Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING MEDIA CONSUMPTION
DATA BASED ON USAGE INFORMATION
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to media metering, and more
particularly, to methods and an apparatus for collecting media consumption
data based on
usage information of a media delivery device.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Audience measurements of media, such as television and/or radio
programs,
are typically carried out by monitoring or measuring media consumption (e.g.,
the
viewing of or listening to audio/video content) within households that are
statistically
selected to represent particular demographic groups, geographic regions, etc.
Using
various statistical methods, the collected media consumption data may be
processed to
determine audience size and demographics for media presentations or programs
of
interest. Such audience size and demographic information may be valuable to
advertisers,
broadcasters and any other media delivery entity or service provider that
wants to know
an audience size and demographic associated with a particular program. For
example,
audience size and demographic information is a significant factor in the
development of
improved program lineups, the placement of advertisements targeted at a
particular
demographic, as well as in valuing commercial time slots during particular
programs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 depicts an example media monitoring system.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a timing diagram representation of one manner in which the
example
media monitoring system of FIG. 1 may receive partial codes.
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[0005] FIG. 3 depicts an example index that maps source identification (SID)
numbers to broadcast channels.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram representation of one manner in which the
example
media monitoring system of FIG. 1 may implement an example probability
protocol or
algorithm.
[0007] FIG. 5 depicts an example usage information system associated with the
example media monitoring system of FIG 1.
[0008] FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram representation of an example base
metering
device that may be used with the example usage information system of FIG. 5.
[0009] FIG. 7 is a detailed block diagram representation of an example
portable
metering device that may be used with the example usage information system of
FIG. 5.
[0010] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram representation of one manner in which the
example
base metering device of FIG. 6 may be configured.
[0011] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram representation of one manner in which the
example
portable metering device of FIG. 7 may be configured.
[0012] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram representation of another manner in which the
example portable metering device of FIG. 7 may be configured.
[0013] FIG. 11 a block diagram representation of an example processor system
that
may be used to implement the methods and apparatus described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In general, methods and apparatus for collecting media consumption data based
on
usage information of a media delivery device are disclosed herein. The example
methods
and apparatus disclosed herein may be used to receive media information such
as, for
example, a video code, an audio code, a video signature, an audio signature,
and other
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media measurement information at a portable metering device associated with a
monitored individual. The portable metering device monitors for usage
information
indicative of a media delivery event associated with the media delivery device
such as,
for example, a tuning event and/or an operating mode event. For example, the
media
delivery event may be a change in channel to which the media delivery device
is tuned.
Other media delivery events may include an initiation of an operating mode
(e.g., a mute
mode, a picture-in-picture (PIP) mode, a split screen mode, a personal
computer (PC)
mode, a headphones/earphones mode, etc.) of the media delivery device. Based
on the
usage information, the portable metering device associates the media
information with
one of a first channel and a second channel to form the media consumption
data. For
example, the portable metering device may associate the media information with
a
previously tuned channel or a newly tuned channel. As described herein, the
portable
metering device may employ information relating to a media delivery device to
supplement probability protocols and/or other known techniques to more
accurately
collect media consumption data.
[00141 FIG. 1 depicts an example media monitoring system 100 including a media
service provider 110, which may be, for example a television service provider,
a radio
program service provider, an Internet media service provider, etc. The media
service
provider 110 may include a cable network 112, one or more radio towers or
transmitters
114, and one or more satellites 116. For example, in the case where the media
service
provider 110 is a cable television provider, the media service provider 110
may distribute
television program signals primarily or exclusively via the cable network 112.
In the case
where the media service provider 110 is a satellite broadcast service, the
media service
provider 110 may deliver media signals to consumers directly via the one or
more
satellites 116 without using the cable network 112 or the radio towers 114.
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[0015] The media service provider 110 may transmit media signals in any
suitable
format such as a National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) television
signal
format, a high definition television (HDTV) signal format, an Advanced
Television
Systems Committee (ATSC) television signal format, a phase alternation line
(PAL)
television signal format, a digital video broadcasting (DVB) television signal
format, an
Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) television signal
format, etc.
[0016] The media monitoring system 100 also includes one or more households
that
receive media signals from the media service provider 110. An example
household 120 is
depicted as having a plurality of internal locations, rooms or media
consumption spaces
122, 124 and 126. Of course, other households (not shown) may have more or
fewer
locations or media consumption spaces than those depicted in connection with
the
example household 120.
[0017] As is common, one or more of the locations within a household may
include
none, one, or more than one media delivery or presentation device such as, for
example, a
television, a radio or the like. In the example household 120, each of the
consumption
spaces or locations 122, 124 and 126 includes a respective television 142, 144
and 146.
However, if desired, more or fewer televisions, radios, or any other media
presentation or
delivery devices may be placed within one or more of the locations 122, 124
and 126.
The household 120 may be occupied by one or more audience members or panelists
150
that have enlisted to participate in media monitoring activities. The audience
members or
panelists 150 may have access to a remote control device 152 that facilitates
the changing
of the channel to which one or more of the televisions 142, 144 and 146 are
tuned. The
remote control device 152 may also facilitate the changing of the audio output
or volume
of one or more of the televisions 142, 144 and 146. Further, the remote
control device
152 may be used to navigate through setup menus and/or to enable/disable an
operating
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mode of the televisions 142, 144 and 146 such as, for example, a mute mode, a
PIP mode,
a split screen mode, a PC mode, etc. The televisions 142, 144 and 146 may
receive a
plurality of broadcast signals transmitted via a plurality of channels by the
service
provider 110 and may be adapted to process and display television signals. For
example,
the television 142 may receive a plurality of broadcast signals from the cable
network
112. As other examples, the television 144 may receive a plurality of
broadcast signals
from the radio towers 114 and/or the satellites 116 via a receiving unit 154
(e.g., a set top
box (STB), a personal video recorder (PVR), a digital video recorder (DVR),
etc.), and
the television 146 may receive a plurality of broadcast signals from radio
towers 114
and/or the satellites 116 via a multimedia PC 156.
