Systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual devices

Example systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual (A/V) devices are disclosed. A disclosed example method receives media content from an A/V source device, embeds a video overlay in the wirelessly received media content, and wirelessly transmits the media content and the video overlay to the wireless A/V device. The example method wirelessly receives audience identification information in response to the transmitted video overlay, and wirelessly receives audience behavior information.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to metering audio/visual (A/V) devices, and, more particularly, to systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual devices.

BACKGROUND

Consuming media presentations generally involves listening to audio information and/or viewing video information such as, for example, radio programs, music, television programs, movies, still images, etc. Media-centric companies such as, for example, advertising companies, broadcasting networks, etc. are often interested in audience behavior, such as the viewing and listening interests of their audience. Measurement of such audience behavior allows the media-centric companies to better allocate their advertising expenditures and better market their products.

Audience measurement of television and/or radio programs has been practiced for many years. Audience measurement devices, installed in statistically selected households, typically collect tuning information (e.g., information indicating the content presented to the audience such as channel information, time of consumption information, program information, etc.) and people information (e.g., information about the demographics of the audience). Such information is gathered, recorded and combined to produce meaningful ratings data.

Tuning information is typically collected by a tuning meter, otherwise known as an active/passive (A/P) meter. The A/P meter collects the tuning data from devices, such as set-top boxes, video game devices, video cassette recorders (VCRs), digital video recorders (DVRs), and digital versatile disk (DVD) players, to name a few. In addition to collecting such tuning data, the A/P meter determines which of the several devices is feeding the television set. Channel and content information, as well as device source information, is sent to a backoffice for analysis. People information is typically collected by a People Meter (PM) such as a Nielsen People Meter provided by Nielsen Media Research. The PM collects various demographic information related to the viewer and the viewer's tuning behavior. Together the A/P meter and the PM collect and send information to enable television ratings to be determined. Such ratings information is useful for various business determinations, including setting the cost of commercial advertising time.

Traditional audience measurement is typically employed by wire-based (fixed) hardware devices. An audio/visual (A/V) device, such as a television, is hard-wired to a media source cable to provide broadcast content to an audience member. Audience measurement devices may be placed on or near the television to detect audio and/or video signals emitted by the television, thereby allowing the devices to determine audience behavior. Data acquired by the audience measurement devices is hardwired to a data collection facility by, for example, a telephone modem or a broadband modem to allow further analysis of the collected data. However, the traditional audience measurement devices do not accommodate audience measurement services when the A/V device is wireless, such as when the audience member(s) is using a wireless television.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, an example system100to wirelessly meter an audio/visual (A/V) device is shown. The system100ofFIG. 1includes a central data store105, a data acquisition and home interface110, a wireless interface115, and an A/V device120. The central data store105includes one or more databases, or other similar data storage devices, accessible by an entity interested in collecting A/V device user behavior information. Such user behavior information may include user identity, demographics, broadcast programming channels watched or listened-to, movies watched, and A/V device channel changes, to name a few. User information collected at the central data store105may be further analyzed at a backoffice, business, and/or marketing entity to determine, for example, broadcast program ratings and movie ratings. Ratings information may allow advertisers to determine, among other things, effective advertising strategies and advertising pricing.

As discussed in further detail below, the data acquisition and home interface110includes devices typically found in a user's home, such as a cable television set-top box, a VCR, a DVD player, a video game device, a satellite dish receiver, and various audio/visual devices (A/V devices) to name a few. Additionally, for households and viewers statistically selected by a ratings company, such as, for example, Nielsen Media Research, the data acquisition and home interface110may also include a ratings data meter or similar A/V data aggregator to collect and correlate data relating to users' behaviors. Further, the data acquisition and home interface110may also include a device for determining and collecting demographic data of the household viewers via an A/V data aggregator and/or user identification module/device (ID device), such as a Nielsen People Meter provided by Nielsen Media Research.

As discussed in further detail below, the wireless interface115includes interfaces to allow a user to receive content provided by the data acquisition and home interface110. In particular, the wireless interface115permits the user to wirelessly transmit content from, for example, the set-top box, VCR, and/or DVD player of the data acquisition and home interface110, to the wireless A/V device120. In other words, the wireless interface115bridges the wireless gap between the user's standard A/V equipment (e.g., set-top box, VCR, DVD player, etc.) and the A/V device120(e.g., a television, a mobile television, etc.). As described below, the wireless interface115may include a wireless user identifier (WUI), a wireless access point (WAP), and a wireless microphone receiver (WMR) to wirelessly transmit A/V content and receive viewer behavior information, as discussed in further detail below.

