MX2008007596A - Systems and methods to wirelessly meter audio/visual devices - Google Patents

Abstract

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.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS MEASUREMENT OF AUDIOVISUAL DEVICES RELATED REQUESTS This patent claims the benefit of the United States Provisional Patent Application Series No. 60 / 749,443, filed on December 12, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure generally relates to measuring audio / visual (A / V) devices, and more particularly, to systems and methods for audio / visual wireless measurement devices.

BACKGROUND Consumer media presentations generally involve listening to audio information and / or visual video information such as, for example, radio programs, music, television programs, movies, static images, etc. Centric media companies such as, for example, advertising companies, broadcast networks, etc. They are often interested in the behavior of the audience, such as the interest of seeing and hearing from their audience. The measurement of said audience behavior allows centric media companies to better distribute their advertising spend and better market their products. The 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 (eg, information indicating the content presented to the audience such as information of a channel, time of consumption of information, information of programs , etc.) the information of people (eg, information about the demographics of the audience). This information is collected, recorded and combined to produce data of significant audience ratings. The tuning information is normally collected by a tuning meter, otherwise known as an active / passive (A / P) meter. The A / P meter collects tuning data from devices, such as digital signal decoders, video game devices, video cassette recorders (VCR), digital video recorders (DVR) and digital versatile disc players (DCD) , to name a few. In addition to collecting said tuning data, the A / P meter determines which of the different devices feeds the television set. The channel and content information, as well as the device source information is sent back to the office for analysis. Personnel information is normally collected by a People (PM) meter such as a Nielsen People Meter provided by Nielsen Media Research. The PM collects different demographic information related to the observer and the attunement behavior of the observer. Together with the A / P meter and PM, they collect and send information to allow the audience indexes to be determined. Such audience information is useful for various business determinations, including adjusting the cost of commercial advertising time. Audience measurement is normally used by hardware devices (fixed). An audio / visual device (A / V), such as a television, connected directly to a media source cable to provide broadcast content to a member of the audience. The audience measurement devices can be placed on or near the television to detect audio and / or video signals broadcast by television, thus allowing the devices to determine the behavior of the audience. The data acquired by the audience measurement devices' are directly connected to a data collection facility, for example, by a telephone MODEM or a broadband modem to allow additional analysis of the collected data. However, traditional audience measurement devices do not adapt the audience measurement services when the A / V device is wireless, such as when the audience members use a wireless television.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an example system for wirelessly measuring an A / V device. Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating further detail of an implementation of the example of the system of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a wireless user identifier of the example (WUI) of Fig. 2 that investigates user A / V devices and receives user responses to surveys. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a wireless microphone receiver of the example (WMR) of Fig. 2 which receives the modulated RF signals and converts them to audio signals. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a mobile device interface of example (MD) of Fig. 2 that receives infrared signals and audio signals, and transmits modulated RF signals. Fig. 6 is a flow chart depicting a process of the example for implementing the measurement system of Figs. 1-5. Fig. 7 is a block diagram of an implementation of the alternative example of the wireless interface of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a block diagram of an alternate example implementation of the wireless interface of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an implementation of the alternate example of the system of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a block diagram of an alternate wireless user identifier (WUI) of Fig. 9. The Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a custom label of the example of Fig. 9 that receives audio signals, includes a custom code with the audio signals and transmits modulated RF signals. Fig. 12 is a flowchart representing an exemplary process for implementing signal transmission for the wireless user identifier of the alternate example (WUI) of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a flow chart representing an example process for implementing the custom label of the example of Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a flow chart representing an example process for implementing signal reception and watermark detection of the wireless user identifier of the alternate example (WUI) of FIG. 10. FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of a processor system of the example that can execute the processes of FIGS. 6 and 12-14 to implement the audience measurement systems shown in Figs. 1-5, 7, 8 and 9-11, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, an example system 100 for wirelessly measuring an audio / visual device (A / V) is shown. The system 100 of Fig. 1 includes a central data classification 105, a data acquisition and home interface 110, a wireless internal 115, and an A / V device 120. The central data classification 105 includes one or more data bases. data and other data storage devices, accessible served an entity interested in collecting the behavior information of the user of the A / V device. Said user behavior information may include user identity, demographic, broadcasted programming channels observed or listened to, movies watched, and A / V device channel changes, to name a few. The user information collected in the central data classification 105 can also be analyzed in an office, business and / or commercialization entity to determine, for example, the audience ratings of broadcasts and movie ratings. The audience index information may allow advertisers to determine, among other things, effective advertising strategies and advertising price. As discussed in more detail now, the acquisition of data from the home interface 2110 includes devices typically found in a user's home, such as digital cable television decoders., 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 home appliances or observers statistically selected by a ratings company, such as, for example, Nielsen Media Research, data acquisition and home interface 110 may also include a data meter of audience ratings or data aggregator data. Similar A / V to collect and correlate data that refers to user behavior. In addition, the data acquisition and the home interface 110 may also include a device for determining and collecting demographic data of the home monitors via an A / V data aggregator and / or user identification module / device (device ID), such as a Nielsen People Meter provided by Nielsen Media Research. As discussed in more detail below, the wireless interface 115 includes interfaces to allow a user to receive the content provided by the data acquisition and home interface 110. In particular, the wireless interface 115 allows the user to wirelessly transmit the content of, for example, a digital signal decoder, VCR, and / or DVD player of the data acquisition and home interface 110, to the wireless A / V device 120. In other words, the wireless interface 115 bypasses the wireless space between the A / V user's standard equipment (eg, digital signal decoder, VCR, DVD player, etc.) the A / V 120 device (eg, a television, a mobile television, etc.). ). As described below, the wireless interface 115 may include a wireless user identifier (WUI), a wireless access point (WAP), and a wireless microphone receiver (WMR) to wirelessly transmit the A / V content and receive Observer behavior information, as discussed in more detail later. The A / V device 120 includes one or more devices capable of providing A / V information to a user. The A / V device 120 may 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. Since the A / V devices are wireless, they are not restricted to being used in an area close to the data acquisition and home interface 110. In operation, the system 100 for wirelessly measuring an A / V device of Fig. 1 allows the A / V 120 device to be located dwarfed home or business without a traditional cable-based connectivity restriction to data acquisition and home interface 110. Such freedom of the user is provided, in part, by the wireless interface 115, which it also allows the collection of user behavior while the A / V device 120 is being used. The user behavior is also collected and / or accumulated by the data acquisition and home interface 110 and provided by the classification of central data 105 for analysis additional Because each central data classification 105, data acquisition and wireless interface 115, which also allows the collection of user behavior while using the A / V 120 device. User behavior is also collected and / accumulated for data acquisition and home interface 110 and provides for central data classification 105 for further analysis. Because each of the central data classifications 105, the home interface data acquisition 110, the wireless interface 115, and the A / V device 120 are communicatively connected, various types of data are exchanged therein. For example, the central data classification 105 sends data acquisition request signals 125 for the data acquisition and home interface 110 to start receiving the collected user data 130. The requested signals 125 can automatically transmit the collected user data. 130 at predetermined intervals. The user data collected can include, but are not limited to observed channels and stations listened to by a user of the A / V 120 device, the times and dates to which the user observes and / or listens and the identity of the user. The home interface data acquisition 110 also receives the programming content 127 from various sources. For example, a cable television provider, a satellite service provider, and / or a local broadcast station may provide the programming content 127 to the user. The data 135 sent the acquisition of data from the home interface 110 to the wireless interface 115 may include, but is not limited to, propagating the content, so that the programs of television signals, satellite signals, cable signals are observed. , VCR A / V signals, DVD player A / V signals and game device A / V signals. The data 135 sent by the data acquisition and the domestic internal 110 may also include watermarks embedded in audio and / or video portions of the different A / V signals. The watermarks may contain in-band codes of the transmission of programming that identifies dates and time of dissemination, information identifying programs, and / or identity information with respect to the entity transmitting the program. Said watermarks are normally hidden in the audio and / or visual signal and are not perceptible to the user of the A / V device. In the case that a statistically selected household appliance uses a wireless A / V device 120 (v.gr, a mobile television), the wireless interface 115 allows the data acquisition devices and the home interface 110 to transmit to the device. Wireless A / V 120. The data received 140 by the acquisition of data from the home interface 110 of the wireless interface 115 may include the identity information of the user and the watermarks extracted, as discussed below. The data 145 wrapped by the wireless interface 115 to the A / V device 120 may include retransmitted observer programming data and user inquiry messages, as discussed in more detail below. The data received 150 by the wireless interface 115 of the A / V device 120 can include audio signals emitted from the A / V device 120 and processed by the wireless interface 115. Since the users interact (v.gr, channels of change on the example television) with A / V devices 120, the output of the A / V device is modulated by the wireless interface 115 and retransmitted to the A / V 120 device. As discussed in more detail below, the interface wireless 115 also sends user behavior data and program content information to data acquisition and home interface 110. Additionally, wireless interface 115 allows system 100 to acquire user demographics of an A / V device and send said data to the data acquisition and the home interface 110, and then to the central data warehouse 105.