[0018] To monitor the media consumption activities of the panelists 150, a
base
metering device 162 and a people metering device 164 are operatively coupled
to the
television 142. Additional base metering devices (not shown) may be similarly
coupled
to the other televisions 144 and 146. In addition, each of the panelists 150
is assigned a
portable metering device 166 that may be carried (e.g., worn on a belt, hand
carried, etc.)
by the panelists 150 as they move throughout the household 120 and, in some
cases,
outside of the household 120.
[0019] As described in greater detail below, the portable metering device 166
may be
configured to collect signatures and/or to detect and process codes embedded
in signals
received from one or more of the televisions 142, 144 and 146. The media
information
collected by the portable metering device 166 may be associated with a channel
to which
a media delivery device (e.g., the televisions 142, 144 and 146) is tuned.
[0020] The processing performed by the televisions 142, 144 and 146 may
include,
for example, extracting a video component delivered via the received signal
and an audio
component delivered via the received signal, causing the video component to be
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displayed or presented on a screen/display associated with the televisions
142, 144 and
146, and causing the audio component to be emitted by speakers associated with
the
televisions. The media content contained in the television signal(s) may
include, for
example, a television program, a movie, an advertisement, a video game, a
still image,
and/or a preview of other programming that is or will be offered by the media
service
provider 110 now or in the future.
[00211 The base metering device 162 is configured as a relatively stationary
device
disposed on or near the television 142 and may be adapted to perform one or
more of a
variety of well-known television metering methods, some of which are described
in U.S.
Patent No. 5,481,294. Depending on the types of metering that the base
metering device
162 is adapted to perform, the base metering device 162 may be physically
coupled to the
television 142 or may instead be configured to capture signals emitted by the
television
142 so that direct physical coupling of the base metering device 162 to the
television 142
is not required. As noted above, in addition to the television 142, a base
metering device
162 may also be provided for the televisions 144 and 146 to facilitate the
capture of all in-
Rome media consumption by the panelists 150. In one example, the base metering
device
162 may be implemented as a low-cost electronic device that maybe shipped to
the
household (e.g., via regular mail) and easily installed by the panelist 150
by, for example,
plugging the base metering device 162 into an electrical outlet.
[00221 The portable metering device 166 is generally configured to perform
television
and/or radio metering using audio code capture techniques and/or audio
signature capture
techniques, some of which are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,481,294. In some
examples, the portable metering device 166 may be adapted to capture code
information
and signature information simultaneously. Alternatively, the portable metering
device
166 may be adapted to use the code techniques as a primary metering method and
to use
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the signature metering techniques as a secondary method to supplement code-
based
metering. Specifically, if one or more audio codes are detected by the
portable metering
device 166, then the signature method need not be performed. Conversely, if
audio codes
are not detected, then the portable metering device 166 may perform one or
more well-
known methods to capture signature information of the programming delivered by
one or
more of the televisions 142, 144 and 146. Regardless of the manner in which
the portable
metering device 166 is configured, each audience member (e.g., the audience
member or
panelist 150) preferably carries a portable metering device (e.g., similar or
identical to the
device 166) at all times.
[0023] In general, as the audience member or panelist 150 moves within the
household 120 and, in particular, as the panelist 150 moves among the
locations 122, 124
and 126, the panelist 150 carries the portable metering device 166. In some
instances, the
panelist 150 may hand carry the portable metering device 166 and, in other
cases, the
portable metering device 166 may be belt worn or otherwise attached to the
clothing or
body of the panelist 150. In some examples, the portable metering device 166
detects and
processes codes embedded in the audio signals presented or delivered by a
media delivery
device or devices located in the same consumption space or room in which the
panelist
150 and the portable metering device 166 are located. For example, if the
panelist 150
carries the portable metering device 166 into the consumption space 122, the
portable
metering device 166 may detect and process codes contained within media
signals (e.g.,
audio signals) it receives from the television 142.
[0024] The base metering device 162 and the portable metering device 166 may
be
adapted to communicate with a remotely located central data collection
facility 180 via a
network 170. The network 170 may be implemented using any type of public or
private
network such as, but not limited to, the Internet, a telephone network, a
local area
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network (LAN), a cable network, and/or a wireless network. To enable
communication
via the network 170, the base metering device 162 may include a communication
interface that enables connection to an Ethernet, a digital subscriber line
(DSL), a
telephone line, a coaxial cable, or any wireless connection, etc. Likewise,
the portable
metering device 166 may include such an interface to enable communication by
the
portable metering device 166 via the network 170. Either or both of the base
metering
device 162 and the portable metering device 166 may be adapted to send media
consumption data to the central data collection facility 180. In the event
that only one of
the base metering device 162 and the portable metering device 166 is capable
of
transmitting data (e.g., detected codes, time stamps, location data, etc.) to
the central data
collection facility 180, the base metering device 162 and the portable
metering devices
166 may be adapted to communicate data to each other so that there is a means
by which
data collected from all metering devices (i.e., the base metering device 162
and/or the
portable metering device 166) can be transmitted to the central data
collection facility
180. The central data collection facility 180 may include a server 182 and a
database 184.
Further, the central data collection facility 180 may be adapted to process
and store data
received from the base metering device 162 and/or the portable metering device
166.
[0025] The portable metering device 166 may also communicate via the network
170
using a docking station (not shown) having a cradle in which the portable
metering device
166 may be placed to enable transfer of data via the network 170 and to enable
a battery
(not shown) disposed in the portable metering device 166 to be recharged. The
docking
station may be operatively coupled to the network 170 via, for example, an
Ethernet
connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, a coaxial
cable, etc.
[0026] In the illustrated example, the portable metering device 166 is a
portable
electronic device such as, but not limited to, a portable telephone, a
personal digital
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assistant (PDA), and/or a handheld computer. Because of its portability, the
portable
metering device 166 may be used to meter media consumption that occurs at
home, at the
office, and/or any other location within or outside of the household 120. For
example, the
portable metering device 166 may be configured to detect codes contained
within a movie
and/or a movie preview at a movie theater, audio programs delivered within an
automobile, radio programs delivered at a bar, restaurant, or other private or
public
facility, etc.
[0027] In the case where a portable telephone platform is used to implement
the
portable metering device 166, the portable metering device 166 may be
configured to
operate in accordance with any wireless communication protocol such as, but
not limited
to, a code division multiple access (CDMA) based communication protocol, a
time
division multiple access (TDMA) based communication protocol, a global system
for
mobile communication (GSM) based communication protocol, a general packet
radio
services (GPRS) based communication protocol, an enhanced data GSM environment
(EDGE) based communication protocol, a universal mobile telephone service
(UMTS)
based communication protocol, a wireless application protocol (WAP), or any
other
suitable wireless communication protocol. The communication capabilities of
the
portable telephone may be used to enable communication of data from the
portable
metering device 166 to the central data collection facility 180 via the
network 170. Using
a portable telephone platform to implement the portable metering device 166
may allow
the panelist 150 to meet the research compliance requirements more easily and
more
conveniently. Specifically, the panelist 150 may already carry a portable
telephone on a
regular basis and, as a result, carrying a portable metering device 166
implemented using
a portable telephone (e.g., a cellular telephone) does not place any
additional duties upon
the panelist 150. Alternatively, other hardware/software platforms such as,
for example, a
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personal data assistant (PDA) or handheld computer may be used to implement
the portable
metering device 166 as is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. US
2005/0144632 and PCT
Patent Publication No. WO 2005/038625.
[0028] As is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0144632 and PCT
Patent
Publication No. WO 2005/038625, the media monitoring system 100 may be
configured so that
the base metering device 162 is adapted to be the primary source to collect
all in-home media
consumption data and the portable metering device 166 is used as the primary
source to collect
all out-of-home media consumption data. In yet another embodiment, the base
metering device
162 may meter all in-home media consumption, and the portable metering device
166 may
meter all in-home and out-of-home media consumption and duplicate consumption
data sets
collected for in-home consumption may be compared and processed to ensure that
such data is
credited to reflect only a single consumption (e.g., viewing, listening, etc.)
The redundant sets of
data may also be used to identify discrepancies between the data and to
eliminate data believed
to be erroneous.
[0029] In yet another example, the media monitoring system 100 may be
configured so
that the base metering device 162 detects the presence and absence of the
portable metering
device 166 and uses that presence information to determine whether metering is
necessary. For
example, if the base metering device 162 determines that the television 142 is
turned on but
there is no portable metering device 166 located in the viewing area then the
base metering
device 162 may begin metering the programming delivered via the television
142. Conversely, if
the base metering device 162 detects a portable metering device 166 in the
consumption area
122, then the base metering device 162 may halt monitoring.
[0030] In another embodiment, if the base metering device 162 detects the
portable
metering device 166 in the consumption area 122, then the base metering device
162 may
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halt monitoring and begin emitting a signal detectable by all portable
metering devices
166 located in the consumption area 122. The portable metering device 166 may
respond
to the signal emitted by the base metering device 162 by causing the
subsequently
collected data to be identified or tagged as in-home consumption data (i.e.,
data
associated with media consumption within a monitored area), thereby allowing
data
collected via the portable metering device 166 in connection with in-home
media
consumption to be distinguishable from data collected by the portable metering
device
166 in connection with out-of-home media consumption (i.e., data associated
with media
consumption outside of the monitored area).
[0031] While the components shown in FIG. 1 are depicted as separate
structures
within the media monitoring system 100, the functions performed by some of
these
structures may be integrated within a single unit or may be implemented using
two or
more separate components. For example, although the television 144 and the
receiving
unit 154 (e.g., STB) are depicted as separate structures, the television 144
and the
receiving unit 154 may be integrated into a single unit (e.g., an integrated
digital TV set).