The A/V device120includes one or more devices capable of providing A/V information to a user. The A/V device120may include, but is not limited to a television, a mobile television, a radio, and/or an entertainment center having audio and/or visual display devices. As the A/V devices are wireless, they are not constrained to use in an area proximate to the data acquisition and home interface110.

In operation, the system100to wirelessly meter an A/V device ofFIG. 1allows the A/V device120to be located in a home or business without a constraint of traditional cable-based connectivity to the data acquisition and home interface110. Such user freedom is provided, in part, by the wireless interface115, which also permits collection of user behavior while the A/V device120is being used. The user behavior is further collected and/or accumulated by the data acquisition and home interface110and provided to the central data store105for further analysis. Because each of the central data store105, data acquisition and home interface110, wireless interface115, and A/V device120are communicatively connected, various types of data is exchanged therein. For example, the central data store105sends data acquisition request signals125to the data acquisition and home interface110to initiate receipt of collected user data130. The request signals125may be transmitted on a periodic basis and/or the data acquisition and home interface110may automatically transmit the collected user data130at predetermined intervals. Collected user data may include, but is not limited to channels watched and stations listened-to by a user of the A/V device120, times and dates at which the user watched and/or listened, and an identity of the user. The data acquisition and home interface110also receives programming content127from various sources. For example, a cable television provider, a satellite service provider, and/or a local broadcast station may provide programming content127to the user.

Data135sent by the data acquisition and home interface110to the wireless interface115may include, but is not limited to, propagating content, such as viewer programs from television signals, satellite signals, cable signals, VCR A/V signals, DVD player A/V signals, and video game device A/V signals. The data135sent by the data acquisition and home interface110may also include watermarks embedded into audio and/or video portions of the various A/V signals. The watermarks may contain in-band codes of the programming transmission that identify the date and time of broadcast, program identification information, and/or identity information regarding the entity transmitting the program. Such watermarks are typically hidden into the audio and/or visual signal and are not perceptible to the A/V device user. In the event that a statistically selected household uses a wireless A/V device120(e.g., a mobile television), the wireless interface115allows the devices of the data acquisition and home interface110to transmit to the wireless A/V device120. Data received140by the data acquisition and home interface110from the wireless interface115may include user identity information and extracted watermarks, as discussed further below.

Data145sent by the wireless interface115to the A/V device120may include retransmitted viewer programming data and user query messages, as discussed in further detail below. Data received150by the wireless interface115from the A/V device120may include audio signals emitted from the A/V device120and processed by the wireless interface115. As users interact (e.g., change channels on the example television) with A/V devices120, the A/V device output is modulated by the wireless interface115and retransmitted to the A/V device120. As discussed in further detail below, the wireless interface115also sends user behavior data and program content information to the data acquisition and home interface110. Additionally, the wireless interface115enables the system100to acquire demographics data from a A/V device user and send such data to the data acquisition and home interface110, and then on to the central data store105.

FIG. 2illustrates further detail of one example implementation of the system100to wirelessly meter an A/V device ofFIG. 1. Dashed-lines205,210, and215inFIG. 2separateFIG. 2into components corresponding to the central data store105, the data acquisition and home interface110, the wireless interface115, and A/V device(s)120, respectively.

The data acquisition and home interface110includes, as described above, various A/V devices, such as a set-top box220, a video game console225, and a DVD player230. Such example A/V devices (220,225,230) provide various forms of audio and visual entertainment, information, and broadcast programs. As described above, the user may receive various forms of programming content127, such as cable television, satellite programming, and/or programming via an antenna that is broadcast from one or more local television stations. The user may receive such programming content via the set-top box220. The data acquisition and home interface110also includes an example A/V data aggregator235to collect user behavior and demographic information.

The wireless interface115includes a wireless user identifier (WUI)240for receiving A/V signals from the A/V devices (220,225,230) and embedding an identification query signal on the received A/V signals, as will be discussed in further detail below. The WUI240forwards the A/V signals, including the embedded query signal, to a wireless access point (WAP)245for wireless retransmission to a user's A/V devices120. The wireless interface115also includes a wireless microphone receiver (WMR)250for receiving retransmitted audio signals from the A/V devices120, as will be discussed in further detail below.