Fig. 2 illustrates greater detail of an implementation of examples of the system 100 for wirelessly measuring an A / V device of Fig. 1. The dotted lines 205, 210, and 215 in Fig. 2 separate Fig. 2 into components corresponding to central data store 105, data acquisition and home interface 110, wireless interface 115, and A / V devices 120, respectively. The acquisition of home interface data 110 includes, as described above, various A / V devices, such as a digital signal decoder 220, a video game console 225, and a DVD player 230. Said A / V devices. / V of the example (220, 225, 230) provides various forms of audio and visual entertainment, information and broadcast programs. As described above, the user may receive various forms of programming content 127, such as cable television, satellite programming and / or programming via an antenna that is widely broadcast from one or more local television stations. The user can receive said programming content via the digital signal decoder 220. The data acquisition and home interface 110 also includes an example of A / V 235 data aggregator to collect user behavior and demographic information.

The wireless interface 115 includes a wireless user identifier (WUI) 240 for receiving A / V signals from the A / V devices (220, 225, 230) and embedding an identification investigation signal in the A / V signals. received, as will be discussed in more detail later. WUI 240 sends the A / V signals, including the embedded research signal, to a wireless access point (WAP) 245 for wireless retransmission to an A / V device of the user 120. The wireless interface 115 also includes a receiver of wireless microphones (WMR) 250 to receive retransmitted audio signals from the A / V 120 devices, as will be discussed in more detail below. Fig. 2 also illustrates the A / V devices 120 of the example, said mobile A / V device 255. A mobile A / V device of example 255 may include, for example, a mobile television that are freely linked by the data cables based on wires and / or power cables. However, the A / V device of Example 120 may also include a normal television that is connected to data cables and / or power cables. The mobile A / V device of example 255 may also include a loudspeaker 260 to give auditory signals to the user, and an infrared (IR) receiver 265 to receive user commands (eg, channel change, volume adjustment, power on / off, etc.). The A / V devices 120 may also include a mobile device interface (MDI) 270 to receive audio signals from the mobile / V device 255 via a microphone 275. MDI 270 may also include an IR 280 receiver, similar to that of the mobile A / V device 255, to receive user identification information of a user interacting with the mobile A / V device 255. The IR receiver 265 of the mobile A / V device and the IR receiver 280 of MDI 270 may each receive IR signals from an IR transmitter (remote control) 285. A family having measurement system 100 of FIG. 2 includes bidirectional connectivity to central data store 105. Bidirectional connectivity it may include a connection via telephone, an Internet connection, satellite and / or a cable network, such as a cable network owned or leased by the content provider. The central damage store 105 can be communicatively connected to some home interface 105 via an A / V data aggregator 235 of the data acquisition and home interface 110. As will be discussed in more detail below, the data aggregator 235 receives information related to the behavior and identification of A / V devices 120 with which the users interact and forward said information to the central data warehouse 105. To join the communicative space between the data acquisition 110 domestic interface and the A / devices V 120, the wireless interfaces 115 of Fig. 2 of the example are employed. The signals from various standard A / V devices, such as the digital signal decoder 220, are directly directly connected directly to a normal television set of the observer (e.g., a television set connected to an output of electrical power and connected to a coaxial data cable). However, observers who have mobile televisions, for example, generally employ the use of a wireless access point (WAP) to retransmit the television signal wirelessly through the observer's home. A further example may include users of the appliance with normal television sets that simply relocate the television from one location to another location within the house. Instead of moving the A / V data aggregate 235 and the television, the wireless interface of Example 115 allows the A / V 235 data aggregator to function functionally without worrying about its proximity to television. In addition, the wireless interface 115 allows the A / V 235 data harvester, as well as one or more devices of the wireless interface 115 itself, which will be located anywhere within the house, such as a basement, attic, closet , etc. WAP can include 802.11 a / b / g communication capabilities, allowing any data acquisition signal and home interface 110 to be lost through the home or business of the observer. Similarly, A / V 120 devices (eg, a mobile television) in an observer's house or business. Similarly, A / V devices 120 (e.g., a mobile television) an observer's house may also include the ability to receive the transmitted signal (e.g., 802.11 a / b / g). The acquisition of data in the homes of users in which a normal wire-based television is normally observed, employs a connection connected directly from a wired A / V device (e.g., a digital signal decoder) directly to a non-mobile television (standard). Additionally, the A / V device (e.g., a digital signal decoder) typically includes a direct connection to a data aggregator so that when the observer changes the channel in the digital signal decoder, the observer sees the results on television, and the changes are captured by the data aggregator. In addition, the acquisition of data in the handles of the observers using normal televisions normally includes a directly connected ID device to determine which member of a family was observing or interacting with the normal A / V device. Each family member usually has an ID button on the ID device, or if the ID device includes an IR remote control, each member pressed an appropriate button on the IR remote to identify who was watching the television. However, because an observer of a standard or mobile television can be in any room of the house or business, direct connection ID devices and direct connection data will allow the acquisition or identification of observer data. The mobility of the A / V device (e.g., normal televisions, wireless televisions, etc.), the acquisition of user data and user identification is achieved, in part, by the A / V interface of example 115 shown in Fig. 2. As briefly described above, the A / V interface of example 115 includes the wireless user identifier (WUI) 240, the wireless access point (WWAP) 245, and the wireless microphone receiver (WMR). ) 250. Generally speaking, signals transmitted by wired-based A / C devices (eg, digital signal decoder 220, video game console 225, DVD player 230, etc.) are received by WUI 240, which, in turn, integrate a bitmap image on a video channel. The bitmap image may be a message requesting that the observer provide immediate identification information. WUI 240 sends the integrated / V signal to WAP 245 to modulate the A / V signal received by WUI 240 (including the bitmap layer) for wireless retransmission to an A / V 255 device, as shown by a marked dotted arrow 1. The A / V device 255, such as the mobile television of the example shown in Fig. 2, receives and demodulates the retransmitted signal back into the A / V domain and presents the signal in a format of audio and / or video to the observer (eg, a movie, television program, etc.). A user or observer of the mobile television of