[0032] Typically, portable metering devices capture a complete channel code
(e.g., an
embedded ancillary code) to identify and/or verify a channel to which a media
delivery
device is tuned. Referring to FIG. 2, for example, the portable metering
device 166 may
receive a complete channel code during a period from To to T1. The complete
channel
code may be used to identify a channel to which the television 142 is tuned
(i.e., a tuned
channel). For example, the channel code may be a 3-digit source identification
(SID)
number corresponding to a channel. While three-digit SIDs are shown in the
example of
FIG. 2, SIDs having more or fewer digits may be used instead. In any case, the
portable
metering device 166 may store an index, a list, a table, etc. of one or more
SIDs (e.g., the
example index 300 of FIG. 3) to identify a channel to which the television 142
is
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currently tuned. Accordingly, the portable metering device 166 may associate
collected
media information with the tuned channel based on the SID. However, the
portable
metering device 166 may receive a partial SID (e.g., an incomplete channel
code) if a
sufficient amount of time has not been provided to capture a complete SID
and/or if one
or more portions (e.g., bits) of a captured SID are incorrect, indeterminate
or otherwise
corrupt.
[0033] Instead of having to capture a complete SID (e.g., all three digits of
the SID)
to detect a tuned channel, the portable metering device 166 may use a
probability protocol
or algorithm to speculatively fill in any missing portion(s) of the SID as
described in
detail below and in conjunction with FIG. 4. Thus, the portable metering
device 166 can
identify the SID without having to receive the complete SID (e.g., all three
digits of the
SID). In some applications, for example, the probability protocol or algorithm
enables
the portable metering device 166 to predict (using a partial SID) that a
currently tuned
channel is the same as a previously tuned channel.
[0034] In the example of FIG. 4, the process 400 begins with the portable
metering
device 166 receiving media information from the television 142 (block 410).
The
portable metering device 166 is configured to collect media consumption data
by
associating the received media information with a channel to which the
television 142 is
tuned (e.g., a tuned channel). Accordingly, the portable metering device 166
may
monitor for a current SID corresponding to the currently tuned channel (block
420). As
noted above, the portable metering device 166 may implement a probability
protocol or
algorithm to predict and identify the current SID in cases where the entire or
complete
sequence (e.g., all the bits, characters, etc.) of the current SID are not
received by the
portable metering device 166. Based on a received portion of the current SID,
the
portable metering device 166 may, for example, generate a probability factor
indicative of
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the likelihood that the current SID is the same as a SID corresponding to a
previously
tuned channel (i.e., a previous SID) (block 430).
[0035] Referring back to FIG. 2, for example, the portable metering device 166
may
receive a complete SID with all three digits during a period from To to Ti
(i.e., the
previous SID). In particular, the portable metering device 166 may receive SID
243,
which corresponds to the ESPN channel. However, during a period from Tl to T2,
the
portable metering device 166 may receive only a portion of a SID (i.e., an
incomplete
current SID). In particular, the portable metering device 166 may receive only
two out of
the three digits of the current SID. For example, the portable metering device
166 may
receive the first and second digits but not the third digit of the current
SID. Without all
three digits, the portable metering device 166 may not be able to identify the
current SID
and, thus, the tuned channel associated with the current SID. As noted above,
the
portable metering device 166 may implement a probability protocol or algorithm
to
speculatively fill in the missing portion(s) of the current SID and determine
the likelihood
that the current SID is the same as the previous SID.
[0036] The portable metering device 166 may generate a probability factor
based on
the received portion of the current SID. The probability factor is indicative
of the
likelihood that the current SID is the same as the previous SID. The portable
metering
device 166 generates the probability factor based on the previous SID because
the
portable metering device 166 captured all three digits of the previous SID
(i.e., a
complete SID). For example, the portable metering device 166 may receive a
first digit
"2" and a second digit "4" but not a third digit of the current SID. As shown
in the
example index 300, two channels correspond to a SID having a "2" as a first
digit and a
"4" as a second digit (i.e., SIDs 243 and 244). Accordingly, the third digit
of the current
SID may be either a "3" or a "4." In that case, the portable metering device
166 may
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generate a probability factor of 0.5 because the current SID may be either SID
243 or SID
244.
[0037] Referring back to FIG. 4, the portable metering device 166 may be
configured
to predict that the current SID is the same as the previous SID if the
probability factor is
greater than a predefined probability threshold (block 440). The probability
threshold
may be selected to balance the accuracy of the SID prediction against the
length of the
capture period, the quality, or characteristics of the communications, etc. In
general, a
higher probability threshold tends to increase the accuracy of the SID
prediction. In
contrast, a lower probability threshold tends to reduce the accuracy of the
SID prediction.
If the predefined probability threshold is 0.3, for example, the portable
metering device
166 may predict that the current SID is the previous SID of 243 because the
probability
factor of 0.5 is greater than the predefined probability threshold of 0.3
(block 450). Thus,
the portable metering device 166 may associate media information received
during the
period from Tl to T2 with the previously tuned channel of ESPN (block 460).
[0038] Otherwise, if the probability factor is less than or equal to the
predefined
probability threshold (block 440), the portable metering device 166 may return
to block
420 to monitor for missing portion(s) of the current SID or for another SID
sequence. As
another example, the portable metering device 166 may receive only a first
digit of "2"
but not the second and third digits of a SID corresponding to a tuned channel
during the
period from T2 to T3 (i.e., the current SID). In this case, the probability
factor is relative
to the SID corresponding to the tuned channel during the period from TI to T2
(i.e., the
previously SID). As shown in the index 300, four channels correspond to a SID
with a
first digit of "2" (i.e., SIDs 230, 243, 244, and 250). Accordingly, the
portable metering
device 166 may generate a probability factor of 0.25 (block 430). If the
probability
threshold is selected to be 0.3, the portable metering device 166 will not
predict that the
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current SID is the previous SID because the probability factor of 0.25
generated at block
430 is less than the predefined probability threshold of 0.3. In that case,
the portable
metering device 166 returns control to block 420 to monitor for missing
portion(s) of the
current SID or for another SID sequence.
