Television viewer reaction determining system

Claim 1

In a system for determining viewing habits of television viewers in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including a television broadcast display set located in a room, the improvement comprising in combination: a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means located at a distance from said television set across the room for causing said television set to display a television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels and means for providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection, including second manually actuable means adjacent said first manually actuable means for receiving television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts; means coupled to said across-the-room remote control for determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and means connected to said determining means and coupled to said second manually actuable means for polling said determining means as to the channel on which a broadcast displayed by said television set is received and said second manually actuable means as to received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 7

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means for causing said television set to display a television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels and by situating at each preferred viewing position second manually actuable means adjacent the first manually actuable means for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 8

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means for causing said television set to display a television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels and by situating at each preferred viewing position second manually actuable means adjacent the first manually actuable means for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 9

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means for transposing each television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels to one predetermined channel for display by said television set, and by situating at each preferred viewing position second manually actuable means adjacent the first manually actuable means for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 10

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means for transposing each television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels to one predetermined channel for display by said television set, and by situating at each preferred viewing position second manually actuable means adjacent the first manually actuable means for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 11

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including a manually actuable channel tuner for selectively receiving television broadcasts on any one of a predetermined number of channels for display by said television set, and by situating at each preferred viewing position manually actuable means adjacent the manually actuable channel tuner for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 12

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including a manually actuable channel tuner for selectively receiving television broadcasts on any one of a predetermined number of channels for display by said television set, and by situating at each preferred viewing position manually actuable means adjacent the manually actuable channel tuner for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 19

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewer participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means for causing said television set to display a television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels and by situating at each preferred viewing position second manually actuable means adjacent the first manually actuable means for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts, said second manually actuable means being equipped with distinct first, second, third, and fourth manually engageable devices for receiving from a viewer very favorable, moderately favorable, moderately unfavorable and very unfavorable viewer reactions, respectively, to a displayed broadcast; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 20

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewer participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means for causing said television set to display a television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels and by situating at each preferred viewing position second manually actuable means adjacent the first manually actuable means for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts, said second manually actuable means being equipped with distinct first, second, third, and fourth manually engageable devices for receiving from a viewer very favorable, moderately favorable, moderately unfavorable and very unfavorable viewer reactions, respectively, to a displayed broadcast; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 21

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means for transposing each television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels to one predetermined channel for display by said television set, and by situating at each preferred viewing position second manually actuable means adjacent the first manually actuable means for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcast, said second manually actuable means being equipped with distinct first, second, third and fourth manually engageable devices for receiving from a viewer very favorable, moderately favorable, moderately unfavorable and very unfavorable viewer reactions, respectively, to a displayed broadcast; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 22

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including first manually actuable means for transposing each television broadcast received on any one of a predetermined number of channels to one predetermined channel for display by said television set, and by situating at each preferred viewing position second manually actuable means adjacent the first manually actuable means for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcast, said second manually actuable means being equipped with distinct first, second, third and fourth manually engageable devices for receiving from a viewer very favorable, moderately favorable, moderately unfavorable and very unfavorable viewer reactions, respectively, to a displayed broadcast; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 23

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including a manually actuable channel tuner for selectively receiving television broadcasts on any one of a predetermined number of channels for display by said television set, and by situating at each preferred viewing position manually actuable means adjacent the manually actuable channel tuner for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts, said manually actuable means being equipped with distinct first, second, third and fourth manually engageable devices for receiving from a viewer very favorable, moderately favorable, moderately unfavorable and very unfavorable viewer reactions, respectively, to a displayed broadcast; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.

Claim 24

A method of providing television audience survey systems with improved acceptability by the television audience and accuracy of the survey, and of encouraging increased and more meaningful viewer participation in a multi-channel television broadcast reception area including television sets for displaying television broadcasts to viewers participating in the survey, comprising in combination: providing viewers with a facility to register viewer reactions in the context of channel selection at a distance from each television set from the convenience of each participating viewer's preferred viewing position, by situating at each preferred viewing position a remote control for said television set including a manually actuable channel tuner for selectively receiving television broadcasts on any one of a predetermined number of channels for display by said television set, and by situating at each preferred viewing position manually actuable means adjacent the manually actuable channel tuner for receiving at each preferred viewing position television viewer reactions to displayed television broadcasts, said manually actuable means being equipped with distinct first, second, third and fourth manually engageable devices for receiving from a viewer very favorable, moderately favorable, moderately unfavorable and very unfavorable viewer reactions, respectively, to a displayed broadcast; determining for each broadcast displayed by said television set the channel on which that broadcast is being received; and determining from said second manually actuable means received viewer reactions to a displayed broadcast received over the latter channel.