Methods and apparatus to collect media exposure information

• US 8,666,303 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Arun, Hoynoski, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US13/663,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20130052938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2.01, 455/3.06, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/415, 455/420, 455/425, 455/435.1, 455/41.2, 455/552.1, 455/115.1, 455/556.1, 455/154.2, 705/7, 705/10, 705/14.45, 705/14.58, 725/9, 725/10, 725/14, 725/46, 725/11, 707/104.1, 709/205, 709/223, 340/539.1, 235/375, 235/492
• US Class Current: 455/2.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/31 Arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/39 for identifying broadcast space-time use of Electronic Programme Guides H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/66 for using the result on distributors' side
• 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 21/44222 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 collect media exposure information are described. An example apparatus includes an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations and a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.

Claims

1. A metering device to collect media exposure information, comprising:

a housing having a handheld form factor;

memory within the housing, the memory comprising a list of media stations;

a display device carried by the housing to display the media stations from the list;

an input carried by the housing to enable a user to select from the list to indicate exposure to a media station; and

the memory to store the selection in association with a timestamp.

2. A metering device as defined in claim 1, wherein the metering device is associated with a specific audience member and a member identifier corresponding to the specific audience member.

3. A metering device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a timing device to timestamp the media exposure information.

4. A metering device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a communication device carried by the housing to upload the media exposure information to a computer.

5. A metering device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a key ring attached to the housing.

6. A metering device as defined in claim 1, wherein the input comprises at least one of a scroll wheel, a first button to be engaged at a start of a media exposure session, or a second button to be engaged at an end of a media exposure session.

7. A method of collecting media exposure information, comprising:

displaying a list of media station identifiers on a metering device;

detecting, via a logic circuit, a first selection from the list; and

timestamping and storing the first selection to gather media exposure information regarding exposure to a media station corresponding to the first selection.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising detecting a second selection from the list.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the first selection indicates a start of a media exposure session and the second selection indicates an end of the media exposure session.

10. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising assigning a member identifier corresponding to a user to the metering device.

11. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising transferring the media exposure information to a central facility.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a display device carried by a housing to display media stations from a list stored in memory carried by the housing;

a first input, selection of the first input to cause a media identifier associated with a currently displayed one of the media stations to be stored in connection with a first timestamp indicating an initiation of a media exposure session; and

a second input, selection of the second input to cause the media identifier associated with the currently displayed one of the media stations to be stored in connection with a second timestamp indicating an end of the media exposure session.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the media exposure session corresponds to a period of time during which a user was likely exposed to media corresponding to the currently displayed one of the media stations.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a third input to enable a user to navigate through the list of media stations on the display device.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the metering device is associated with a specific audience member and a member identifier corresponding to the specific audience member.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a timing device to generate the first timestamp in response to selection of the first input.

17. A method, comprising:

in response to detecting a first engagement of an input when a first media station is displayed on a display carried by a housing, storing, in a memory, a first initiation indicator indicative of a beginning of a first session in connection with a first media identifier associated with the first media station; and

in response to detecting a second engagement of the input when a second media station different than the first media station is displayed on the display;

storing a termination indicator indicative of an end of the first session in connection with the first media identifier; and

storing a second initiation indicator indicative of a beginning of a second session in connection with a second media identifier associated with the second media station.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising displaying a scrolling list of media stations on the display in response to a navigation input.

19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the navigation input is received via a scroll wheel implemented on the housing.

20. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising storing timestamps in connection with the first and second media identifiers.