example 255 observes the integrated bitmap, which requests that the user provide identification information. For example, after a user starts using an A / V device 220, 225, 230, WUI 240 transmits a shelf to place the video, "Please select your identification loot". The user can provide such identification feedback via a remote control, such as an infrared (IR) remote control of example 285 shown in Fig. 2. The IR remote 285 contains user identification (ID) buttons for each of the observers in the family (eg, a button for each of "Jack", "Jane", and "Junior"), and transmits ID selection information for the IR remote 285 to an IR receiver 280 of MDI 270, discussed in more detail below. The IR remote 285 may include another functionality to control the mobile television of example 255 by transmitting the control commands to the IR receiver 265 of the mobile television 255. Such control may include, but is not limited to, changing channels, adjusting volume and turn on / off the power control. The user ID information may be additionally or alternatively provided by the user ID buttons located on MDI 270. The user ID selection information is transmitted wirelessly from MDI 270 to WUI 240, as shown by a dotted arrow marked 2 The user ID selection information is transmitted from WUI 240 to the A / V data aggregator 235, and WUI 240 removes the integrated bitmap image layer in the video channel. After a predetermined amount of time, WUI 240 can again apply the upper bitmap image on the video signal to confirm who is using the mobile A / V device 255. Several watermarks embedded within the audio content of programming presented in the mobile A / V device 255 emanates from one or more speakers 260. The audio watermark is imperceptible to the listener, and is received by the microphone 275 of MDI 270. The audio signal received by the microphone 275 is RF modulated by MDI 270 and transmitted to WMR 250, as shown by the dotted arrow marked 3. Alternatively, persons with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the audio signal may leave the mobile device of the A / V 255 audio output may include RCA terminals (also referred to as such as RCA shirts, phono plugs, etc.) to adapt audio cables that are connected to the audio input of MDI 270. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that watermarks can be embedded within the signal of video instead of, or in addition to, the audio signal. The modulated RF signals received in WMR 250 are demodulated to extract watermark information before sending the watermarks to the A / V data aggregator 235 of the data acquisition and home interface 110. Although the data aggregator of A / V 235 can simply receive those audio signals that contain embedded watermarks directly from the devices (220, 225, 230), or directly from WAP 245, receiving the audio signals after they have been emitted by the speakers 260 in an A / V device, such as the mobile television of example 255, ensures the information provided to the users of the audience dimension devices is a reflection of the observer's behavior and the current content displayed by the A / device. Mobile V 255. For example, if the A / V data aggregator 235 receives the audio signals directly from the digital signal decoder 220, the video game console 225, or the rep DVD player 230, then the received information can not reflect the interaction of the observer with the A / V device 255. This situation is particularly problematic if the A / V device is a mobile television that does not turn on, but the decoder digital signals 220 may continue to transmit directly to the A / V data aggregator (assuming the connection connected directly from the digital signal decoder 220 to the A / V data aggregator 235). Alternatively, such a situation is also problematic if the digital signal decoder 220 is turned on and transmits its signal via WUI 240 and further retransmitted by WAP 245, but the mobile television observer of example 255, instead, is tuned with a local television station. As such, the retransmission of the audio signals (including the embedded watermarks) of the television255 ensures that the information received by the A / V 235 data aggregator indicates the behavior of the observer and indicates the content currently displayed by the television 255 The information collected with respect to user observation behavior and demographics can be stored locally in the A / V data aggregator 235. At predetermined intervals, or by extreme request to acquire data, the information collected from the A / D data aggregator. V 235 is sent by the home interface data acquisition 110 of the central data store 105 to process and determine audience index information. The WUI example 240 of the wireless interface 115 of FIG. 2 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The A / V signals of the A / V devices (220, 225, 230) were received via a wireless interface. A / V input 305 and mixed with a bitmap (to adapt the functionality causing the user or ID observer) to a top layer of video 310 before being retransmitted to an output A / V interface 315. The signals A / V of the output A / V interface 315 continue to be WAP 245 for retransmission of the A / V 120 devices, as discussed above. Example WUI 240 of Fig. 3 also includes a serial port 320 to allow control of a timer 325, control of a bitmap control position 330, and addition / deletion of a bank of several bitmaps in a bitmap generator 335. Access to serial port 320 may occur as necessary and typically occurs once during the establishment of WUI 240 prior to installation in a user's home. For example, a technician can program WUI 240 to contain several different bitmap images, one for each member of a family. One of the five bitmaps can be a message, for example. "Are you Mr. Smith? Or" Observer, please identify yourself. "The technician can also program timer 325 to display the bitmap image again at a predetermined interval of, for example, 44 minutes to confirm which member of the appliance is watching television.In an expiration of time, the timer 325 provides a driving signal to the bitmap generator 335 to advance a bitmap of the upper video layer 310. In addition, the technician can program the module position control 330 to place each bitmap image on a particular television coordinate.The A / V signal of the output A / V interface 315, which includes the embedded bitmap, is received at less in one of the A / V 120 devices (after retransmission by WAP 245.) Then the user / observer responds to the request for identification (eg, "Observer, please identify yourself"), as it is in greater than In the following, an RF signal containing observer information is received by an RF receiver 340. The RF receiver demodulates the RF signal and advances it to an IR signal decoder 345 to extract identification information. For example, the IR signal decoder 345 analyzes the received signal for the presence of an ID signal from one of the members of the family, such as Mr. Smith. Upon confirming that Mr. Smith or any other member of the family provided identification information, the IR signal decoder 345 signals the bitmap generator 335 that the image can be removed from the observer's A / V device. Additionally, the IR signal decoder 345 provides the extracted identification information to an ID 350 output interface. As shown in Fig. 2, the ID 350 output interface is connected to an "Info ID" cable. and provides said identification information to the A / V data aggregator 235. The WUI example 240 of FIG. 3 can be implemented in hardware and is driven by a power supply 355, such as a normal AC / DC converter. The example WUI 240 of Fig. 3 can also be implemented in software as instructions that can be read by a machine executed by: (a) a processor such as the processor 1512 shown in the computer of example 1500 discussed later in