FIG. 2also illustrates example A/V devices120, such as a mobile A/V device255. An example mobile A/V device255may include, for example, a mobile television that is unencumbered by wire-based data cables and/or power cables. However, the example A/V device120may also include a standard television that connects to data cables and/or power cables. The example mobile A/V device255may also include a speaker260to output audible signals to the user, and an infra-red (IR) receiver265to receive user commands (e.g., channel change, volume adjustment, power on/off, etc.). The A/V devices120may also include a mobile device interface (MDI)270for receiving audio signals from the mobile A/V device255via a microphone275. The MDI270may also include an IR receiver280, similar to that of the mobile A/V device255, to receive user identification information from a user that is interacting with the mobile A/V device255. The IR receiver265of the mobile A/V device255and the IR receiver280of the MDI270may each receive IR signals from an IR transmitter (remote control)285.

A household with the metering system100ofFIG. 2includes bidirectional connectivity with the central data store105. Bidirectional connectivity may include a connection via telephone, an Internet connection, satellite, and/or a cable network, such as a cable network owned or leased by a content provider. The central data store105may communicatively connect to the home interface105via an A/V data aggregator235of the data acquisition and home interface110. As will be discussed in further detail below, the data aggregator235receives information related to the behavior and identification of A/V devices120with which users interact, and forwards such information on to the central data store105. To bridge the communicative gap between the data acquisition and home interface110and the A/V devices120, the example wireless interfaces115ofFIG. 2are employed.

Signals from the various standard A/V devices, such as the set-top box220, are typically hardwired directly into a viewer's standard television set (e.g., a television set plugged in to an electrical power outlet and connected to a co-axial data cable). However, viewers having mobile televisions, for example, generally employ the use of a wireless access point (WAP) to retransmit the television signal wirelessly throughout the viewer's home. An additional example may include household users with standard television sets that simply relocate the television from one location to another location within the home. Rather than moving both the A/V data aggregator235and the television together, the example wireless interface115permits the A/V data aggregator235functionality without concern for its proximity to the television. Furthermore, the wireless interface115permits the A/V data aggregator235, as well as one or more devices of the wireless interface115itself, to be located anywhere within the home, such as a basement, attic, closet, etc. The WAP may include 802.11a/b/g communication capabilities, thereby permitting any signal from the data acquisition and home interface110to permeate throughout the viewer's home or business. Similarly, the A/V devices120(e.g., a mobile television) in a viewer's home may also include an ability to receive the transmitted signal (e.g., 802.11a/b/g).

Data acquisition in users' homes in which a standard wire-based television is viewed typically employ a hardwire connection from a wired A/V device (e.g., a set-top box) directly to a non-mobile (standard) television. Additionally, the wired A/V device (e.g., a set-top box) typically includes a hard-wired connection to a data-aggregator so that when the viewer changes the channel on the set-top box, the viewer sees the results on the television, and the changes are captured by the data aggregator. Furthermore, data acquisition in viewers' homes using standard televisions typically included a hard-wired ID device to determine which member of a household was watching or interacting with the standard A/V device. Each member of the household generally had an identification button on the ID device, or if the ID device included an IR remote control, each member pressed an appropriate button on the IR remote control to identify who was watching the television. However, because a viewer of a standard or mobile television may be in any room of the house or business, hard-wired ID devices and hard-wired data will not allow for data acquisition or identification of the viewer.

A/V device mobility (e.g., standard televisions, wireless televisions, etc.), data acquisition of the user, and user identification is accomplished, in part, by the example A/V interface115shown inFIG. 2. As briefly described above, the example A/V interface115includes the wireless user identifier (WUI)240, the wireless access point (WAP)245, and the wireless microphone receiver (WMR)250. Generally speaking, signals transmitted by wire-based A/V devices (e.g., set-top box220, video game console225, DVD player230, etc.) are received by the WUI240, which, in turn, integrate a bitmap image overlay on a video channel. The bitmap image may be a message requesting that the viewer provide immediate identification information. The WUI240forwards the integrated A/V signal to the WAP245to modulate the A/V signal received by the WUI240(including the bitmap overlay) for wireless retransmission to an A/V device255, as shown by a dashed arrow labeled1. The A/V device255, such as the example mobile television shown inFIG. 2, receives and demodulates the retransmitted signal back in to the A/V domain and presents the signal in an audio and/or video format to the viewer (e.g., a movie, television program, etc.).

