Methods and apparatus to meter video game play

• US 8,784,207 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2013
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Media Research, Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Arun, Peiffer, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/847,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to meter video game play are disclosed. An example method includes detecting media identifying information corresponding to media presented in an environment including a video game system capable of executing a plurality of video games; identifying which of the plurality of video games is being played via a video game controller based on the media identifying information, wherein the video game controller is coupled to a sensor to detect motion data related to movement of the video game controller and to transmit the motion data without affecting operation of the video game system; and combining, via a processor, the media identifying information with the motion data received from the sensor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting media identifying information corresponding to media presented in an environment including a video game system capable of executing a plurality of video games;

identifying which of the plurality of video games is being played via a video game controller based on the media identifying information, wherein the video game controller is coupled to a sensor to detect motion data related to movement of the video game controller and to transmit the motion data without affecting operation of the video game system; and

combining, via a processor, the media identifying information with the motion data received from the sensor.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising causing the sensor to periodically transmit the motion data.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein detecting the media identifying information comprises capturing an audio signal associated with the video game system.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein detecting the media identifying information comprises collecting an embedded code in the audio signal.

5. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein detecting the media identifying information comprises detecting a signature in the audio signal.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising detecting a presence of a user in the environment.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, further comprising combining presence data corresponding to detecting of the presence with the media identifying information and the motion data.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein combining the media identifying information and the motion data comprises associating the media identifying information with a message including the motion data to be conveyed to a metering entity.

9. A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

detect media identifying information corresponding to media presented in an environment including a video game system capable of executing a plurality of video games;

identify which of the plurality of video games is being played via a video game controller based on the media identifying information, wherein the video game controller is coupled to a sensor to detect motion data related to movement of the video game controller and to transmit the motion data without affecting operation of the video game system; and

combine the media identifying information with the motion data received from the sensor.

10. A storage medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the machine to trigger the sensor to periodically transmit the motion data.

11. A storage medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the machine to detect the media identifying information by capturing an audio signal associated with the video game system.

12. A storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the machine to detect the media identifying information by collecting an embedded code in the audio signal.

13. A storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the machine to detect the media identifying information by detecting a signature in the audio signal.

14. A storage medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the machine to detect a presence of a user in the environment.

15. A storage medium as defined in claim 14, wherein the instructions cause the machine to combine presence data representing the detected presence with the media identifying information and the motion data.

16. A storage medium as defined in claim 9, wherein the instructions cause the machine to combine the media identifying information and the motion data by associating the media identifying information with a message including the motion data to be conveyed to a metering entity.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor structured to be attached to a video game controller, the sensor structured to be attached external to a housing of the video game controller, the sensor structured to detect a user interaction with the video game controller;

a processor structured to execute instructions to;

compare a magnitude of a motion of the video game controller detected by the sensor to a threshold; and

attribute the motion to video game play if the magnitude of the motion detected by the sensor exceeds the threshold; and

a transmitter structured to convey a signal representative of the detected user interaction to a meter without affecting operation of a video game system to be controlled by the video game controller.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the processor, when executing instructions, is structured to attribute the motion to non-video game play if the magnitude is less than the threshold.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the processor, when executing instructions, is structured to associate the user interaction with an identifier assigned to the sensor.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, further comprising a filter structured to determine if the motion corresponds to haptic feedback implemented by the video game controller.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the haptic feedback is provided in response to an aspect of a video game being played via the video game controller.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the sensor is carried by an annular housing removably attachable to a wire of the video game controller.