connection with Fig. 15 (b) a controller and / or (c) may also be another suitable processing device. WMR 250 of the example of the wireless interface 115 of Fig. 2 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 4. The retransmitted audio signals sent by the wireless A / V devices, as discussed in more detail below, include Embedded watermarks. As shown in Fig. 4, WMR 250 includes an antenna 405 for receiving the retransmitted audio signal and an RF demodulator 410 for demodulating the retransmitted RF signal. A slow-pass filter 415 converts the demodulated digital signal to an analog audio signal, which is passed to an analog audio output interface 420 for transmission to the A / V 235 data aggregator. WMR 250 can be connected to a plug electrical layer of the observer and includes a power supply 425. Typically, WMR 250 is located in close proximity to the user's A / V data aggregator 235, but someone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that WMR 250 can be integrated into the A / V 235 data aggregator as a single unit. As shown in Fig. 5, an MDI implementation 270 includes the microphone 275 to receive audio signals presented by the A / V device 255, and a CODEC 510 to digitize (A / D) the received audio signals. An encoder 515 allows the digitized signal to be directed to a particular destination, for example, the RF receiver of WMR 250. The digitized and encoded audio is modulated by an RF modulator 520 and sent to an antenna 525 for transmission to WMR 250. As discussed above, the watermarks contained in the audio presented by the A / V device 255 is captured by the microphone 275 and transmitted wirelessly by MDI 270 to WUI 240. Additionally, MDI 270 includes a receiver 280 to receive IR transmissions from the IR transmitter 285, which contains the identity of who uses the A / V device 255. Said IR transmissions were received by the IR receiver 280 and quite a portion of the encoder 515 for the audio signal, encoded by an encoder 530 for the IR signal containing identification information of the user. The IR signal is modulated as a radio frequency by the RF modulator 520 before transmission to WUI 240. As discussed above, WUI 240 receives and demodulates said user identification signal to an RF receiver 340, and in addition it is decoded to identify the user and remove the upper bitmap layer of the video signal transmitted to the A / V device 255. In operation, MDI 270 is a relatively small device with a power supply 535 (e.g. a battery), thus allowing easy or non-obstructive attack to the A / V device 255. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that MDI 27 can, alternatively, be integrated into the A / V device. The acoustic signals presented by the A / V device 255 are received by the microphone 275, and are modulated at a radio frequency by the RF modulator 520. The modulated and coded signal is sent to the antenna 525 for transmission to WMR 250. As described above in view of FIG. 4, WMR 250 includes the antenna 405 for receiving the modulated RF signal transmitted by MDI 270, demodulating it with the RF demodulator 410, converting the digital signal to analog audio with the slow-pass filter 415, and the analog audio output connector 420 allows multiple cable connections to direct the audio signal to the A / V 235 data aggregator. Such audio signals, including embedded watermarks, provided by broadcasters of networks, are propagated from one or more A / V devices (220, 225, and 230) and eventually are provided to the A / V data aggregator 235. The embedded watermark signals of the audio signal are used by the data changer A / V 235, or one in associated with the central data store 105, to determine which program a user is receiving. The MDI receiver 270 operates to receive IR signals from an IR remote control of the user 285. For example, while the IR remote control 285 may include normal control buttons / commands (eg, channel change). , volume change, power on / off, etc.), IR remote control 285 can also include identification buttons. As described above, when the user observes a bitmap object such as "Observer, please identify himself", the user presses an appropriate identification button on the IR remote control 285 (eg, a button marked " Jane "). The IR remote control identification signal 285 was received by the MDI receiver 280 before being encoded by the encoder 515. Quite similar to the audio signal received by the microphone 275, the encoded IR signal is modulated at a frequency radio by the RF modulator 520 before being sent to the 525 antenna for transmission to WUI 240. A flow chart representative of the instructions that can be read on a machine to implement the example system to wirelessly measure an A / device V of Figures 1-5 are shown in Fig. 6. In this example, instructions that can be read by the machine comprise a program for execution by: (to a processor such as processor 1512 shown in the example computer 1500 treated in relation to Fig. 15, (b) a controller, and / or (c) any other suitable process device. The program may be modalized in the software stored in a tangible digital versatile disk (DVD), or a memory associated with the 1512 processor, but persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the entire program and / or parts thereof could alternatively executed by a device other than the processor 1512 and / or modalized in the dedicated firmware or hardware in a well-known manner (e.g., can be implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD) , a programmable logic field device (FPLD), discrete logic, etc.). Also, some or all of the instructions that can be read by the machine represented by the flow chart of Fig. 6 can be implemented manually. In addition, although the program of the example was described with reference to the flow chart illustrated in Fig. 6, persons with ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many other methods for implementing the instructions that can be read by a machine of the example can use alternatively For example, the order of execution of the blocks may change, and / or some of the described blocks may be changed, replaced, eliminated or combined. The process of Fig. 6 starts at block 602 where the A / V data aggregator 235 or WUI 240 initiates a time based warning period. Generally speaking, audience and device measurement systems periodically check if a user is interacting actively or with (eg, observation) an A / V device. Sometimes a user can start watching a program, a DVD, or play a game but then move away from the A / V device without turning it off. Periodic user reminders allow the audience measurement devices to correlate the acquired data with an indication if the user responded to a "presence questionnaire" (indicating active use) or if there is no response to a "presence questionnaire" (indicating that an A / V device may have been left without an interactive user). The method waits (closes the cycle) if the time base does not expire (block 604), somehow the method warns the bitmap generator 335 for a specific message from the user to advance (block 606) to the layer video 310. For example, a memory of the bitmap generator 335 may have a number of graphics (e.g., one for each of the "n" users), including a graphic that reads, "Jane, please to recognize his presence. " The upper video layer 310 integrates this graphic with the A / V signals input from at least one of the different devices (220, 225, 230) in block 608. WAP 245 receives the integrated signal and retransmits it (block 610) ) to device A / V 255, where it is present for the user. If no response is received after a predetermined time after transmitting the bitmap message (block 612), WUI 240 determines whether additional known observers have been challenged (block 614). If there are additional known observers for a particular family, WUI 240 may request a bitmap note for a different known user (eg, "John, please acknowledge its presence") (block 616). Otherwise, the control returns to block 604 since the A / V device 255 is treated as abandoned. After the next predetermined time elapses, the method can be repeated by announcing the bitmap generator 335 so that a specific user message is sent (block 606) to the upper video layer 310. Someone with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate it. that instead of applying bitmaps of specific user messages, a generic message may be displayed to any user to indicate that the A / V device 255 is being actively used. NeverthelessSuch a non-common questionnaire may require additional "yes / no" questions to ensure the demographic information of the user. For example, WUI 240 can also start ads that state, "Are you between 18-24 years old?" and / or Are you a man? ", etc. A user response (block 612) is determined after the user presses an identification button on remote IR 185, which is captured by MDI 270. MDI 270 receives the signal from IR remote 285 and transmits it back to WUI 240 as an RF signal As described above in view of Fig. 3, the RF signal is received by the RF receiver 340 and decoded with the signal decoder. IR 345. The decoder 345 requests the bitmap generator 335 to remove the bitmap message from the user's A / V signal (block 618.) Additionally, the decoder 345 provides the user identification information to the aggregator. A / V data 235 via the ID 350 interface dblock 620) The control returns to block 604 and the method repeats after the next time base elapses Someone with ordinary experience in the field will appreciate that, while waiting for the time to pass the next time base (eg, 44 minutes before the user is presented with another questionnaire message), the wireless interface 115 can continue to monitor the user's behavior (eg, channel changes, volume change, device used, etc.), as well as monitor content information (eg, watermark detection). People of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the mobile interface 115, including WUI 240, WAP 245, and WMR 250 can be combined or separated into several functional divisions without limitation. Similar to Fig. 2, a wireless interface 715 of the alternative example is shown in Fig. 7. The dotted arrows marked 1 and 3 are consolidated into a single dotted arrow in Fig. 7 to represent a consolidation of the WUI example and WMR in a single module 720. Module 720 of combined WUI and WMR receives all RF signals. Alternatively, each module may remain separate, as shown in Fig. 2, while designating one of the modules to send and / or receive all wireless communication. As such, each of the separate modules can be interconnected via network cables, or similar connectivity. Also similar to Fig. 2, a wireless interface of alternate examples 815 is shown in Fig. 8. The dotted arrows marked 1, 2 and 3 are consolidated into a single antenna in Fig. 8 to represent a consolidation of the example of WUI, WMR, and WP in a single module 820. Fig. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a system of alternate examples 100 for wirelessly measuring an A / V device of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is the same Fig. 2 except for a custom label 970 in MDI view (identifier 270 of Fig. 2) and an alternate WUI 940, as will be discussed later. All the components of Fig. 9 which are similar to Fig. 2 are provided with similar identification numbers in a series "900". Generally speaking, instead of using a bitmap layer in the A / V signal to produce a user response, WUI 940 in addition to any watermark can be added by broadcasters in order to identify the content or otherwise . As such, WMR 950 operates in the same manner as WMR 250 of FIG. 2, without thereby affecting the system of alternate examples 100 for wirelessly measuring an A / V device of FIG. 9. Custom label 970 is brought to performed by the user or, due to their small size, are conveniently connected to the A / V 955 device. As shown in FIG. 9, a microphone on the 970 tag selects an audio output of the A / V 955 device. , including the imperceptible watermark, and transmits the signal, plus an aggregate identification signal, back to WUI 940. If WUI 940 receives the watermark that includes the aggregate identification signal injected by the 970 label, WUI 940 automatically provides the A / V 935 data aggregator with the demographic information of the user, thus eliminating a need to receive a user's manual advertisement to provide identification. The bitmap instructions of the user's upper layer, and the subsequent user response, are effectively removed with the alternate example system 100 for wirelessly measuring an A / V device of Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a more detailed view of the example WUI 940 of Fig. 9. Similar to fig. 3, an A / V signal passes through WUI 940 via an input A / V interface 1005 and an output A / V interface 1015, together as in example WUI 240 of FIG. 3. However, instead of injecting a bitmap upper layer into the video signal, the WUI 940 example adds a custom watermark signal to the audio portion of the A / V signal with an audio encoder 1010. The signal A / V continues to WAP 945 where it is transmitted to the A / V 955 device. The audio output of the A / V 955 device is selected from the microphones 985 of the 970 label that re-transmits the audio signal with the embedded watermark and the new identification code, as will be discussed in more detail later. When the custom tag 970 transmits its RF modulated signal, WUI 940 decodes and receives it with an RF receiver 1040, and demodulates it with an RF demodulator 1045. An audio decoder 1050 searches for the watermark it originally added to the audio signal and, if the watermark is detected, WUI 940 generates a signal to the A / V 935 data aggregator via an ID 1055 interface and the "ID Information" line as shown in Fig. 9. Said signal also includes the personalized identification code added by the tag 970, thus allowing the demographic information to correlate with the user's behavior. Others point out that they may occupy the same transmission frequency ignored because they are not considered associated with WUI 940. Fig. 11 is a more detailed sight of the label of example 970 of Fig. 9. Custom label 970 is a device operated by a small battery 1100 that can be easily and freely connected to an A / V 955 device. Alternatively, the personalized label 970 can be carried out by the user in a shirt pocket, clothes holder, or hook around the neck of the user on a tape while using the A / V 955 device. Entries to the tag 970 include microphone audio 785 and tag configuration data via a data port 1105. Before the 970 tag is used for a user of a statistically selected household appliance, the data port 1105 allows the configuration of an identification code that will be stored in a label memory 1110. Someone with an ex Ordinary experience in the art will appreciate that the data port 1105 may 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 stored in a database of the organization to acquire user data (eg, Nielsen Media Research). After processing the user behavior data references retrieved the identification code to correlate the specific user demography with the behavior of the users. The audio output (including the watermarks injected by WUI 940) by the A / V device 955 of Fig. 9 is selected by the microphone 775 and provided by a CODEC 1115 to digitize it (A / D conversion). The memory 1110 provides the personalized identification code for CODEC 1115 so that it can be added to the digital signal modulated by an RF modulator 1120 and transmitted wirelessly via an antenna 1125. Said identification code allows a receiver of the RF modulated signal to identify that the user uses the 955 A / V device.

A flow chart representing the instructions that can be read on a machine to implement alternate WUI 940 of Fig. 10 is shown in Fig. 12. Although the program of the example was described with reference to the flow chart illustrated in Fig. 12, persons with ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that many other methods for implementing the instructions that can be read on the example machine can be used alternatively. For example, the order of execution of the blocks can change and / or some of the described blocks can be changed, replaced, eliminated or combined. The program of Fig. 12 begins at block 1202 where WUI 940 inserts a watermark on all incoming audio of an A / V signal received from the devices (v.gr, 920, 925, 930). The coded A / V signal is transmitted to WAP 945 (block 1204) where it is further transmitted to an A / V device, such as a normal television or a wireless television of example 955 of FIG. 9. A graph of flow representing the instructions that can be read on a machine to implement the label 970 of Fig. 11 is shown in Fig. 13. The program of Fig. 13 starts at the block 1302 where the tag 970 determines whether it is associated with ID. If the tag does not have an ID in memory 1110, an ID is programmed into memory 1110 in block 1304. A technician can access memory 1110 via data port 1105 to program a predetermined ID for at least one member of a family for which the tag 970 will be used. After the tag 970 is associated with an ID, or if the tag 970 already has an associated ID, the control of the program advances to block 1306. If the tag 970 is Within the audible proximity to the A / V 955 device, the microphone 775 will receive audio signals from the speakers of the A / V device, including the embedded watermark containing the custom identification code of WUI 940. Additionally, the tag 970 combines or modulates the received audio with ID via CODEC 1115. In block 1308, the combined audio is RF modulated by RF modulator 1120 and transmitted via antenna 1125. The signal transmitted in block 1308 includes the code Custom identification code combined by the 970 tag, the WUI 940 custom identification code, and any other embedded watermark (eg, from a network broadcaster that contains program identification information). The behavior of WMR 950 does not differ from what was discussed above in view of Fig. 2, and will not be repeated. Fig. 14 is a flow chart depicting instructions that can be read on an example machine to implement alternate WUI 940 of Fig. 10. Unlike the flow chart of Fig. 12, which generally described an example of the A / V signal output from the A / V devices (e.g., the digital signal decoder 920), the flow chart of FIG. 14 illustrates the signal reception of example WUI 940. WUI 940 receives and demodulates RF signals with RF receiver 1040 and RF demodulator 1045, respectively, in block 1402. Audio decoder 1050 decodes the signal demodulated in the block 1404, and if the custom watermark, which was previously embedded by WUI 940 prior to transmission of the A / V device 955, is not detected in block 1406, the program control proceeds to block 1406, indicating that the label Custom 970 for an observer of the family an A / V device is observed, the identification information is advanced to the ID interface 1055 in block 1408. As shown by Figs. 12-14, if the observer is not watching television 955, or has left the room where television 955 is located, tag 970 will not transmit embedded ID. In such a situation, the tag 970 appropriately prevents the invalid observation data from registering and / or advancing the a / V 935 data chooser. However, if the observer returns an observing proximity of the television 955, the tag 970 carried by any observer receives again the audio signals from the television speakers with the microphone of the tag 985. Because the tag 970 automatically and passively identifies the observer of the television 955, the wireless interface alternates from the example of FIGS. -11 effectively eliminate the need for the observer to manually answer the visual questions in order to provide identification information to the A / V 935 data aggregator. Figure 15 is a block diagram of a computer of example 1500 can be, for example, a server, a person computer, a digital signal decoder, or any other type of computing device. The system 1500 of the present example includes a processor 1512 such as a programmable processor for general purposes. The processor 1512 includes a local memory 1514, and executes encoded instructions 1516 present in the local memory 1514 and / or in another memory device. The processor 1512 can execute, among other things, the instructions that can be read in the machine of the example illustrated in Figures 6 and 12-14. Processor 1512 can be any type of process unit, such as a microprocessor from the Intel® Centrino® family of microprocessors, the Intel® Pentium® family of microprocessors, the Intel® Itanium® family of other families are also appropriate. The processor 1512 is in communication with a main memory including a volatile memory 1518 and a non-volatile memory 1520 via a collector 1522. The volatile memory 1518 can be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Memory Dynamic Random Access (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM) and / or any other type of random access memory device. The volatile anus memory 1520 may be implemented by flash memory and / or any other desired type of memory device. Access to main memory 1518, 1520 is normally controlled by a memory controller (not shown) in a conventional manner. The computer 1500 also includes a conventional interface circuit 1524. The interface circuit 1524 can be implemented by any type of normal well-known interface, such as an Ethernet interface, a universal serial data (USB) collector, and / or a third generation input / output interface (3GIO). One or more input devices 1526 are connected to the interface circuit 1524. The input device 1526 allows a user to enter data and commands. processor 1512. The input device may be implemented for example, by a board, a mouse, a touch screen, a path pad, a track ball, a fixed point and / or a speech recognition system. One or more output devices 1528 are also connected to the interface circuit 1524. The output devices 1528 can be implemented, for example, by displaying devices (e.g., a liquid crystal display, a CRT screen). , a printer and / or speakers). Interface circuit 1524, therefore, normally includes a graphics management card. The interface circuit 1524 also includes a communication device such as a modem card or network interface to facilitate the exchange of data with external computers via a network (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line ( DSL), a telephone line, a coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.). The computer 1500 also includes one or more mass storage devices 1530 for storing software and data. Examples of such mass storage devices 1530 include soft disk drives, hard disk drives, compact disc drives and digital versatile disk drives (DVD).