[0039] Alternatively, the process of FIG. 4 may determine whether the portion
of the
current SID received at block 420 is greater than or equal to a threshold
indicative of a
sufficient quantity of code associated with the current SID to generate the
probability
factor (e.g., a minimum amount of code). For example, the portable metering
device 166
may be required to receive 50% of the code associated with a SID before the
probability
factor can be generated. If the received portion of code is greater than the
threshold, the
process of FIG. 4 may proceed to generate the probability factor as described
in
connection with block 430. Otherwise, if the received portion is less than the
threshold,
control returns to block 420 to monitor for more code portions associated with
the current
SID to reach the minimum amount before generating the probability factor at
block 430.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 5, an example usage information system 500 may
include a
base metering device 510, a portable metering device 520, and a media delivery
device
530. In general, the base metering device 510 is configured to monitor for a
signal
indicative of a media delivery event associated with the media delivery device
530 (e.g., a
tuning signal and/or an operating mode signal). For example, the media
delivery event
may be a tuning event such as a change in channel to which the media delivery
device
530 is tuned, a change in audio output or volume of the media delivery device
530, etc.
The media delivery event may also be a change in a web address, a web page, a
web site,
etc. currently presented by the media delivery device 530.
[0041] Typically, an individual or an audience member (e.g., the panelists 150
of
FIG. 1) may have access to a remote control device 540 that may be used to
cause,
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initiate, or terminate the media delivery event associated with the media
delivery device
530. For example, the individual may press a button on the remote control
device 540 to
initiate a change in a channel to which the media delivery device 530 is
tuned. In another
example, the individual may speak a voice command recognized by the remote
control
device 540 via a voice recognition device (not shown) to initiate the change
in channel to
which the media delivery device 530 is tuned. Alternatively, the individual
(e.g., the
panelists 150 of FIG. 1) may cause, initiate, or terminate the media delivery
event without
using the remote control device 540 by directly adjusting the media delivery
device 530
in a conventional manner such as, for example, by pressing a button, turning a
knob,
flipping a lever, etc. on the media delivery device 530. The media delivery
device 530
may also include a voice recognition device (not shown), which the individual
may use to
enable/disable the media delivery event by speaking a voice command recognized
by the
voice recognition device.
[0042] The media delivery event may also be an operating mode event such as,
for
example, a change in an operating mode of the media delivery device 530. While
operating in a normal viewing mode, the media delivery device 530 typically
provides a
single video output and a corresponding audio output. However, the media
delivery
device 530 may provide other operating modes in which there is not a one-to-
one
correspondence between video and audio outputs. In contrast to the normal
viewing
mode, for example, the media delivery device 530 may provide a video output
and no
audio output when operating in a mute mode and/or or a PC mode (e.g., video
output by a
PC). In another example, the media delivery device 530 may provide two or more
video
outputs but only one audio output when operating in a PIP mode (e.g., a
smaller screen
within a main screen) and/or a split-screen mode (e.g., two screens divided
horizontally or
vertically).
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[0043] The media delivery device 530 may also operate in other modes in which
the
media delivery device 530 indirectly provides video and/or audio outputs by
using
external components and/or devices such as, for example, an amplifier
component and/or
external speakers (not shown) to implement a surround-sound mode. Accordingly,
any
speakers integral with or internal to the media delivery device 530
(hereinafter "internal
speakers") may be turned off so that the media delivery device 530 uses the
external
speakers to deliver or present audio output to the panelist 150 (i.e., the
media delivery
device 530 only delivers or presents video output directly to the panelist
150). The
internal speakers of the media delivery device 530 may also be turned off when
the
panelist 150 plugs in a set of headphones/earphones to the media delivery
device 530
(e.g., the headphones/earphones mode). In that case, the media delivery device
530 may
only deliver video output directly to the panelist 150 and use the
headphones/earphones to
deliver audio output to the panelist 150.
[0044] Based on the tuning signal and/or the operating mode signal, the base
metering
device 510 may generate usage information indicative of a media delivery event
(e.g., a
tuning event and/or an operating mode event) associated with the media
delivery device
530. The usage information is indicative of a manner in which the media
delivery device
530 is used. As described above, the media delivery device 530 may operate to
tune to a
particular channel, to provide a particular volume, etc. based on an operating
mode. As
noted, the media delivery device 530 may tune to a channel to provide video
output and
audio output of media content such as, for example, a television program, when
operating
in the normal viewing mode. In another example, the media delivery device 530
may
only provide video output when operating in the mute mode. Accordingly, the
base
metering device 510 may transmit the usage information to the portable
metering device
520 to collect media consumption data as described in detail below.
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[0045] The portable metering device 520 is configured to receive media
information
550 from the media delivery device 530. For example, the media information 550
may
include an audio code, a video code, an audio signature, a video signature,
and/or other
media measurement information. In general, the portable metering device 520 is
configured to generate a probability factor indicative of a probability that
the media
information 550 is associated with a previously tuned channel as described in
connection
with FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Based on the usage information from the base metering
device
510 and/or the probability factor, the portable metering device 520 may
determine
whether it is proper to associate the media information 550 with the
previously tuned
channel. The portable metering device 520 may associate the media information
to the
previously tuned channel in response to failing to receive usage information
indicative of
a change in channel to which the media delivery device 530 is tuned. On the
other hand,
the portable metering device 520 may reset the probability factor in response
to receiving
usage information indicative of a change in channel to which the media
delivery device
530 is tuned. As noted above, the probability factor may cause the portable
metering
device.520 to associate the media information 550 with the previously tuned
channel. By
resetting the probability factor as described in detail below and in
connection with FIG. 9,
the portable metering device 520 may associate the media information 550 with
a newly
tuned channel instead of the previously tuned channel.