A user or viewer of the example mobile television255views the integrated bitmap, which requests that the user provide identification information. For example, after a viewer begins using an A/V device220,225,230, the WUI240transmits a video overlay stating, “Please select your identification button.” The user may provide such identification feedback via a remote control, such as an example infra-red (IR) remote control285shown inFIG. 2. The IR remote285contains user identification (ID) buttons for each of the viewers in the household (e.g., one button for each of “Jack,” “Jane,” and “Junior”), and transmits ID selection information from the IR remote285to an IR receiver280of the MDI270, discussed in further detail below. The IR remote285may include other functionality to control the example mobile television255by transmitting control commands to the IR receiver265of the mobile television255. Such control may include, but is not limited to, changing channels, adjusting volume, and on/off power control. User ID information may additionally or alternatively be provided by user ID buttons located on the MDI270.

User ID selection information is wirelessly transmitted from the MDI270to the WUI240, as shown by a dashed arrow labeled2. The user ID selection information is transmitted from the WUI240to the A/V data aggregator235, and the WUI240removes the integrated bitmap image overlay on the video channel. After a predetermined amount of time, the WUI240may again apply the bitmap overlay image on the video signal to reconfirm who is using the mobile A/V device255.

Various watermarks embedded within the audio of the programming content presented on the mobile A/V device255emanate from one or more speakers260. The audio watermark is imperceptible to the listener, and is received by the microphone275of the MDI270. The audio signal received by the microphone275is RF modulated by the MDI270and transmitted to the WMR250, as shown by the dashed arrow labeled3. Alternatively, persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the audio signal may exit the mobile A/V device255as an electrical signal rather than an audible speaker output. For example, the mobile A/V device255audio output may include RCA terminals (also referred-to as RCA jacks, phono plugs, etc.) to accommodate audio cables that connect to an audio input of the MDI270. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the watermarks may be embedded within the video signal rather than, or in addition to, the audio signal. Modulated RF signals received at the WMR250are demodulated to extract watermark information before sending the watermarks to the A/V data aggregator235of the data acquisition and home interface110.

Although the A/V data aggregator235could simply receive such audio signals containing the embedded watermarks directly from the devices (220,225,230), or directly from the WAP245, receiving the audio signals after they have been emitted by speakers260on an A/V device, such as the example mobile television255, ensures the information provided to users of the audience measurement devices is a reflection of viewer behavior and actual content displayed by the mobile A/V device255. For example, if the A/V data aggregator235received the audio signals directly from the set-top box220, video game console225, or the DVD player230, then the received information may not reflect a viewer's interaction with the A/V device255. Such a situation is particularly problematic if the A/V device is a mobile television that is not powered on, but the set-top box220may continue to transmit directly to the A/V data aggregator235(assuming a hard-wired connection directly from the set-top box220to the A/V data aggregator235). Alternatively, such a situation is also problematic if the set-top box220is powered-on and transmitting its signal through the WUI240and further retransmitted by the WAP245, but the viewer of the example mobile television255is, instead, tuned-in to a local television station. As such, retransmission of the audio signals (including the embedded watermarks) from the television255ensures that information received by the A/V data aggregator235is indicative of viewer behavior and indicative of content actually displayed by the television255.

The information collected regarding the user's viewing behavior and demographics may be stored locally in the A/V data aggregator235. At pre-determined intervals, or upon external request to acquire data, the information collected from the A/V data aggregator235is sent by the data acquisition and home interface110to the central data store105to process and determine ratings information.

The example WUI240of the wireless interface115ofFIG. 2is shown in greater detail inFIG. 3. A/V signals from the A/V devices (220,225,230) are received by an input A/V interface305and mixed with a bitmap (to accommodate the functionality of prompting for the user or viewer ID) at a video overlay310before being retransmitted to an output A/V interface315. A/V signals from the output A/V interface315continue to the WAP245for retransmission to the A/V devices120, as discussed above. The example WUI240ofFIG. 3also includes a serial port320to allow control of a timer325, control of a bitmap position control330, and addition/deletion of a library of various bitmaps in a bitmap generator335. Access to the serial port320may occur as needed, and typically occurs once during WUI240set-up prior to installation in a user's home. For example, a technician may program the WUI240to contain several different bitmap images, one for each member of a household. One of the five bitmaps may be a message stating, for example, “Mr. Smith, is that you?” or “Viewer, please identify yourself” The technician may also program the timer325to re-display the bitmap image at a predetermined interval of, for example, 44 minutes to confirm which member of the household is viewing the television. At an expiration of the time interval, the timer325provides a trigger signal to the bitmap generator335to forward a bitmap to the video overlay310. Furthermore, the technician may program the position control module330to place each of the bitmap images on a particular coordinate of the television.

