative to monitor exposure thereof to media data, the at least one portable transmitter being carried in an enclosure with the portable media monitor.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the signals received by the receiver/transmitter and the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter have the same transmission format.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the signals received by the receiver/transmitter and the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter have different transmission formats.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter has a transmission range greater than the signals received by the receiver/transmitter.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver/transmitter is located in a vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one portable transmitter is carried on the person of at least one survey participant traveling in the vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the receiver is operative to supplement the survey participant data received by the receiver with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a communication device operative to communicate the survey participant data to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the survey participant data.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the survey participant data to the billboard exposure data producing system as the survey participant data is received by the receiver.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising a memory coupled with the receiver to store the survey participant data and wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the stored survey participant data to the billboard exposure data producing system.

15. A method for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a signal containing survey participant data from at least one portable transmitter carried on the person of at least one survey participant;

receiving the signal containing survey participant data from the at least one portable transmitter with a receiver/transmitter and transmitting a signal containing survey participant data with the receiver/transmitter; and

receiving the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter with a receiver located proximately to the billboard.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one portable transmitter comprises a plurality of portable transmitters each carried on the person of a respective one of a plurality of survey participants and wherein the plurality of portable transmitters transmit a plurality of signals.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising transmitting the signal containing survey participant data from at least one portable transmitter carried on the person of the at least one survey participant in an enclosure with a media data monitor.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the receiver/transmitter transmits a plurality of signals, each of the plurality of signals corresponding to one of the plurality of signals received by the receiver/transmitter.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the receiver/transmitter transmits a single signal containing survey participant data based upon the survey participant data contained in each of the plurality of signals received by the receiver/transmitter.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the signals received by the receiver/transmitter and the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter have the same data format.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the signals received by the receiver/transmitter and the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter have different data formats.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter has a transmission range greater than the signals received by the receiver/transmitter.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of supplementing the survey participant data received by the receiver with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of communicating the survey participant data received by the receiver to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the survey participant data.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of communicating the survey participant data is performed as the survey participant data is received by the receiver.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of storing the received survey participant data in a memory and wherein the step of communicating the survey participant data comprises communicating the stored, received survey participant data.

27. A system for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the system comprising:

a receiver/transmitter arranged to receive a signal containing survey participant data from a transmitter and to transmit a signal containing survey participant data; and

a receiver located proximately to the billboard, the receiver serving to receive the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the signal received by the receiver/transmitter is received from a portable transmitter capable of being carried on the person of a survey participant.

29. The system of claim 28 comprising a portable transmitter capable of being carried on the person of a survey participant and operative to transmit the signal containing survey participant data.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising means for carrying the portable transmitter on the person of the survey participant.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the means for carrying the portable transmitter comprises an enclosure for the portable transmitter, further comprising a portable media monitor in the enclosure operative to monitor exposure to media data.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein the receiver/transmitter is located in a vehicle.

33. The system of claim 32 further comprising means for mounting the portable transmitter in the vehicle.

34. The system of claim 32 further comprising a portable transmitter arranged to be carried on the person of a survey participant traveling in the vehicle.

35. The system of claim 27 wherein the signal received by the receiver/transmitter and the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter have a common data format.

36. The system of claim 27 wherein the receiver/transmitter is operative to modify a data format of the signal received thereby for transmission to the receiver.

37. The system of claim 27 wherein the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter has a transmission range greater than the signal received by the receiver/transmitter.

38. The system of claim 27 wherein the receiver supplements the survey participant data received by the receiver with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

39. The system of claim 27 further comprising a communication device coupled with the receiver to communicate the survey participant data to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the survey participant data.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the survey participant data to the billboard exposure data producing system as the survey participant data is received by the receiver.

41. The system of claim 39 further comprising a memory coupled with the receiver to store the survey participant data and wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the stored survey participant data to the billboard exposure data producing system.

42. A method for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving with a receiver/transmitter a signal containing survey participant data from a transmitter and transmitting with the receiver/transmitter a signal containing survey participant data; and

receiving the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter with a receiver located proximately to the billboard.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the signal received with the receiver/transmitter is received from a portable transmitter carried on the person of a survey participant.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of carrying the receiver/transmitter in a vehicle.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the signal received with the receiver/transmitter is received from a portable transmitter carried on the person of a survey participant traveling in the vehicle.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein the signal received by the receiver/transmitter and the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter have the same data format.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein the signal received by the receiver/transmitter and the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter have different data formats.