[0046] While the portable metering device 520 is depicted as a portable
telephone in
FIG. 5, the portable metering device 520 may be implemented using other
portable
electronic platforms configured to collect media consumption data. For
example, the
portable metering device 520 may be a personal digital assistant, a handheld
computer, a
pager, etc. Further, although the media delivery device 530 is depicted as a
television in
FIG. 5, the media delivery device 530 may be other electronic devices used for
media
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delivery. For example, the media delivery device 530 may be a video monitor, a
multimedia PC,
etc.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 5, the base metering device 510 is communicatively
coupled to
the media delivery device 530 via a first communication link 560 (e.g., a
hardwire link) to receive
an event signal indicative of a media delivery event associated with the media
delivery device
530 (e.g., a tuning signal and/or an operating mode signal). In the example of
FIG. 6, the base
metering device 510 may include a data sensor 620, a data collector 610, a
tuning monitor 630,
a mode monitor 640, a usage information generator 650, and a transmitter 660.
The data sensor
620 and the data collector 610 are configured to monitor and collect media
information from the
media delivery device 530 to form media consumption data in a known manner.
The transmitter
660 may transmit the media consumption data from the data collector 610 via
the network 170
(FIG. 1) to the data collection facility 180.
[0048] The tuning monitor 630 is configured to monitor for a tuning signal
from the
media delivery device 530 and the mode monitor 640 is configured to monitor
for an operating
mode signal from the media delivery device 530 via the first communication
link 560 (FIG. 5). In
response to receiving event signals (e.g., tuning signals, operating mode
signals, etc.), the
usage information generator 650 generates usage information to alert the
portable metering
device 520 of media delivery events associated with the media delivery device
530. For
example, a media delivery event may be a change in channel to which the media
delivery
device 530 is tuned and/or a change in volume at which the media delivery
device 530 is
operated (i.e., an increase or decrease in volume). The media delivery event
may also be a
change in operating mode in which the media delivery device 530 is operated
such as, for
example, a PIP mode, a split-screen mode, a mute mode, a headphones/earphones
mode, a
PC mode, etc. The transmitter 660 is
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configured to transmit the usage information to the portable metering device
520 via a
second communication link 570 (FIG. 5) such as a wireless link.
[0049] Alternatively, the base metering device 510 may receive the event
signal from
a remote control device 540. For example, the base metering device 510 may be
communicatively coupled to the remote control device 540 via a third
communication
link 580. As noted above, the remote control device 540 is configured to
change the
channel to which the media delivery device 530 is tuned, the volume at which
the media
delivery device 530 is operated, etc. When the remote control device 540
transmits the
event signal to the media delivery device 530, the base metering device 510
may receive
the event signal from remote control device 540 via the third communication
link 580.
The third communication link 580 may be a wireless link such as an infrared
link, radio
frequency (RF) link, etc. For example, the third communication link 580 may be
operated in accordance with an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) based
communication
protocol, a Bluetooth-based communication protocol, etc. To receive the event
signal
from the remote control device 540 via an infrared link, the base metering
device 510
may be disposed proximate to the media delivery device 530 and within a line-
of-sight of
the remote control device 540. In contrast to an implementation based on an
infrared
link, with an RF-based link, the base metering device 510 may not need to be
disposed
proximate to the media delivery device 530 or within a line-of-sight of the
remote control
device 540 to receive the tuning signal and/or the operating mode signal from
the remote
control device 540 because RF signals conveyed via the RF-based link may pass
through
objects such as an individual, a wall, a sofa, etc.
[0050] By receiving a tuning signal via the third communication link 580, the
base
metering device 510 may receive a signal from the remote control device 540
that is
indicative of an attempt to change a channel to which the media delivery
device 530 is
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tuned instead of a signal indicative of an actual change in channel. In
particular, the
media deliyery device 530 may not receive the event signal from the remote
control
device 540 via the third communication link 580 because of an obstruction
(e.g., a wall)
and/or interference (e.g., an infrared signal from another source) between the
media
delivery device 530 and the remote control device 540. However, the
obstruction and/or
interference does not interfere with the first communication link 560 because
the base
metering device 510 is coupled directly to the media delivery device 530 via a
hardwire
link.
[0051] The base metering device 510 may also be configured to determine
whether
the media delivery device 530 is turned off or on but either delivering audio
output
indirectly to the panelist 150 (e.g., via headphones/earphones) or not
delivering audio
output at all (e.g., a mute mode). In particular, the mode monitor 640 is
configured to
monitor for audio output from the media delivery device 530 to determine
whether the
media delivery device 530 is turned on. The mode monitor 640 may include a
condenser
microphone, a piezoelectric microphone or any other suitable transducer
configured to
convert acoustic waves into electrical signals. For example, the mode monitor
640 may
monitor for audio output from the internal speakers of the media delivery
device 530. If
the mode monitor 640 detects audio output from the internal speakers, the
usage
information generator 650 generates usage information indicative of the media
delivery
device 530 being turned on. On the other hand, if the mode monitor 640 fails
to detect
audio output from the internal speakers, the media delivery device 530 may be
turned on
but operating in a mode that indirectly delivers audio output to the panelist
150 via an
external source such as headphones/earphones (e.g., via the
headphones/earphones mode)
or via a mode that does not deliver audio output at all to the panelist 150
(e.g., the mute
mode). The mode monitor 640 may determine whether the media delivery device
530 is
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turned on by monitoring for a sweep frequency signal as is disclosed in U.S.