The A/V signal from the output A/V interface315, which includes the embedded bitmap, is received by at least one of the A/V devices120(after retransmission by the WAP245). After the user/viewer responds to the request for identification (e.g., “Viewer, please identify yourself”), as discussed in further detail below, an RF signal containing viewer identification is received by an RF receiver340. The RF receiver demodulates the RF signal and forwards it to an IR signal decoder345to extract identification information. For example, the IR signal decoder345parses the received signal for the presence of an ID signal of one of the members of the household, such as Mr. Smith. Upon confirming that Mr. Smith, or any other member of the household, provided identification information, the IR signal decoder345signals to the bitmap generator335that the image may be removed from the viewer's A/V device. Additionally, the IR signal decoder345provides the extracted identification information to an ID output interface350. As shown inFIG. 2, the ID output interface350connects to an “ID Info” cable and provides such viewer identification information to the A/V data aggregator235. The example WUI240ofFIG. 3may be implemented in hardware and powered by a power supply355, such as a standard AC/DC converter. The example WUI240ofFIG. 3may also be implemented in software as machine readable instructions executed by: (a) a processor such as the processor1512shown in the example computer1500discussed below in connection withFIG. 15, (b) a controller, and/or (c) any other suitable processing device.

The example WMR250of the wireless interface115ofFIG. 2is shown in greater detail inFIG. 4. Retransmitted audio signals sent by the wireless A/V devices, as discussed in further detail below, include embedded watermarks. As shown inFIG. 4, the WMR250includes an antenna405to receive the retransmitted audio signal and an RF demodulator410to demodulate the retransmitted RF signal. A low pass filter415converts the demodulated digital signal to an analog audio signal, which is passed to an analog audio output interface420for transmission to the A/V data aggregator235. The WMR250may connect to an electrical socket of the viewer's home and includes a power supply425. Typically, the WMR250is located in close proximity to the user's A/V data aggregator235, but one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the WMR250may be integrated within the A/V data aggregator235as a single unit.

As shown inFIG. 5, one implementation of the MDI270includes the microphone275to receive audio signals presented by the A/V device255, and a CODEC510to digitize (A/D) the received audio signals. An encoder515allows the digitized signal to be addressed to a particular destination, for example, the RF receiver of the WMR250. The digitized and encoded audio is modulated by an RF modulator520and sent to an antenna525for transmission to the WMR250. As discussed above, watermarks contained in the audio presented by the A/V device255are captured by the microphone275and wirelessly transmitted by the MDI270to the WUI240. Additionally, the MDI270includes an IR receiver280to receive IR transmissions from the IR transmitter285(as shown inFIG. 2). The user/viewer identification selection is transmitted by the IR transmitter285, which contains the identity of who is using the A/V device255. Such IR transmissions are received by the IR receiver280and, much like the encoder515for the audio signal, encoded by an encoder530for the IR signal containing user identification information. The encoded IR signal is modulated to a radio frequency by the RF modulator520prior to transmission to the WUI240. As discussed above, the WUI240receives and demodulates such user identification signal at an RF receiver340, and is further decoded to identify the user and remove the bitmap overlay from the video signal transmitted to the A/V device255.

In operation, the MDI270is a relatively small device with a power supply535(e.g., a battery), thereby allowing it to easily and unobtrusively attach to the A/V device255. People of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the MDI270may, alternatively, be integrated into the A/V device255. Acoustic signals presented by the A/V device255are received by the microphone275of the MDI270, digitized (A/D) by a CODEC515, encoded by the encoder515, and modulated to a radio frequency by the RF modulator520. The modulated and encoded signal is sent to the antenna525for transmission to the WMR250. As described above in view ofFIG. 4, the WMR250includes the antenna405to receive the modulated RF signal transmitted by the MDI270, demodulates it with the RF demodulator410, converts the digital signal to analog audio with the low pass filter415, and the analog audio output connector420allows various cable connections to route the audio signal to the A/V data aggregator235. Such audio signals, including the embedded watermarks provided by network broadcasters, propagate from one or more of the A/V devices (220,225, and230) and are eventually provided to the A/V data aggregator235. The embedded watermark signals of the audio signal are used by the A/V data aggregator235, or an entity associated with the central data store105, to determine which program a user is receiving. The receiver280of the MDI270operates to receive IR signals from a user's IR remote control285. For example, while the IR remote control285may include standard control buttons/commands (e.g., channel change, volume change, power on/off, etc.), the IR remote control285may also include identification buttons. As described above, when the user sees a bitmap prompt such as, “Viewer, please identify yourself,” the user presses an appropriate identification button on the IR remote control285(e.g., a button labeled “Jane”). The identification signal from the IR remote control285is received by the receiver280of the MDI270prior to being encoded by the encoder515. Much like the audio signal received by the microphone275, the encoded IR signal is modulated to a radio frequency by the RF modulator520before being sent to the antenna525for transmission to the WUI240.

A flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions for implementing the example system to wirelessly meter an A/V device ofFIGS. 1-5is shown inFIG. 6. In this example, the machine readable instructions comprise a program for execution by: (a) a processor such as the processor1512shown in the example computer1500discussed below in connection withFIG. 15, (b) a controller, and/or (c) any other suitable processing device. The program may be embodied in software stored on a tangible medium such as, for example, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or a memory associated with the processor1512, but persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the entire program and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a device other than the processor1512and/or embodied in firmware or dedicated hardware in a well known manner (e.g., it may be implemented by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable logic device (FPLD), discrete logic, etc.). Also, some or all of the machine readable instructions represented by the flowchart ofFIG. 6may be implemented manually. Further, although the example program is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 6, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many other methods of implementing the example machine readable instructions may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, substituted, eliminated, or combined.

The process ofFIG. 6begins at block602where the A/V data aggregator235or WUI240initiates a time-based prompting period. Generally speaking, audience measurement systems and devices periodically verify whether or not a user is actively interacting with (e.g., viewing) an A/V device. Sometimes a user may begin watching a program, a DVD, or playing a game, but later walk away from the A/V device without turning it off. Periodic user reminders allow the audience measurement devices to correlate acquired data with an indication of whether the user was responsive to a ‘presence query’ (indicating active use) or non-responsive to a ‘presence query’ (indicating the A/V device may have been left on with no interactive user). The method waits (loops) if the timebase does not expire (block604), otherwise the method prompts the bitmap generator335for a specific user's message to be forwarded (block606) to the video overlay310. For example, a memory of the bitmap generator335may have a number of graphics (e.g., one for each of “n” users), including a graphic that reads, “Jane, please acknowledge your presence.” The video overlay310integrates this graphic with the A/V signals input from at least one of the various devices (220,225,230) at block608. The WAP245receives the integrated signal and retransmits it (block610) to the A/V device255, where it is presented to the user. If no response is received after a predetermined amount of time after transmitting the bitmap message (block612), the WUI240determines if any additional known viewers have been queried (block614). If there are additional known viewers for a particular household, the WUI240may apply a bitmap prompt for a different known user (e.g., “John, please acknowledge your presence.”) (block616). Otherwise, control returns to block604as the A/V device255is treated as abandoned. After the next predetermined time period elapses, the method may repeat by prompting the bitmap generator335for a specific user's message to be forwarded (block606) to the video overlay310. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, rather than apply specific user message bitmaps, a generic message may be displayed to any user to indicate the A/V device255is actively being used. However, such a non-customized query may require additional “yes/no” type questions to ascertain the user's demographic information. For example, the WUI240may also initiate prompts stating, “Are you between the ages of 18-24?” and/or “Are you male?” etc.

A response from the user (block612) is determined after the user presses an identification button on the IR remote285, which is captured by the MDI270. The MDI270receives the IR remote285signal and transmits it back to the WUI240as an RF signal. As described above in view ofFIG. 3, the RF signal is received by the RF receiver340and decoded with the IR signal decoder345. The decoder345then prompts the bitmap generator335to remove the bitmap message from the user's A/V signal (block618). Additionally, the decoder345provides the user identification information to the A/V data aggregator235via the ID interface350(block620). Control returns to block604and the method repeats after the next timebase elapses. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, while waiting for the next timebase to elapse (e.g., 44 minutes before the user is presented with another query message), the wireless interface115may continue to monitor user behavior (e.g., channel changes, volume change, device used, etc.), as well as monitor content information (e.g., watermark detection).

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the mobile interface115, including the WUI240, the WAP245, and the WMR250may be combined or separated into various functional divisions without limitation. Similar toFIG. 2, an alternate example wireless interface715is shown inFIG. 7. Dashed arrows labeled1and3are consolidated into a single dashed arrow inFIG. 7to represent an example consolidation of the WUI and the WMR into a single module720. The combined WUI and WMR module720receives all RF signals. Alternatively, each module may remain separate, as shown inFIG. 2, while designating one of the modules to send and/or receive all wireless communication. As such, each of the separate modules may be interconnected via network cables, or similar connectivity. Also similar toFIG. 2, an alternate example wireless interface815is shown inFIG. 8. Dashed arrows labeled1,2and3are consolidated into a single antenna inFIG. 8to represent an example consolidation of the WUI, the WMR, and the WAP into a single module820.

FIG. 9illustrates a block diagram of an alternate example system100to wirelessly meter an A/V device ofFIG. 1.FIG. 9is the same asFIG. 2except for a personalized tag970in lieu of the MDI (identifier270ofFIG. 2) and an alternate WUI940, as will be discussed below. All other components ofFIG. 9that are similar toFIG. 2are provided similar identification numbers in a “900” series. Generally speaking, rather than employing a bitmap overlay on the A/V signal to elicit a user response, the WUI940inserts an imperceptible audio watermark in the A/V signal that is transmitted by the WUI940to the A/V device955. Note that the watermark added by the WUI940is in addition to any watermarks that may be added by network broadcasters for a purpose of content identification, or otherwise. As such, the WMR950operates in the same manner as the WMR250ofFIG. 2, thus unaffected by the alternate example system100to wirelessly meter an A/V device ofFIG. 9. The personalized tag970is carried by the user or, due to its small size, conveniently attached to the A/V device955. As shown inFIG. 9, a microphone in the tag970picks up audio output from the A/V device955, including the imperceptible watermark, and transmits that signal, plus an added identification signal, back to the WUI940. If the WUI940receives the watermark that includes the added identification signal injected by the tag970, the WUI940automatically provides the A/V data aggregator935with user demographic information, thereby eliminating a need to receive a manual prompt from the user to provide identification. The overlay bitmap instructions to the user, and subsequent user response, are effectively eliminated with the alternate example system100to wirelessly meter an A/V device ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 10is a more detailed view of the example WUI940ofFIG. 9. Similar toFIG. 3, the A/V signal passes through the WUI940via an input A/V interface1005and an output A/V interface1015, just as it did in the example WUI240ofFIG. 3. However, rather than inject a bitmap overlay on to the video signal, the example WUI940adds a personalized watermark signal to the audio portion of the A/V signal with an audio encoder1010. The A/V signal continues to the WAP945where it is transmitted to the A/V device955. Audio output from the A/V device955is picked-up by the microphone(s)985of the tag970which re-transmits the audio signal with the embedded watermark and the new identification code, as will be discussed in further detail below. When the personalized tag970transmits its RF modulated signal, the WUI940decodes and receives it with an RF receiver1040, and demodulates it with an RF demodulator1045. An audio decoder1050looks for the watermark that it originally added to the audio signal and, if the watermark is detected, the WUI940generates a signal to the A/V data aggregator935via an ID interface1055and the “ID Info” line, as shown inFIG. 9. Such signal also includes the personalized identification code added by the tag970, thereby allowing demographic information to be correlated to user behavior. Other signals that may occupy the same transmission frequency are ignored because they are not deemed to be associated with the WUI940.

FIG. 11is a more detailed view of the example tag970ofFIG. 9. The personalized tag970is a small battery1100operated device that may easily and unobtrusively attach to the A/V device955. Alternatively, the personalized tag970may be carried by the user in a shirt pocket, clothing clip, or hung around the user's neck on a strap while using the A/V device955. Inputs to the tag970include audio from the microphone785and tag configuration data via a data port1105. Before the tag970is used by a user of a statistically selected household, the data port1105allows configuration of an identification code to be saved to a tag memory1110. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the data port1105may include a serial port, network cable, wireless transceiver, or similar known data communications connection. Each identification code is unique to each statistically selected user and also saved in a database of the organization acquiring user data (e.g., Nielsen Media Research). Post processing of the collected user behavior data references the identification code to correlate the specific user demographics with the user behavior.

Audio output (including the watermarks injected by the WUI940) by the A/V device955ofFIG. 9is picked-up by the microphone775and provided to a CODEC1115for digitizing (A/D conversion). The memory1110provides the personalized identification code to the CODEC1115so that it may be added to the digital signal modulated by an RF modulator1120and wirelessly transmitted via an antenna1125. Such an identification code allows a recipient of the RF modulated signal to identify which user is using the A/V device955.

A flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions for implementing the alternate WUI940ofFIG. 10is shown inFIG. 12. Although the example program is described with reference to the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 12, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many other methods of implementing the example machine readable instructions may alternatively be used. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocks described may be changed, substituted, eliminated, or combined.

