US5408258A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment
Assignee: Nielsen Audio Inc
•
Filing: 1993-04-21
•
Granted: 1995-04-18
•
Expires: 2013-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment. In a household in which viewing patterns are to be monitored, for example, a relatively inexpensive and simple set usage device is installed in proximity to a television set which is expected to receive little or no use. Times when the set is in use are sensed, and data concerning those times are stored and transmitted to a central location. At the central location, the times represented by the transmitted data are compared to a minimum usage threshold, and a more sophisticated monitoring device, able to detect the channel tuning state of the T.V. set, is installed in proximity to the T.V. set only if the usage of the T.V. set exceeds the minimum usage threshold. The number of relatively expensive and complex tuning-monitoring devices required to be installed is thereby reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald S. Kolessar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device located at a remote location for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing, at said remote location, when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data, at said remote location, representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; transmitting the data from said remote location to a centralized data processing facility; and determining, at said centralized data processing facility, whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device located at a remote location for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing, at said remote location, when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data, at said remote location, representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; transmitting the data from said remote location to a centralized data processing facility; and determining, at said centralized data processing facility, whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1; wherein the step of determining comprises determining whether said data indicates usage of the signal reproduction device in excess of a predetermined minimum usage criterion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1; wherein the step of determining comprises determining whether said data indicates that usage of the signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined usage pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1; further comprising the step of producing a qualification signal indicating whether said signal reproduction device satisfies said predetermined qualification criterion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1; further comprising storing the produced data at the remote location prior to transmitting said data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1; further comprising the step of removing said monitoring equipment if said signal reproduction device fails to satisfy said predetermined qualification criterion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1; wherein said step of sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use comprises sensing such use with a usage sensing device having a receptacle into which is plugged a power cord of said signal reproduction device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 7; further comprising the step of transmitting said data over domestic AC power supply lines via an AC receptacle into which said usage sensing device is plugged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 7; further comprising the step of transmitting said data over a hardwired signal path to which said usage sensing device is connected.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based Upon said data representing said usage amount.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based Upon said data representing said usage amount.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and determining that said signal reproduction device is qualified for installation of monitoring equipment if said times represented by said data exceed a predetermined minimum usage threshold.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and determining that said signal reproduction device is qualified for installation of monitoring equipment if said times represented by said data exceed a predetermined minimum usage threshold.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount; and installing, in association with said signal reproduction device, monitoring equipment including means for monitoring at least one of a source of a signal reproduced by said signal reproduction device and the audience using said signal reproduction device, only if said signal reproduction device satisfies said predetermined qualification criterion.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount; and installing, in association with said signal reproduction device, monitoring equipment including means for monitoring at least one of a source of a signal reproduced by said signal reproduction device and the audience using said signal reproduction device, only if said signal reproduction device satisfies said predetermined qualification criterion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 12; wherein the step of installing monitoring equipment comprises installing said monitoring equipment for monitoring usage of a television receiver.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device located at a remote location for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising: a usage sensing device installed in association with said signal reproduction device at said remote location for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; a centralized data processing facility for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount; and means for transmitting the data from said remote location to the centralized data processing facility.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device located at a remote location for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising: a usage sensing device installed in association with said signal reproduction device at said remote location for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing a usage amount of said signal reproduction device; a centralized data processing facility for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount; and means for transmitting the data from said remote location to the centralized data processing facility.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 14; wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining whether said data indicates usage of the signal reproduction device in excess of a predetermined minimum usage criterion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 14; wherein said means for determining comprises means for determining whether said data indicates that usage of the signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined usage pattern.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 14; further comprising means for producing a qualification signal indicating whether said signal reproduction device satisfies said predetermined qualification criterion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 14; further comprising means for storing the produced data at the remote location prior to transmitting said data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 18; further comprising a hardwired signal path interconnecting said usage sensing device and said means for storing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 14; further comprising means provided at said centralized data processing facility for generating a report concerning said signal reproduction device if said signal reproduction device satisfies said predetermined qualification criterion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 14; wherein said means for sensing comprises a usage sensing device having receptacle means for coupling with a power cord of said signal reproduction device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 21; wherein said usage sensing device includes means for securing said power cord within said receptacle means so that said signal reproduction device can be powered only via said usage sensing device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 14; wherein said means for sensing comprises a usage sensing device having a power cord which is plugged into an AC receptacle of a domestic power supply.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 23; wherein said usage sensing device includes said means for producing data; and further comprising means for transmitting said data over domestic AC power supply lines via said AC receptacle into which said power cord of said usage sensing device is plugged.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
73 words
A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising: means for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and means for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
73 words
A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising: means for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and means for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment based upon said data representing said usage amount.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of monitoring usage of a signal reproduction device, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing by means of a usage sensing device when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing usage of said signal reproduction device; and comparing said data with information concerning usage of said signal reproduction device provided from a source other than said usage sensing device.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of monitoring usage of a signal reproduction device, comprising the steps of: automatically sensing by means of a usage sensing device when said signal reproduction device is in use; producing data representing usage of said signal reproduction device; and comparing said data with information concerning usage of said signal reproduction device provided from a source other than said usage sensing device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 26; wherein said other source is a diary maintained by a member of an audience using said signal reproduction device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 26; wherein said other source is monitoring equipment installed in association with said signal reproduction device, said monitoring equipment including means for monitoring at least one of a source of a signal reproduced by said signal reproduction device and the audience using said signal reproduction device.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising: means for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and means for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment if said times represented by said data exceed a predetermined minimum usage threshold.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
78 words
A system for automatically qualifying a signal reproduction device for installation of monitoring equipment in association therewith, comprising: means for automatically sensing when said signal reproduction device is in use; means for producing data representing times at which said signal reproduction device is in use; and means for determining whether said signal reproduction device satisfies a predetermined qualification criterion for utilization of said monitoring equipment if said times represented by said data exceed a predetermined minimum usage threshold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-17 | 1998-10-17 | 1999-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-17 | 2002-10-17 | 2003-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-17 | 2006-10-17 | 2007-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |