Methods and apparatus for metering printed media

• US 8,181,848 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Olmsted, Wayne Asa, Conklin, Charles Clinton, Hicks, Michael Alan, Luff, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/064,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20090201132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/492, 705/7.29
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07327 Passive means, e.g. Faraday cages Faraday-type protection of electric circuits in general H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06375 Prediction of business process outcome or impact based on a proposed change
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for metering printed media are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus comprises a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to adhere to a first leaflet of a printed media at a first location; a second RFID tag to adhere to a second leaflet of the printed media at a second location of the second leaflet, the first and second locations being substantially a same location; and a first RFID absorber to adhere to a third leaflet of the printed media such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the first and the third leaflets, the second RFID tag is inactive, and such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the second and the third leaflets, the first RFID tag is inactive.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to adhere to a first leaflet of a printed media at a first location;

a second RFID tag to adhere to a second leaflet of the printed media at a second location, the first and second locations being substantially a same location;

a first RFID absorber to adhere to a third leaflet of the printed media at a third location such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the first and the third leaflets, the second RFID tag is inactive, and such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the second and the third leaflets, the first RFID tag is inactive; and

a third RFID tag to adhere to a fourth leaflet such that the first RFID absorber does not inactivate the third RFID tag.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device to communicate with the first and the second RFID tags.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second RFID absorber to adhere to a fifth leaflet of the printed media at a fourth location such that when the printed media is positioned to expose the fourth and fifth leaflets, the third RFID tag is active, and such that the second RFID absorber can not inactivate the first and the second RFID tags.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second RFID tags and the first RFID absorber are to be located within a first zone of the printed media, and the third RFID tag is to be located in a second zone of the printed media.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first RFID tag is to adhere to a front of the first leaflet.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first RFID absorber is to adhere to a front of the third leaflet.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first RFID tag comprises a substantially flat package having a printable top surface and an adhesive bottom surface, the package further comprising:

an antenna;

an identifier; and

an RFID circuit.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is a removable portion of the printed media.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the printed media is at least one of a magazine, a book, a journal, a newspaper, a pamphlet, a flyer, or a newsletter.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to adhere to a first leaflet of a printed media at a first location;

a second RFID tag to adhere to a second leaflet of the printed media at a second location, the first and second locations being substantially a same location;

a first RFID absorber to adhere to a third leaflet of the printed media at a third location such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the first and the third leaflets, the second RFID tag is inactive, and such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the second and the third leaflets, the first RFID tag is inactive; and

a third RFID tag to adhere to the second leaflet of the printed media such that the first RFID absorber can not inactivate the third RFID tag.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a second RFID absorber to adhere to a fourth leaflet of the printed media at a fourth location such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the second and fourth leaflets, the third RFID tag is active, and such that the second RFID absorber does not inactivate the first and the second RFID tags.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the first and second RFID tags and the first RFID absorber to be are located within a first zone of the printed media, and the third RFID tag is to be located in a second zone of the printed media.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to adhere to a first leaflet of a printed media at a first location;

a second RFID tag to adhere to a second leaflet of the printed media at a second location, the first and second locations being substantially a same location; and

a first RFID absorber to adhere to a third leaflet of the printed media at a third location such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the first and the third leaflets, the second RFID tag is inactive, and such that, when the printed media is positioned to expose the second and the third leaflets, the first RFID tag is inactive, wherein the first RFID absorber comprises at least one of a paper label covering conductive ink printed onto the third leaflet, or a metal foil adhered to the third leaflet.

14. A method metering a printed media comprising:

positioning a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on a first leaflet of the printed media, the first RFID tag positioned at a first location on the first leaflet;

positioning a second RFID tag on a second leaflet of the printed media, the second RFID tag being positioned at a second location on the second leaflet, the first and the second positions being substantially the same location; and

positioning a first RFID absorber on a third leaflet of the printed media, the first RFID absorber positioned on the third leaflet at a third location such that when the printed media is opened to expose the first and the third leaflets, the second RFID tag is inactive, and such that when the printed media is opened to expose the second and the third leaflets, the first RFID tag is inactive.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising providing a monitoring device to communicate with at least one of the first or the second RFID tags when it is active to determine a viewing of the printed media.

16. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising positioning a third RFID tag on to a fourth leaflet of the printed media, the third RFID tag positioned on the fourth leaflet such that the first RFID absorber does not inactivate the third RFID tag.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising positioning a second RFID absorber on a fifth leaflet of the printed media, the second RFID absorber positioned on the fifth leaflet at a fourth location such that when the printed media is opened to expose the fourth and fifth leaflets, the third RFID tag is active, and such that the second RFID absorber can not inactivate the first and the second RFID tags.

18. A method as defined in claim 14, further comprising positioning a third RFID tag positioned on the second leaflet of the printed media, the third RFID tag positioned on the second leaflet such that the first RFID absorber can not inactivate the third RFID tag.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising positioning a second RFID absorber on a fourth leaflet of the printed media, the second RFID absorber positioned on the fourth leaflet at a fourth location such that, when the printed media is opened to expose the second and fourth leaflets, the third RFID tag is active, and such that the second RFID absorber does not inactivate the first and the second RFID tags.

20. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the first RFID tag comprises a substantially flat package having a printable top surface and an adhesive bottom surface, the package further comprising:

an antenna;

an identifier; and

an RFID circuit.

21. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the first RFID absorber comprises at least one of a paper label covering conductive ink printed onto the third leaflet, or a metal foil adhered to the third leaflet.

22. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the monitoring device is a removable portion of the printed media.

23. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

position a first radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on a first leaflet of the printed media, the first RFID tag positioned at a first location on the first leaflet;

position a second RFID tag on a second leaflet of the printed media, the second RFID tag being positioned at a second location on the second leaflet, the first and the second positions being substantially the same location; and

position a first RFID absorber on a third leaflet of the printed media, the first RFID absorber positioned on the third leaflet at a third location such that when the printed media is opened to expose the first and the third leaflets, the second RFID tag is inactive, and such that when the printed media is opened to expose the second and the third leaflets, the first RFID tag is inactive.

24. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 23, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to position a third RFID tag on a fourth leaflet of the printed media, the third RFID tag positioned on the fourth leaflet such that the first RFID absorber does not inactivate the third RFID tag.

25. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 24, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to position a second RFID absorber on a fifth leaflet of the printed media, the second RFID absorber positioned on the fifth leaflet at a fourth location such that when the printed media is opened to expose the fourth and fifth leaflets, the third RFID tag is active, and such that the second RFID absorber can not inactivate the first and the second RFID tags.

26. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 23, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to position a third RFID tag positioned on the second leaflet of the printed media, the third RFID tag positioned on the second leaflet such that the first RFID absorber can not inactivate the third RFID tag.

27. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 26, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to position a second RFID absorber on a fourth leaflet of the printed media, the second RFID absorber positioned on the fourth leaflet at a fourth location such that, when the printed media is opened to expose the second and fourth leaflets, the third RFID tag is active, and such that the second RFID absorber does not inactivate the first and the second RFID tags.

28. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 23, wherein the first RFID tag comprises a substantially flat package having a printable top surface and an adhesive bottom surface, the package further comprising:

an antenna;

an identifier; and

an RFID circuit.

29. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 23, wherein the first RFID absorber comprises at least one of a paper label covering conductive ink printed onto the third leaflet, or a metal foil adhered to the third leaflet.

30. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 23, wherein the monitoring device is a removable portion of the printed media.

31. An apparatus comprising:

a tag to affix to a first leaflet of a printed media; and

a monitoring device to place within the printed media, the monitoring device communicatively coupled to the tag, wherein the monitoring device is to affix to a removable portion of the printed media, the removable portion is defined by a perforation, and the removable portion comprises a card.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the monitoring device is communicatively coupled to the tag via a conductive trace printed on the printed media.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the card is printed with a mailing address and pre-paid postage.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 34, further comprising an RFID absorber to adhere to a second leaflet of the printed media to inhibit an operation of the RFID tag when the second leaflet overlaps the first leaflet.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein the RFID tag comprises a substantially flat package having a printable top surface and an adhesive bottom surface, the package further comprising:

an antenna;

an identification; and

an RFID circuit.

37. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, further comprising an absorber to affix to a second leaflet of the printed media, the absorber to inhibit operation of the tag when the second leaflet overlaps the first leaflet.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the printed media is at least one of a magazine, a book, a journal, a newspaper, a pamphlet, a flyer, or a newsletter.

39. An apparatus comprising:

a tag to affix to a first leaflet of a printed media; and

a monitoring device to place within the printed media, the media device communicatively coupled to the tag, wherein the tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and the RFID tag further includes a light sensitive device to enable operation of the RFID tag when the RFID tag is exposed to a light source.

40. An apparatus comprising:

a tag to affix to a first leaflet of a printed media; and

a monitoring device to place within the printed media, the monitoring device communicatively coupled to the tag, wherein the tag comprises;

a circuit to communicate with the monitoring device; and

a substantially flat package having a printable top surface and an adhesive bottom surface, the adhesive bottom surface to connect an interface of the circuit to the conductive trace.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 40, wherein the tag further includes a light sensitive device to enable operation of the circuit when the tag is exposed to a light source.

42. A method of metering a printed media comprising:

adhering a tag to a first leaflet of the printed media; and

placing a removable monitoring device within the printed media to communicate with the tag, wherein the monitoring device is affixed to a removable portion of the printed media and the removable portion is printed with a mailing address and pre-paid postage.

43. A method as defined in claim 42, further comprising printing a conductive trace on the printed media to communicatively couple the monitoring device to the tag.

44. A method as defined in claim 42, wherein the tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

45. A method as defined in claim 44, further comprising affixing an RFID absorber to a second leaflet of the printed media to inhibit an operation of the RFID tag when the second leaflet overlaps the first leaflet.

46. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the RFID tag comprises a substantially flat package having a printable top surface, the package further comprising:

an antenna;

an identifier; and

an RFID circuit.

47. A method as defined in claim 42, further comprising adhering an absorber to a second leaflet of the printed media, the absorber to inhibit an operation of the tag when the second leaflet overlaps the first leaflet.

48. A method of metering a printed media comprising:

adhering a tag to a first leaflet of the printed media; and

placing a removable monitoring device within the printed media to communicate with the tag, wherein the monitoring device is affixed to a removable portion of the printed media, the removable portion is defined by a perforation, and the removable portion comprises a card.

49. A method as defined in claim 48, wherein the removable portion is printed with a mailing address and pre-paid postage.

50. A method of metering a printed media comprising:

adhering a tag to a first leaflet of the printed media; and

placing a removable monitoring device within the printed media to communicate with the tag, wherein the tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag comprises a substantially flat package having a printable top surface, the package further comprising;

an antenna;

an identifier; and

an RFID circuit; and

the RFID tag further comprises a light sensitive device to enable an operation of the RFID circuit when the RFID tag is exposed to a light source.

51. A method of metering a printed media comprising:

adhering a tag to a first leaflet of the printed media; and

placing a removable monitoring device within the printed media to communicate with the tag, wherein the tag comprises;

a circuit to communicate with the monitoring device; and

a substantially flat package having a printable top surface and an adhesive bottom surface, the adhesive bottom surface to connect an interface of the circuit to the conductive trace.

52. A method as defined in claim 51, wherein the tag further includes a light sensitive device to enable operation of the circuit when the tag is exposed to a light source.

53. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

adhere a tag to a first leaflet of the printed media; and

place a removable monitoring device within the printed media to communicate with the tag, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to print on the card a mailing address and pre-paid postage.

54. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 53, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to print a conductive trace on the printed media to communicatively couple the monitoring device to the tag.

55. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 53, wherein the tag is a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

56. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 55, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to affix an RFID absorber to a second leaflet of the printed media to inhibit operation of the RFID tag when the second leaflet overlaps the first leaflet.

57. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 55, wherein the RFID tag comprises a substantially flat package having a printable top surface, the package further comprising:

an antenna;

an identifier; and

an RFID circuit.

58. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 57, wherein the RFID tag further comprises a light sensitive device to enable an operation of the RFID circuit when the RFID tag is exposed to a light source.

59. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 53, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to adhere an absorber to a second leaflet of the printed media, the absorber to inhibit an operation of the tag when the second leaflet overlaps the first leaflet.

60. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

adhere a tag to a first leaflet of the printed media; and

place a removable monitoring device within the printed media to communicate with the tag, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to affix the monitoring device to a removable portion of the printed media and to define the removable portion by a perforation, and wherein the removable portion comprises a card.

61. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

adhere a tag to a first leaflet of the printed media; and

place a removable monitoring device within the printed media to communicate with the tag, wherein the tag comprises;

a circuit to communicate with the monitoring device; and

a substantially flat package having a printable top surface and an adhesive bottom surface, the adhesive bottom surface to connect an interface of the circuit to the conductive trace.

62. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 61, wherein the tag further includes a light sensitive device to enable operation of the circuit when the tag is exposed to a light source.

63. For use with a printed media, an optical monitoring device comprising:

an optical sensor to record viewing of a page of the printed media;

a mechanical fastener to removeably secure the optical sensor to the printed media; and

an accelerometer to detect when the printed media is being viewed.

64. For use with a printed media, an optical monitoring device comprising:

an optical sensor to record viewing of a page of the printed media; and

a mechanical fastener to removeably secure the optical sensor to the printed media, wherein the mechanical fastener attaches to at least one of a spine or binding of the printed media.

65. For use with a printed media, an optical monitoring device comprising:

an optical sensor to record viewing of a page of the printed media; and

a mechanical fastener to removeably secure the optical sensor to the printed media, wherein the mechanical fastener comprises at least one of forks or clips.

66. An optical monitoring device as defined in claim 65, wherein the at least one of the forks or clips are adjustable to accommodate a thickness of the printed media.

67. For use with a printed media, an optical monitoring device comprising:

an optical sensor to record viewing of a page of the printed media; and

a mechanical fastener to removeably secure the optical sensor to the printed media, further comprising;

a lens to focus reflected ambient light onto the optical sensor; and

a processor to identify a largest gap between two leaflets and to determine a count of a number of leaflets to a side of the identified gap.

68. An optical monitoring device as defined in claim 67, further comprising:

a clock to determine a time associated with the count;

a memory to store the count and the time; and

a battery.

69. For use with a printed media, an optical monitoring device comprising:

an optical sensor to record viewing of a page of the printed media; and

a mechanical fastener to removeably secure the optical sensor to the printed media, wherein the optical sensor is positioned to read a universal product code (UPC) for the printed media.

70. A method of metering a printed media comprising:

capturing an image of an edge of the printed media; and

identifying a viewed page based on the image, wherein identifying the viewed page comprises;

determining a largest gap; and

counting a number of leaflets to a side of the largest gap.

71. A method as defined in claim 70, wherein the edge of the printed media is a top edge of the printed media.

72. A method of metering a printed media comprising:

capturing an image of an edge of the printed media; and

identifying a viewed page based on the image;

determining a time associated with presentation of the image; and

storing the identification of the viewed page and the time in a log.

73. A method of metering a printed media comprising:

capturing an image of an edge of the printed media; and

identifying a viewed page based on the image;

reading a universal product code (UPC) from the printed media; and

storing the UPC in a log.

74. A method of metering a printed media comprising:

capturing an image of an edge of the printed media; and

identifying a viewed page based on the image;

determining a start of motion of the printed media; and

wherein capturing the image and identifying the viewed page occurs in response to determining the start of motion.

75. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

determine a start of motion of a printed media;

capture an image of an edge of the printed media; and

identify a viewed page based on the image.

76. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 75, wherein the edge of the printed media is a top edge of the printed media.

77. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

capture an image of an edge of a printed media;

identify a viewed page based on the image by;

determining a largest gap; and

counting a number of leaflets to a side of the largest gap.

78. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

capture an image of an edge of a printed media;

identify a viewed page based on the image;

determine a time associated with presentation of the image; and

store the identification of the viewed page and the time in a log.

79. A tangible article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

capture an image of an edge of a printed media;

identify a viewed page based on the image;

read a universal product code (UPC) from the printed media; and

store the UPC in a log.