The program ofFIG. 12begins at block1202where the WUI940inserts a watermark in all incoming audio of an A/V signal received from the devices (e.g.,920,925,930). The encoded A/V signal is transmitted to the WAP945(block1204) where it is further transmitted to an A/V device, such as a standard television or an example wireless television955ofFIG. 9.

A flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions for implementing the tag970ofFIG. 11is shown inFIG. 13. The program ofFIG. 13begins at block1302where the tag970determines if it is associated with an ID. If the tag does not have an ID in the memory1110, an ID is programmed into the memory1110at block1304. A technician may access the memory1110via the data port1105to program a predetermined ID for at least one member of a household for which the tag970will be used. After the tag970is associated with an ID, or if the tag970already has an associated ID, program control advances to block1306. If the tag970is within audible proximity to the A/V device955, the microphone775will receive the audio signals from the A/V device speakers, including the embedded watermark containing the personalized identification code from the WUI940. Additionally, the tag970combines or modulates received audio with the ID via the CODEC1115. At block1308, the combined audio is RF modulated by the RF modulator1120and transmitted via the antenna1125. The signal transmitted at block1308includes both the personalized identification code combined by the tag970, the personalized identification code from the WUI940, and any other embedded watermarks (e.g., from a network broadcaster containing program identification information). The behavior of the WMR950does not differ from that discussed earlier in view ofFIG. 2, and will not be repeated here.

FIG. 14is a flowchart representative of example machine readable instructions for implementing the alternate WUI940ofFIG. 10. Unlike the flowchart ofFIG. 12, which generally described an example of A/V signal throughput from A/V devices (e.g., the set-top box920), the flowchart ofFIG. 14illustrates example signal receipt by the WUI940. The WUI940receives and demodulates RF signals with the RF receiver1040and RF demodulator1045, respectively, at block1402. The audio decoder1050decodes the demodulated signal at block1404, and if the personalized watermark, which was earlier embedded by the WUI940before transmission to the A/V device955, is not detected at block1406, program control advances to block1404to continue searching for the personalized watermark. If the personalized watermark is detected at block1406, indicating that the personalized tag970for a household viewer is viewing an A/V device, the identification information is forwarded to the ID interface1055at block1408.

As shown byFIGS. 12-14, if the viewer is not watching the television955, or has stepped out of the room from which the television955was located, the tag970will not transmit the embedded ID. In such a situation, the tag970properly prevents invalid viewing data from being recorded and/or forwarded to the A/V data aggregator935. However, if the viewer returns to a viewing proximity of the television955, the tag970carried by that viewer may again receive the audio signals from the television speakers with the tag microphone985. Because the tag970automatically and passively identifies the viewer of the television955, the example alternate wireless interface ofFIGS. 9-11effectively eliminate the need for the viewer to manually respond to visual cues in order to provide identification information to the A/V data aggregator935.

FIG. 15is a block diagram of an example computer1500capable of implementing the apparatus and methods disclosed herein. The computer1500can be, for example, a server, a personal computer, a set top box, or any other type of computing device. The system1500of the instant example includes a processor1512such as a general purpose programmable processor. The processor1512includes a local memory1514, and executes coded instructions1516present in the local memory1514and/or in another memory device. The processor1512may execute, among other things, the example machine readable instructions illustrated in FIGS.6and12-14. The processor1512may be any type of processing unit, such as a microprocessor from the Intel® Centrino® family of microprocessors, the Intel® Pentium® family of microprocessors, the Intel® Itanium® family of microprocessors, and/or the Intel XScale® family of processors. Of course, other processors from other families are also appropriate.

The processor1512is in communication with a main memory including a volatile memory1518and a non-volatile memory1520via a bus1522. The volatile memory1518may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM) and/or any other type of random access memory device. The non-volatile memory1520may be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory1518,1520is typically controlled by a memory controller (not shown) in a conventional manner.

The computer1500also includes a conventional interface circuit1524. The interface circuit1524may be implemented by any type of well known interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial bus (USB), and/or a third generation input/output (3GIO) interface.

One or more input devices1526are connected to the interface circuit1524. The input device(s)1526permit a user to enter data and commands into the processor1512. The input device(s) can be implemented by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system.

One or more output devices1528are also connected to the interface circuit1524. The output devices1528can be implemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a printer and/or speakers). The interface circuit1524, thus, typically includes a graphics driver card.

The interface circuit1524also includes a communication device such as a modem or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data with external computers via a network (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.).

The computer1500also includes one or more mass storage devices1530for storing software and data. Examples of such mass storage devices1530include floppy disk drives, hard drive disks, compact disk drives and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives.