Patent ID: 8997132
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for identifying computer systems being used by viewers of television programs, performed on a television metering device having at least one processor and memory storing at least one program for execution by the at least one processor to perform the method, comprising: monitoring an audio signal received by a microphone of the television metering device, the audio signal corresponding to audio of a television program presented on the television set, at least one audio tone generated by at least one audio transmitter of at least one viewer of the television set, and at least one audio tone generated by at least one computer system in use by at least one viewer of the television set; analyzing the audio signal to determine an identifier for the television program being presented on the television set; analyzing the audio signal to identify a first audio tone generated by an audio transmitter of a viewer of the television set; analyzing the audio signal to identify a second audio tone generated by the at least one computer system in use by the viewer of the television set; determining an identifier of the viewer corresponding to the first audio tone identified by analyzing the audio signal; determining an identifier of the computer system corresponding to the second audio tone and an identifier of the viewer encoded in the second audio tone, identified by analyzing the audio signal; and transmitting an identifier for the television metering device, the identifier for the television program, the identifier of the viewer corresponding to the first audio tone, and the identifier of the computer system to a server.