Although certain methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturing examples have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture that fall within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims (82)

/ CLAIMS

1. - A method for measuring the wireless audio / visual device (A / V) comprising: receiving media content from an A / V source device; embed a top layer of video in the content of wirelessly received media; wirelessly transmit media content and video coating to a wireless A / V device; wirelessly receive the audience identification information in response to a higher layer of transmitted video; and wirelessly receive information on audience behavior.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the media content is received as an A / V signal having an audio portion and a video portion.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the A / V signals are at least one A / V signal decoder box, a video game console with A / V signal, a video cassette recorder (VCR). ) with A / V signal, a digital video recorder (DVR) with A / V signal or a digital versatile disc (DVD) with A / V signal.

4. - A method according to claim 2, wherein the A / V signal is converted to a radio frequency (RF) signal.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the RF signal is transmitted as a compatible 802.11 signal.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the video coating comprises a hearing identification request.

7. - A method according to claim 1, further comprising removing the embedded video coating after wirelessly receiving the audience identification information.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reception of the audience behavior information comprises receiving at least one embedded watermark, channel change information or volume change information.

9. A medium that can be read by a machine has instructions stored in it that, when executed, causes the machine: to receive media content from an audio / visual source device (A / V); embed a top layer of video in the content of wirelessly received media;

wirelessly transmit media content and video coating to a wireless audio / visual (A / V) device; wirelessly receive audience identification information in response to a superior layer of transmitted video; and wirelessly receive information on audience behavior.

10. A medium that can be read by a machine according to claim 9, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to receive the media content as a signal from

A / V that has a portion of audio and a portion of video.

11. A medium that can be read by a machine according to claim 10, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to receive the A / V signal from at least one decoding box of the machine. A / V signal, a video game console with an A / V signal, a video cassette recorder (VCR) with an A / V signal, a digital video recorder (DVR) with an A / V signal or a digital versatile disc (DVD) with A / V signal.

12. A medium that can be read by a machine according to claim 10, which has instructions stored therein, which when executed, causes the machine to convert the A / V signal into a radio frequency (RF) signal ).

13. A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 12, which has instructions stored therein, which when executed, causes the machine to transmit the RF signal as a compatible signal

802. 11.

14. A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 9, which has instructions stored therein, that when executed, causes the machine to embed the video coating with a hearing identification request.

15. A medium that can be read by a machine according to claim 9, which has instructions stored in it, which when executed, causes the machine to remove the embedded video coating after wirelessly receiving the audience identification information.

16. A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 9, which has instructions stored therein, which when executed, causes the machine to receive the audience behavior information such as at least one watermark embedded, channel change information or volume change information.

17. - A wireless audio / visual device (A / V) measuring system comprises: an A / V source device for providing media content; a wireless interface for embedding an audience message in the media content and wirelessly transmitting the audience message and media content to a wireless A / V device; a mobile device interface for receiving audience information and media content of the A / V device; and a data acquisition interface to receive the audience information.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the source A / V device comprises at least one decoder box, a video game console, a digital versatile disc player (DVD), a digital video recorder ( DVR) or a video cassette recorder (VCR).

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the wireless interface comprises a wireless user identifier for receiving the media content and embedding the audience message thereof.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the user identifier comprises a timer to embed the audience message in the media content on a periodic basis.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein the user identifier comprises a bitmap generator for storing a plurality of the bitmap images.

22. A system according to claim 19, wherein the user identifier comprises a position controller for adjusting a device position of the audience message.

23. A system according to claim 19, wherein the user identifier comprises a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving a signal indicative of the audience member identity.

24.- A system according to the claim

23, wherein the wireless user identifier removes the audience message from the media content if the signaling code of the audience member identity is received.

25.- A system according to the claim

17, wherein the wireless interface comprises a wireless access point for converting media content to a radio frequency (RF) signal.

26. A system according to claim 17, wherein the mobile device interface comprises: a microphone for receiving an audio signal from an A / V device; an infrared (IR) receiver to receive an IR signal from a hearing remote control; and an RF modulator for modulating at least one audio signal or the IR signal to an RF signal.

27.- A system according to the claim

26, wherein the wireless interface comprises a wireless microphone receiver for receiving the RF signal from the mobile device interface.

28.- A system according to the claim

27, wherein the wireless microphone receiver comprises an RF demodulator to demodulate the received RF signal, the remodulated signal transmitted to the data acquisition interface.

29. A method of acquiring wireless television data comprises: receiving an audio / visual signal (A / V) from an A / V source device; integrate the A / V signal with a top layer of video; transmitting the integrated A / V signal to a wireless access point, the wireless access point wirelessly transmits the A / V signal and the video coating to an A / V device as a radio frequency (RF) signal; receive the wireless signal from a wireless television; acquire the wireless user's data usage code from the audience member; and transmit the acquired data to a data meter.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein receiving the A / V signal from the source device A / V comprises at least receiving one of the transmission transmissions of the decoder box., receive an A / V signal from the video game device or receive an A / V signal from the digital versatile disk device (DVD).

31.- A method according to claim 29, wherein integrating the A / V signal with a video top layer comprises integrating a bitmap image into an A / V signal, the bitmap image furthermore includes instructions for audience member.

32. A method according to claim 29, wherein wirelessly transmitting the RF signal comprises transmitting the RF signal via a standard of type 802.11.

33.- A method according to claim 29, wherein acquiring the wireless television audience member data comprises determining at least an A / V source device identification, an A / V signal content identification. or an identification of a wireless television audience member.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the identification of A / V signal content comprises: capturing the output of the wireless television as a microphone; extract audio watermarks; and wirelessly transmit the audio watermarks of the data measurement.

35. A method according to claim 34, further comprising correlating the watermarks with emission programs.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the broadcast programs comprise at least one of the broadcast television programs, video games, content of a digital video recorder (DVR) or content of (DVD).

37. A method according to claim 33, wherein the wireless television audience member identification comprises: transmitting a wireless user identifier (WUI) wireless network bitmap; show the bitmap on a wireless television; receiving a response from a hearing member of a wireless television transmission device operably connected to wireless television; transmit the audience member response of the wireless television transmission device to the WUI; and transmit the response of the audience member of a data meter.

38.- A method according to claim 29, further comprising transmitting the data of the audience member to a central office.

39.- An apparatus for acquiring data from a wireless television includes: a homemade interface unit to measure the data of audience behavior; and a wireless television interface unit operably connected to a wireless television to transmit and receive signals from wireless television, the wireless television interface unit is further adapted to acquire and transmit the audience behavior data to the home interface unit .

40. - An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein a central data storage receives the data of the audience behavior of the home interface unit. 41.- An apparatus according to the claim

39, wherein the home interface unit comprises a measurement of data.

An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the wireless television interface unit comprises one or more wireless access points, a wireless user identifier (WUI), a wireless microphone transmission device, a receiving device of wireless microphone and an audience control device.

43.- An appliance according to the claim

42, wherein the wireless access point comprises a transmitter and receiver for transmitting and receiving audio-visual signals via an 802.11 type format.

44. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the WUI comprises at least one of the video coating modules, a radio frequency (RF) receiver, an RF to infrared (IR) converter or a Bitmap generator.

45.- An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the WUI is a people meter.

