Methods and systems for mapping locations of wireless transmitters for use in gathering market research data

• US 9,092,804 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhang, Jack K., Jensen, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US14/175,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20140156350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/466, 455/41.2, 455/457, 455/566, 455/154.2, 455/434, 455/456.1, 705/26.1, 705/26.9, 705/27.1, 705/27.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed to map locations of wireless transmitters for use in gathering market research data. A disclosed example method involves displaying a representation of a commercial establishment on a portable device, obtaining transmitter data via the portable device from a wireless transmitter located within the commercial establishment, and in response to the portable device receiving a user selection of a first location on the representation of the commercial establishment, associating the first location with the transmitter data and location information generated by the portable device representative of a physical location in the commercial establishment.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a representation of a commercial establishment on a portable device;

obtaining transmitter data via the portable device from a wireless transmitter located within the commercial establishment;

in response to the portable device receiving a user selection of a point corresponding to a first location displayed on the representation of the commercial establishment, associating the first location with the transmitter data and location information generated by the portable device representative of a physical location in the commercial establishment; and

in response to the transmitter data not being associated with product, requesting the user to input the product data of the product proximate the wireless transmitter.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further including associating the first location with the product data of the product proximate the wireless transmitter.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the location information includes location coordinates.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the representation of the commercial establishment is a map of an interior portion of the commercial establishment.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmitter data is obtained via a radio frequency signal.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmitter data is obtained by scanning a barcode located on the wireless transmitter.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the representation of the commercial establishment is a map, the portable device is a tablet device including a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the user selection is received via a touch interface, and the wireless transmitter is an RFID tag.

8. A tangible computer readable storage disk comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a portable device to at least:

display a representation of a commercial establishment

obtain transmitter data transmitted by a wireless transmitter located within the commercial establishment;

in response to receiving a user selection of a first location on the representation of the commercial establishment, (1) generate location information representing a physical location within the commercial establishment, and (2) store the first location in association with (a) the transmitter data and (b) the location information; and

in response to the transmitter data not being associated with product data, request the user to input the product data of the product proximate the wireless transmitter.

9. A tangible computer readable storage disk as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the portable device to associate the first location with the product data of the product proximate the wireless transmitter.

10. A tangible computer readable storage disk as defined in claim 8, wherein the location information includes location coordinates.

11. A tangible computer readable storage disk as defined in claim 8, wherein the representation of the commercial establishment is a map of an interior portion of the commercial establishment.

12. A tangible computer readable storage disk as defined in claim 8, wherein the transmitter data is obtained via a radio frequency signal.

13. A tangible computer readable storage disk as defined in claim 8, wherein the transmitter data is obtained by scanning a barcode located on the wireless transmitter.

14. A tangible computer readable storage disk as defined in claim 8, wherein the representation of the commercial establishment is a map, the portable device is a tablet device including a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the user selection is received via a touch interface, and the wireless transmitter is an RFID tag.

15. A portable device comprising:

a processor;

memory in communication with the processor, the memory including machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the portable device to;

display a representation of a commercial establishment;

access transmitter data obtained from a wireless transmitter located within the commercial establishment;

in response to a user selection of a first location on the representation of the commercial establishment, (1) generate location information representative of a physical location in the commercial establishment, and (2) associate the first location with (a) the transmitter data and (b) the location information; and

in response to the transmitter data not being associated with product data, request the user to input the product data of the product proximate the wireless transmitter.

16. A portable device as defined in claim 15, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to associate the first location with the product data of the product proximate the wireless transmitter.

17. A portable device as defined in claim 15, wherein the location information includes location coordinates.

18. A portable device as defined in claim 15, wherein the representation of the commercial establishment is a map of an interior portion of the commercial establishment.

19. A portable device as defined in claim 15, wherein the transmitter data is obtained via a radio frequency signal.

20. A portable device as defined in claim 15, wherein the transmitter data is obtained by scanning a barcode located on the wireless transmitter.

21. A portable device as defined in claim 15, wherein the representation of the commercial establishment is a map, the portable device is a tablet device including a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the user selection is received via a touch interface, and the wireless transmitter is an RFID tag.