Patent ID: 8880579
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: H04H

Abstract:
1. A monitor device for capturing audience research data, the monitor device comprising: a non-volatile memory; a data connector dimensioned and arranged for removable connection to a computer and configured to exchange data signals therewith, and a software product residing in the non-volatile memory and capable of being loaded onto the computer from the non-volatile memory when the data connector is connected to the computer and, when the software product is running and the data connector is connected to the computer, the computer is rendered capable of furnishing data to be monitored by the monitor device through the data connector to the monitor device, the data to be monitored by the monitor device characterizing an audio signal output by sound output means of the computer, the monitor device being configured to appear to the computer as at least an input device which is usable for sending commands to the computer, the monitor device further comprising a data furnishing device capable of furnishing data representing at least the software product in response to a a request received from the computer, so that the monitor device can send commands to the computer to incite loading the software product onto the computer, the monitor device not including the computer, wherein the software product includes an audio monitoring software that is interoperable with the monitor device, wherein the audio monitoring software is configured to launch automatically in a passive state at the latest when a user logs in on the computer, the audio monitoring software is configured to check the system continuously or intermittently to determine if the monitor device is connected to the computer, and wherein if the monitor device has been determined to be connected to the computer, the audio monitoring software determines whether a data connection to a remote server capable of accepting data can be established; if the data connection has been established, the audio monitoring software sends data it produces over the data connection to the remote server, or if no connection has been established, the audio monitoring software sends the data to the monitor device for storing.