46. - A wireless audio / visual device (A / V) measurement method comprises: receiving a first signal from a wireless A / V device, the wireless A / V device emits an audio signal with a first embedded watermark and the wireless A / V device that displays a video image with a video coating signal; and modulating the first signal to a radio frequency (RF) signal and transmitting the RF signal to an aggregate of data.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein the first received signal is at least one of an audio signal of the wireless A / V device or an infrared (IR) signal of a remote control associated with the device A / Wireless V

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein the received audio signal is indicative of the behavior of the audience.

49. A method according to claim 46, further comprising: receiving a second signal from a hearing identification device; modulating the second signal to a radio frequency (RF) signal; and transmitting the RF signal to a video coating unit.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein transmitting the RF signal to the video coating unit causes the video coating signal to be removed.

51.- A method according to claim 49, wherein the second signal received is indicative of the identification of the audience.

52. A method according to claim 49, wherein the video coating unit shows the video coating signal as a bitmap image.

53. A method according to claim 49, wherein the video coating unit shows the video coating signal on a periodic basis.

54. A method according to claim 49, further comprising embedding a second watermark in the second received signal, the second watermark comprising audience identification information.

55.- A method according to claim 54, wherein the audience identification information of the second watermark identifies a wireless mobile device interface.

56. - A method according to claim 55, wherein the wireless mobile device interface is at least one of those loaded by an audience member, coupled to a wireless presentation device or integrated within the wireless presentation device.

57.- A medium that can be read by a machine has instructions stored in it that, when executed, causes the machine: to receive media content from an audio / visual source device (A / V), device A / Wireless V emits an audio signal with a first embedded watermark and a wireless A / V device displays a video image with a video coating signal; and modulates the first signal to a radio frequency (RF) signal and transmits the RF signal to an aggregate of data.

58.- A medium that can be read by a machine according to claim 57, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to receive the first signal as at least one of an audio signal of the wireless A / V device or an infrared (IR) signal from a remote control associated with the wireless A / V device.

59.- A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 57, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine: to receive a second signal from a hearing identification device; module the second signal to a frequency signal

(RF); and transmit the RF signal to a video coating unit.

60.- A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 59, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to remove the video coating signal in response to receive the RF signal transmitted to a video coating unit.

61.- A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 57, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to display the video overlay signal as a bitmap image.

62.- A medium that can be read by a machine according to claim 59, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to display the video coating signal on a periodic basis.

63. - A medium that can be read by a machine according to claim 59, having instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to embed a second watermark on the second received signal, the second watermark includes information on audience identification.

64. A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 63, having instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to identify a wireless mobile device interface of the second watermark.

65.- A system for measuring a wireless audio / visual device (A / V) comprising: an A / V source device for providing media content; a wireless interface for embedding a first watermark in the media content, the wireless interface for transmitting the first watermark and the media content to a wireless A / V device; and a mobile device interface for receiving audio based on media content of an A / V device, the media-based audio content includes the first watermark and the mobile device interface adapted to transmit the audio content based on a data acquisition interface.

66. - A system according to the claim

65, wherein the mobile device interface comprises; a microphone to receive media content based on audio; a CODEC to digitize the content of received media with an identification code; and a radio frequency (RF) modulator for modulating the digitized media to an RF signal, the RF modulator for transmitting the RF signal.

67.- A system as defined in the claim

66, wherein the wireless interface further comprises a wireless user identifier comprising: an RF receiver for receiving the RF signal transmitted through the mobile device interface; an RF demodulator to demodulate the signal from

RF received; and an audio decoder to detect the identification code and identify a hearing member.

68.- A wireless / audio / visual device (A / V) measurement method comprises: receiving data content from a data presentation device; and wirelessly transmitting the average content of an A / V device as a radio frequency (RF) signal, the RF signal is demodulated by the A / V device and presented to a hearing member.

69. A method according to claim 68, further comprising receiving an RF signal where a mobile device interface, the received RF signal comprises audience data.

A method according to claim 70, further comprising transmitting the audience data to an aggregate of data if the received RF signal comprises the embedded watermark and discarding the audience data if the RF signal does not contain Embedded watermark

71. A method according to claim 70, wherein the transmitted audience data is associated with the audience member, the audience member identified by an identification signal received from a mobile device interface.

72.- A medium that can be read by a machine has instructions stored in it that, when executed, causes the machine: to receive media content from a media presentation device, the media content comprises a portion of video and audio portion; embed a watermark in the audio portion of the media content; and wirelessly transmitting the media content to an A / V device as a radio frequency (RF) signal, the RF signal is demodulated by the A / V device and presented to a hearing member.

73.- A medium that can be read by a machine according to claim 72, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to receive an RF signal from the mobile device interface, the signal from Received RF comprises audience data.

74.- A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 73, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to transmit audience data to a data aggregate if the received RF signal it understands the embedded watermark and discards the audience data if the RF signal does not contain the embedded watermark.

75.- A means that can be read by a machine according to claim 74, which has instructions stored therein which, when executed, causes the machine to associate the transmitted hearing data with a hearing member, the member of audience identified by an identification signal received from the mobile device interface.

76. - A wireless audio / visual device (A / V) method comprises: receiving an audio signal from a wireless A / V device, the audio signal comprises a first watermark; embedding a second watermark in the received audio signal, the second watermark comprises identification information; and transmitting the received audio signal to a wireless user interface, the wireless user interface transmits audience data to a recipe data aggregates of the first watermark.

77. A method according to claim 76, wherein the wireless user interface associates the identification information with the audience data, the identification information is associated with at least one audience member.

78.- An apparatus for wirelessly measuring an audio / visual device (A / V) comprises: a wireless interface for receiving media content, the media content comprising a signal with an audio portion and a portion of video; a video coating unit for embedding a bitmap in the video portion of the media content;

a radio frequency (RF) modulator for converting the media content of an RF signal; and an antenna for facilitating the transmission of the RF signal to a wireless A / V device, the wireless A / V device remodulates the RF signal and outputs the media content to an audience member.

79. An apparatus according to claim 78, wherein the bitmap comprises an instruction for the audience member.

80.- An apparatus according to the claim

78, which further comprises a mobile device interface for receiving the audio portion emitted by the wireless A / V device.

81. An apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the mobile device interface comprises: a microphone for receiving audio signals from the audio portion of the media content; an infrared (IR) receiver to receive remote hearing control signals indicative of hearing member identification; and an RF modulator for modulating at least one of the audio signals or the remote control signals.

82. An apparatus according to claim 81, wherein the wireless interface comprises: an RF receiver for receiving the RF signal transmitted through the mobile device interface; an IR signal decoder for decoding the audience member identification; and a bitmap generator for removing the bitmap of a prescription video overlay from the audience member identification.