Methods and apparatus to adaptively select sensor(s) to gather audience measurement data based on a variable system factor and a quantity of data collectable by the sensors

• US 7,793,316 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Arun, Mears, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US10/867,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,276 Days
• Field of Search: 725/9, 348/180, 705/14.44, 709/224
• US Class Current: 725/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/50 characterised by the use of watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 2201/90 characterised by the use of signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/37 for identifying segments of broadcast information, e.g. scenes or extracting programme ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/40 for identifying broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/43 for identifying broadcast channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/44 for identifying broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/56 Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/58 of audio determination or detection of speech characteristics in general G10L25/00; speech recognition in general G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/59 of video recognising characters or patterns in general G06F18/00, G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/241 Operating system [OS] processes, e.g. server setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4394 involving operations for analysing the audio stream, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in audio streams arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44213 : Monitoring of end-user related data arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 : Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 : Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 : Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 : directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to adaptively gather audience information data are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus monitor system factor(s) and select one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors positioned to gather audience measurement data based on the monitored factor(s). Thus, the disclosed methods and apparatus adapt to the conditions they face by selecting an amount and/or type of audience measurement data they gather.

Claims

1. A method of gathering audience measurement data comprising:

monitoring a variable system factor reflecting a current system condition, the variable system factor comprising at least one of;

(a) available bandwidth of a communication link between a local site and a remote site, (b) available storage capacity at the local site, (c) available storage capacity at the remote site, (d) processing speed associated with a processor at the local site, and (e) processing speed associated with a processor at the remote site;

summing a number of bytes of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by a plurality of sensors located to develop the audience measurement data at the local site, the plurality of sensors being located at the same local site;

adaptively selecting, using a processor, at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on a comparison involving (a) the variable system factor and (b) the number of bytes of data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors to adapt to the current system condition;

storing the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor; and

,

at least one of ignoring or discarding data developed from a sensor in the plurality of sensors at the local site that is not one of the at least one selected sensor.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of:

(a) an audio code sensor, (b) a video code sensor, (c) an audio signature sensor, (d) a video signature sensor, (e) a software meter sensor, (f) a digital bitstream sensor;

(g) an on-screen display sensor;

(h) an AMOL decoder;

(i) an audio watermarking sensor; and

(j) a video watermarking sensor.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising selecting the at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on at least one of:

(a) a presence of an audio code, (b) a presence of a video code, (c) audible noise at the local site, and (d) a condition of a set top box.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising transmitting the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor from a local site to a remote site.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein storing the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor comprises storing the data developed by the at least one selected sensor in a local storage device.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein storing the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor comprises:

transmitting the data developed by the at least one selected sensor; and

storing the data developed by the at least one selected sensor in a remote storage device.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising selecting a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein selecting a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality comprises selecting the preference ranking based on a fixed system factor.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

10. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising selecting a rule defining a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality from a set of rules defining a set of preference rankings for the sensors in the plurality.

11. A method as defined in claim 10 wherein selecting a rule defining a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality from a set of rules comprises selecting the rule based on a fixed system factor.

12. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

13. A non-transitory medium storing machine readable instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

monitor a variable system factor, the variable system factor comprising at least one of;

(a) available bandwidth of a communication link between a local site and a remote site, (b) available storage capacity at the local site, (c) available storage capacity at the remote site, (d) processing speed associated with a processor at the local site, and (e) processing speed associated with a processor at the remote site;

sum an amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by a plurality of sensors located to develop the audience measurement data at the local site to provide a measure of the number of bytes of audience measurement data that is currently capable of being collectively gathered from the plurality of sensors;

adaptively select at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on a comparison involving (a) the variable system factor and (b) the number of bytes of data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors;

store the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor; and

at least one of ignore or discard data developed from a sensor in the plurality of sensors that is not one of the at least one selected sensor.

14. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 13 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of:

(a) an audio code sensor, (b) a video code sensor, (c) an audio signature sensor, (d) a video signature sensor, (e) a software meter sensor, (f) a digital bitstream sensor;

(g) an on-screen display sensor;

(h) an AMOL decoder;

(i) an audio watermarking sensor; and

(j) a video watermarking sensor.

15. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 13 wherein, when executed, the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to select the at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on at least one of:

(a) a presence of an audio code, (b) a presence of a video code, (c) audible noise at the local site, and (d) a condition of a set top box.

16. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 13 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to transmit the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor from a local site to a remote site.

17. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 13 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to store the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor in a local storage device.

18. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 13 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to:

transmit the data developed by the at least one selected sensor; and

store the data developed by the at least one selected sensor in a remote storage device.

19. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 13 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to select a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality.

20. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 19 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to select the preference ranking based on a fixed system factor.

21. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 20 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

22. A non-transitory medium as defined in claim 13 wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to select a rule defining a preference ranking for the sensors in the plurality from a set of rules defining a set of preference rankings for the sensors in the plurality.

23. A tangible non-transitory medium as defined in claim 22 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to select the rule based on a fixed system factor.

24. A tangible non-transitory medium as defined in claim 23 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

25. An apparatus to gather audience measurement data comprising:

a plurality of sensors located to gather audience measurement data;

a switch coupled to the sensors to selectively connect the sensors to an output; and

a sensor selector to select which of the sensors the switch connects to the output based on a comparison involving (a) a number of bytes of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being collectively gathered by the plurality of sensors and (b) at least one variable system factor.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein the switch has a first state in which a first set of the sensors in the plurality are connected to the output and a second state in which a second set of the sensors in the plurality are connected to the output.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the first set has at least one member.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein the second set includes at least one member different than the first set.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein the second set includes no members.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein the plurality of sensors comprise at least one of:

(a) an audio code sensor, (b) a video code sensor, (c) an audio signature sensor, (d) a video signature sensor, (e) a software meter sensor, (f) a digital bitstream sensor;

(g) an on-screen display sensor;

(h) an AMOL decoder;

(i) an audio watermarking sensor; and

(j) a video watermarking sensor.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein the variable system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of an audio code, (b) a presence of a video code, (c) available bandwidth of a communication link between a home site and a remote site, (d) available storage capacity at the home site, (e) available storage capacity at the remote site, (f) processing speed associated with a processor at the local site, (g) processing speed associated with a processor at the remote site, (h) audible noise at the local site, and (i) a condition of a set top box.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein the sensor selector comprises a sensor tester to identify any of the sensors in the plurality of sensors which outputs valid data as valid sensors.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 further comprising an output measuring unit to measure data output by the sensors coupled to the output and to compute the amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 further comprising a processing speed tester to determine if a processor operates at sufficient speed to process the data output by the sensors.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein the processor is a local processor with respect to the sensors.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein the processor is a remote processor with respect to the sensors.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein the switch is responsive to the processing speed tester to isolate the output of at least one of the sensors from the output if the processor is not presently capable of operating at sufficient speed to process the amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 further comprising a storage monitor to determine if a storage device has sufficient capacity to store at least a subset of the amount of audience measurement data that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors.

39. An apparatus as defined in claim 38 further comprising a bandwidth sensor to determine a bandwidth associated with a communication link.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein the storage monitor uses the bandwidth determined by the bandwidth sensor to determine a rate of growth associated with the subset.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein the storage device is a local storage device relative to the communication link.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein the storage device is a remote storage device relative to the communication link.

43. An apparatus as defined in claim 38 wherein the switch is responsive to the storage monitor to disconnect at least one of the sensors if the storage monitor does not have sufficient capacity to store at least the subset of the data output by the sensors.

44. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 further comprising a weighting selector to determine a ranking of the sensors.

45. An apparatus as defined in claim 44 wherein the weighting selector determines the ranking of the sensors based upon at least one fixed system factor.

46. An apparatus as defined in claim 45 wherein the fixed system factor comprises at least one of:

(a) a presence of two or more affiliates of a broadcasting company in a market, (b) a local preference for a sensor type, (c) a presence of a set top box having an interactive program guide;

(d) a type of communication link;

(e) a cost of using a sensor type;

(f) a complexity of using a sensor type;

(g) a presence of a viewing time shifting device; and

(h) a presence of a viewing place shifting device.

47. A computer-implemented method of gathering audience measurement data comprising:

ranking, using a processor, a plurality of sensors based on at least one fixed system factor;

selecting, using the processor, a set of the sensors in the plurality of sensors from which to collect audience measurement data based on an adaptive comparison involving (a) a number of bytes of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors to (b) at least one variable system factor; and

outputting an audience measurement report based on the audience measurement data collected with the selected set of sensors.

48. A method as defined in claim 47 wherein ranking the plurality of sensors comprises establishing a relative preference order for the sensors in the plurality.

49. A method as defined in claim 48 wherein selecting the set of the sensors in the plurality is performed in accordance with the relative preference order.

50. A method as defined in claim 47 wherein selecting a set of the sensors is repeated periodically.

51. A method as defined in claim 47 wherein selecting a set of the sensors is repeated if at least one of the variable system factors changes by a predetermined amount.