48. The method of claim 42 wherein the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter has a transmission range greater than the signal received by the receiver/transmitter.

49. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of supplementing the survey participant data received by the receiver with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

50. The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of communicating the survey participant data received by the receiver to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the survey participant data.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of communicating the survey participant data is performed as the survey participant data is received by receiver.

52. The method of claim 50 further comprising the step of storing the received survey participant data in a memory as it is received and wherein the step of communicating the survey participant data comprises communicating the stored, received survey participant data.

53. A system for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the system comprising:

a portable transmitter arranged to transmit, on a continuous basis or from time to time in response to an internal control, a signal containing survey participant data; and

a receiver located proximately to the billboard, the receiver serving to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the portable transmitter is capable of being carried on the person of a survey participant.

55. The system of claim 54 further comprising means for carrying the portable transmitter on the person of the survey participant.

56. The system of claim 55 further comprising a portable media monitor operative to monitor exposure to media data and carried in an enclosure with the portable transmitter.

57. The system of claim 53 wherein the portable transmitter is capable of being carried in a vehicle in which a survey participant is traveling.

58. The system of claim 57 further comprising means for mounting the portable transmitter in the vehicle.

59. The system of claim 53 wherein the survey participant data comprises a unique identifier.

60. The system of claim 53 wherein the survey participant data comprises demographic information about the survey participant.

61. The system of claim 53 wherein the receiver supplements the survey participant data received by the receiver with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

62. The system of claim 53 further comprising a communication device coupled with the receiver to communicate the survey participant data to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the survey participant data.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the survey participant data to the billboard exposure data producing system as the survey participant data is received by the receiver.

64. The system of claim 62 further comprising a memory coupled with the receiver to store the survey participant data as it is received and wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the stored survey participant data to the billboard exposure data producing system.

65. A system for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the system comprising:

a portable transmitter arranged to transmit a signal containing a unique survey participant identifier; and

,

a receiver located proximately to the billboard, the receiver serving to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the portable transmitter is capable of being carried on the person of a survey participant.

67. The system of claim 66 further comprising means for carrying the portable transmitter on the person of the survey participant.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the means for carrying the portable transmitter comprises an enclosure for the portable transmitter, further comprising a portable media monitor in the enclosure operative to monitor exposure to media data.

69. The system of claim 65 wherein the portable transmitter is capable of being carried in a vehicle in which a survey participant is traveling.

70. The system of claim 69 further comprising means for mounting the portable transmitter in the vehicle.

71. The system of claim 65 wherein the receiver is operative to supplement the survey participant identifier received by the receiver with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

72. The system of claim 65 further comprising a communication device coupled with the receiver to communicate the survey participant data to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the unique survey participant identifier.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the unique survey participant identifier to the billboard exposure data producing system as the unique survey participant identifier is received by the receiver.

74. The system of claim 72 further comprising a memory coupled with the receiver to store the unique survey participant identifier as it is received and wherein the communication device is operative to communicate stored unique survey participant identifiers to the billboard exposure data producing system.

75. A method for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting on a continuous basis or from time to time in response to an internal control a signal containing survey participant data from a portable transmitter; and

receiving the signal transmitted by the transmitter with a receiver located proximately to the billboard.

76. The method of claim 75 further comprising the step of carrying the portable transmitter on the person of a survey participant.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the step of carrying the portable transmitter comprises the step of carrying a portable media monitor in an enclosure with the portable transmitter on the person of the survey participant, and comprising monitoring exposure of the survey participant to media data by means of the portable media monitor.

78. The method of claim 75 further comprising the step of carrying the portable transmitter in a vehicle in which a survey participant is traveling.

79. The method of claim 75 further comprising the step of supplementing the survey participant data received by the receiver with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

80. The method of claim 75 further comprising the step of communicating the survey participant data received by the receiver to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the survey participant data.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein the step of communicating the survey participant data is performed as the survey participant data is received by receiver.

82. The method of claim 80 further comprising the step of storing the received survey participant data in a memory and wherein the step of communicating the survey participant data comprises communicating the stored, received survey participant data.

83. A system for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the system comprising:

a receiver located proximately to the billboard, the receiver being arranged to receive a signal indicative of a survey participant'"'"'s presence in a viewing area of the billboard, the signal including survey participant data; and

a communication device operative to communicate the survey participant data to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the survey participant data.

84. The system of claim 83 wherein the receiver is arranged to receive the signal from a portable transmitter carried on the person of a survey participant.

85. The system of claim 84 wherein the receiver is arranged to receive the signal on a continuous basis or from time to time.

86. The system of claim 85 wherein the survey participant data contains a unique survey participant identifier.

87. The system of claim 83 wherein the receiver is operative to supplement the survey participant data with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

88. The system of claim 83 wherein:

the receiver is operative to receive the signal from a receiver/transmitter; and

wherein the signal received from the receiver/transmitter is based upon a signal received from a portable transmitter.

89. The system of claim 83 wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the survey participant data to the billboard exposure data producing system as the survey participant data is received by the receiver.

90. The system of claim 83 further comprising a memory operative to store the survey participant data and wherein the communication device is operative to communicate the stored survey participant data to the billboard exposure data producing system.

91. A method for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal indicative of a survey participant'"'"'s presence in a viewing area of the billboard with a receiver located proximately to the billboard, the signal including survey participant data; and

communicating the survey participant data to a billboard exposure data producing system for producing billboard exposure data based upon the survey participant data.

92. The method of claim 91 further comprising the step of, before the receiving step, transmitting a signal indicative of a survey participant'"'"'s presence in a viewing area of the billboard on a continuous basis or from time to time in response to an internal control by means of a portable transmitter.

93. The method of claim 91 further comprising the step of supplementing the survey participant data with data concerning the time and date the signal was received by the receiver.

94. The method of claim 91 wherein:

the signal is received from a receiver/transmitter; and

wherein the signal transmitted by the receiver/transmitter is based upon a signal received from a portable transmitter.

95. The method of claim 91 wherein the step of communicating the survey participant data is performed as the survey participant data is received by the receiver.

96. The method of claim 91 further comprising the step of storing the received survey participant data in a memory and wherein the step of communicating the survey participant data comprises communicating the stored, received survey participant data.

97. A portable device for use with a system for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the portable device comprising:

a transmitter arranged to transmit on a continuous basis or from time to time in response to an internal control a signal indicative of the survey participant'"'"'s presence in a viewing area of the billboard, the signal including survey participant data.

98. The portable device of claim 97 wherein the portable device is arranged to be carried on the person of a survey participant.

99. The portable device of claim 97 wherein the portable device is capable of being carried in a vehicle in which a survey participant is traveling.

100. The portable device of claim 97 wherein the survey participant data comprises a unique identifier.

101. The portable device of claim 97 wherein the survey participant data comprises demographic information about the survey participant.

102. The portable device of claim 97 further comprising a media data monitor arranged to monitor exposure of the survey participant to media data.

103. The portable device of claim 102 wherein the media data monitor comprises an acoustic transducer operative to receive audio media data and to produce non-acoustic media data therefrom, and a detector coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the non-acoustic media data and operative to produce media data exposure data therefrom.

104. The portable device of claim 103 wherein the detector is operative to detect an ancillary code in the non-acoustic media data.

105. A method for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting with a portable transmitter on a continuous basis or from time to time in response to an internal control a signal indicative of a survey participant'"'"'s presence in a viewing area of the billboard, the signal including survey participant data.

106. The method of claim 105 further comprising the step of carrying the portable transmitter on the person of a survey participant.

107. The method of claim 105 further comprising the step of carrying the portable transmitter in a vehicle in which a survey participant is traveling.

108. The method of claim 105 wherein the survey participant data comprises a unique identifier.

109. The method of claim 105 wherein the survey participant data comprises demographic information about the survey participant.

110. The method of claim 105 further comprising the step of monitoring the exposure of the survey participant to media data by means of a portable media data monitor carried on the person of the survey participant in an enclosure with the portable transmitter.

111. The method of claim 110 wherein said monitoring step comprises the steps of:

receiving audio media data in the portable media data monitor and producing non-acoustic media data therefrom; and

producing media data exposure data from the non-acoustic media data.

112. The method of claim 111 further comprising the step of detecting an ancillary code in the non-acoustic media data.

113. A portable billboard and media data exposure monitor arranged to be carried on the person of a participant, comprising:

billboard exposure means for producing billboard exposure monitoring data;

a media data exposure monitor; and

an enclosure containing the billboard exposure means and the media data exposure monitor.

114. The monitor of claim 113 further comprising means for securing the monitor to the person of the participant.

115. The monitor of claim 113 wherein the billboard exposure means comprises a receiver arranged to receive a billboard proximity signal.

116. The monitor of claim 113 wherein the billboard exposure means comprises a transmitter arranged to transmit participant data to a billboard exposure data receiver.

117. The monitor of claim 113 wherein the media data exposure monitor comprises an acoustic transducer operative to receive audio media data and to produce non-acoustic media data therefrom, and a detector coupled with the acoustic transducer to receive the non-acoustic media data and operative to produce the media data exposure data therefrom.

118. The monitor of claim 117 wherein the detector is operative to detect an ancillary code in the non-acoustic media data.

119. A method for measuring the exposure of survey participants to media data as well as to a billboard, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a billboard exposure monitoring means and a media data exposure monitor within an enclosure;

producing media data exposure data with the media data exposure monitor; and

producing billboard exposure data with the billboard exposure monitoring means.

120. The method of claim 119 further comprising the step of securing the enclosure to the person of the survey participant.

121. The method of claim 119 wherein the step of producing billboard exposure data comprises the step of receiving a billboard proximity signal.

122. The method of claim 119 wherein the step of producing billboard exposure data comprises the step of transmitting participant data to a billboard exposure data receiver.

123. The method of claim 119 further comprising the steps of:

receiving audio media data in the media data exposure monitor and producing non-acoustic media data therefrom; and

producing media data exposure data from the non-acoustic media data.

124. The method of claim 123 further comprising the step of detecting an ancillary code in the non-acoustic media data.

125. A transmitter/receiver for use with a system for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, the transmitter/receiver being arranged to receive first signals containing survey participant data from at least one portable transmitter and to transmit second signals based upon the received first signals to a receiver located proximately to the billboard.

126. The system of claim 125 wherein the receiver/transmitter is located in a vehicle.

127. The system of claim 126 wherein the receiver/transmitter is arranged to receive the first signals from at least one portable transmitter carried on the person of at least one survey participant traveling in the vehicle.

128. The system of claim 125 wherein the receiver/transmitter is arranged to transmit the second signals having a common data format as the received first signals.

129. The system of claim 125 wherein the receiver/transmitter is operative to modify a data format of the received first signals for transmission of the second signals.

130. The system of claim 125 wherein the second signals transmitted by the receiver/transmitter have a transmission range greater than the received first signals.

131. The system of claim 125 wherein the at least one portable transmitter comprises a plurality of portable transmitters each arranged to be carried on the person of one of a plurality of survey participants and wherein each of the plurality of portable transmitters is operative to transmit a signal containing survey participant data.

132. The system of claim 131 wherein the receiver/transmitter is arranged to transmit a plurality of signals, each of the plurality of signals corresponding to a signal from a respective one of the plurality of portable transmitters.

133. The system of claim 131 wherein the receiver/transmitter transmits a single signal containing survey participant data based upon survey participant data contained in a plurality of signals from the plurality of portable transmitters.

134. A method for measuring the exposure of survey participants to a billboard, comprising the steps of:

receiving first signals containing survey participant data from at least one portable transmitter; and

transmitting second signals based upon the received first signals to a receiver located proximately to the billboard.

135. The method of claim 134 wherein the transmitted second signals have a common data format as the received first signals.

136. The method of claim 134 further comprising, before the transmitting step, the step of modifying a data format of the received first signals to create second signals.

137. The method of claim 134 wherein the transmitted second signals have a transmission range greater than the received first signals.

138. The method of claim 134 wherein the at least one portable transmitter comprises a plurality of portable transmitters each arranged to be carried on the person of one of a plurality of survey participants and wherein each of the plurality of portable transmitters transmits a signal containing survey participant data.

139. The method of claim 138 wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting a plurality of signals to a receiver located proximately to the billboard, each of the plurality of signals corresponding to a signal from a respective one of the plurality of portable transmitters.

140. The method of claim 138 wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of transmitting a single signal containing survey participant data based upon survey participant data contained in a plurality of signals received from the plurality of portable transmitters.