Patent Publication
No. US 2005/0125820. For example, the sweep frequency signal may be a 15.75
kilo-hertz
(kHz) horizontal scan fly-back transformer sweep signal for a conventional
television, or a 31.5
kHz sweep signal for high-definition television or other television. If the
mode monitor 640
detects a sweep frequency signal, the usage information generator 650 may
generate usage
information indicative of the media delivery device 530 being turned on but
not delivering audio
output directly or at all to the panelist 150.
[0052] Alternatively, the base metering device 510 may use other methods to
determine
whether media delivery device 530 is turned on but not delivering audio output
directly or at all
to the panelist 150. For example, the base metering device 510 may be
configured to monitor
power consumption by the media delivery device 530. In another example, the
base metering
device 510 may be configured to monitor light emitted from a screen or display
of the media
delivery device 530 as is disclosed in PCT Patent Publication No. WO
2005/041166 and PCT
Patent Publication No. WO 2005/055601.
[0053] While the base metering device 510 is depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6 as a
relatively
stationary metering device configured to monitor for media information from
the media delivery
device 530 (e.g., via the data sensor 620 and the data collector 610), the
base metering device
510 may be replaced with a device configured to monitor and transmit usage
information
associated with the media delivery device 530 to the portable metering device
520. For
example, the base metering device 510 may be replaced with a device that does
not perform
functions associated with the data sensor 620 and the data collector 610.
Further, although the
components shown in FIG. 6 are depicted as separate blocks within the base
metering device
510, the functions performed by some of these blocks may be integrated within
a single
semiconductor circuit or may be implemented using
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two or more separate integrated circuits. For example, although the tuning
monitor 630
and the mode monitor 640 are depicted as separate blocks, the tuning monitor
630 and the
mode monitor 640 may be integrated within a single component. In addition, the
tuning
monitor 630 and the mode monitor 640 may be replaced with one or more
receivers
configured to receive an event signal only (i.e., the base metering device 510
may be a
device that only provides usage information to the portable metering device
520 and does
not monitor for media information from the media delivery device 530).
[0054] In the example of FIG. 7, the portable metering device 520 may include
a data
sensor 710, a usage information monitor 720, a probability generator 730, and
a data
collector 740. The data sensor 710 is configured to receive the media
information 550
from the media delivery device 530. For example, the data sensor 710 may
include an
optical sensor (e.g., a photodetector, a photodiode, and/or a light-sensitive
semiconductor
junction device) and/or an acoustic sensor (e.g., a microphone) to receive the
media
information 550.
[0055] The usage information monitor 720 is configured to monitor for usage
information from the base metering device 510. As noted above, the usage
information
may include information indicative of a media delivery event associated with
the media
delivery device 530. For example, the usage information monitor 720 may
receive
information indicative of a change in channel to which the media delivery
device 530 is
tuned. Based on the usage information from the base metering device 510, the
usage
information monitor 720 may reset the probability generator 730 as described
in detail
below.
[0056] As noted above, the portable metering device 520 may implement a
probability protocol or algorithm to generate a probability factor to predict
and identify a
SID corresponding to a tuned channel without having received a complete
sequence of
23
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the SID (e.g., received a partial SID). The probability generator 730 is
configured to generate a
probability factor as described above in connection with FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. In
particular, the
probability factor may be used by the data collector 740 to associate the
media information 550
with a previously tuned channel. By resetting the probability factor to zero,
the data collector 740
may associate the media information 550 with a newly tuned channel after a
change in channel
instead of the previously tuned channel to form the media consumption data as
described in
detail below. The transmitter 750 may transmit the media consumption data to
the base
metering device 510 and/or to the data collection facility 180.
[0057] While the components shown in FIG. 7 are depicted as separate blocks
within
the portable metering device 520, the functions performed by some of these
blocks may be
integrated within a single semiconductor circuit or may be implemented using
two or more
separate integrated circuits. For example, although the usage information
monitor 720, the data
sensor 710, the probability generator 730, and the data collector 740 are
depicted as separate
blocks within the portable metering device 520, the usage information monitor
720 may be
integrated into the data sensor 710, the probability generator 730, and/or the
data collector 740.
In addition, the usage information monitor 720 may be replaced with a receiver
only configured
to receive usage information (i.e., a device that does not perform any
monitoring functions).
[0058] FIGS. 8 and 9 depict one manner in which the example base metering
device
510 of FIG. 6 and the portable metering device 520 of FIG. 7 may be configured
to collect media
consumption data based on usage information of a media delivery device. The
example
processes of FIGS. 8 and 9 may be implemented as machine accessible
instructions utilizing
any of many different programming codes stored on any combination of machine-
accessible
media such as a volatile or nonvolatile memory or
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other mass storage device (e.g., a floppy disk, a CD, and a DVD). For example,
the
machine accessible instructions may be embodied in a machine-accessible medium
such
as a programmable gate array, an application specific integrated circuit
(ASIC), an
erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a
random access memory (RAM), a magnetic media, an optical media, and/or any
other
suitable type of medium. Further, although a particular order of actions is
illustrated in
FIGS. 8 and 9, these actions can be performed in other temporal sequences.
Again, the
processes 800 and 900 are merely provided and described in conjunction with
the
components of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 as an example of one way to configure a system
to
collect media consumption data based on usage information of a media delivery
device.
[0059] In the example of FIG. 8, the process 800 begins with the base metering
device 510 monitoring for an event signal indicative of a media delivery event
associated
with the media delivery device 530. In particular, the base metering device
510 (e.g., via
the tuning monitor 630 and/or the mode monitor 640) monitors for a tuning
signal
indicative of a tuning event associated with the media delivery device 530
and/or an
operating mode signal indicative of an operating mode event associated with
the media
delivery device 530 (block 810). For example, the tuning event maybe a change
in
channel to which the media delivery device 530 is tuned and/or a change in
volume at
which the media delivery device 530 is operated. Alternatively, the tuning
event may be
a change in a web address, a web page, a web site, etc. currently presented by
the media
delivery device 530. The operating mode event may be an initiation of an
operating mode
that causes the media delivery device 530 to change the manner in which it
outputs media
(e.g., its video output and/or audio output) to the panelist 150. In
particular, the operating
mode may be a mute mode, a headphones/earphones mode, a PC mode, a PIP mode, a
split-screen mode, etc. in which the media delivery device 530 does not
deliver audio
CA 02611488 2010-11-02
output directly or at all to the panelist 150. For example, the media delivery
device 530 may use
headphones/earphones and/or external speakers to deliver audio output to the
panelist 150.
Based on the media delivery event, the usage information generator 650 of the
base metering
device 510 may generate usage information to inform the portable metering
device 520 of the
manner in which the media delivery device 530 is being used (block 820).
[0060] As described in detail below, the usage information may be used by the
portable
metering device 520 to collect media consumption data more accurately in view
of the manner
in which one or more audience members or panelists 150 use the media delivery
device 530.
For example, the portable metering device 520 may associate the media delivery
device 530 to
a newly tuned channel instead of a previously tuned channel in response to a
media delivery
event that indicates a change in channel to which the media delivery device
530 is tuned. In
another example, the audio volume of the media delivery device 530 may be
reduced to a level
that the portable metering device 520 may not detect any audio output from the
media delivery
device 530 but the panelist 150 may still be consuming media from the media
delivery device
530. Thus, the portable metering device 520 may continue to monitor for the
media information
550 and associate the media information 550 with a channel to which the media
delivery device
530 is tuned in response to the reduction in volume. Accordingly, the base
metering device 510
may transmit (e.g., via the transmitter 660) the usage information to the
portable metering
device 520 (block 830) to collect media consumption data as described in
conjunction with FIG.
9.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 9, the process 900 begins with the data sensor 710 of
the
portable metering device 520 monitoring for the media information 550 from the
media delivery
device 530 (block 910). For example, the data sensor 710 may detect a video
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code, an audio code, a video signature, an audio signature and/or other media
measurement information. The data sensor 710 may also monitor for a SID
corresponding to a channel to which the media delivery device 530 is tuned
(i.e., a current
SID) (block 920). However, the data sensor 710 may only receive a portion of
the current
SID as a result of receiving corrupted data, a shortened capture period, etc.
Instead of
having to receive a complete SID before identifying the current SID, the
portable
metering device 520 may implement a probability protocol to fill in missing
portion(s) of
the current SID. As described above in connection with FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the
portable
metering device 520 may identify the current SID without having received the
complete
current SID. In particular, the probability generator 730 may generate a
probability factor
indicative of the likelihood that a current SID is the same as a previous SID
based on the
received portion of the current SID (block 930). In particular, the previous
SID
corresponds to a previously tuned channel of the media delivery device 530.
Accordingly, the probability factor may cause the data collector 740 to
associate received
media information (e.g., the media information of 550) with the previously
tuned channel.
The probability generator 730 may determine whether the probability factor
generated at
block 930 is less than a predefined probability threshold (block 940) because
the
probability generator 730 may require more code associated with the current
SID to
generate the probability factor. That is, the probability factor may indicate
a likelihood
that is too low to predict that the current SID is the same as the previous
SID. Thus, if the
probability factor is less than the probability threshold, the probability
generator 730
returns to block 920 to monitor for more code associated with the current SID
(e.g.,
another digit of the SID). Alternatively, the probability generator 730 may
determine
whether the portion of the current SID received block 920 is greater than or
equal to a
threshold indicative of a sufficient quantity of code associated with the
current SID to
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generate the probability factor. If the received portion is greater than or
equal to the
threshold, the probability generator 730 may generate the probability factor.
Otherwise,
if the received portion is less than the threshold, control returns to block
920 to monitor
for more code associated with the current SID before the probability generator
730 may
generate the probability factor.
[0062] Referring back to block 940, if the probability factor is greater than
or equal to
the probability threshold, the usage information monitor 720 may monitor for
usage
information from the base metering device 510 (block 950) and determine
whether to
reset the probability factor generated by the probability generator 730 at
block 930 (block
960). For example, the usage information may indicate a change in channel to
which the
media delivery device 530 is tuned. If the usage information monitor 720 fails
to receive
usage information from the base metering device 510, the probability generator
730 may
predict that the current SID is the same as the previous SID (block 970). As a
result, the
data collector 740 may associate received media information with the
previously tuned
channel (block 980). Control returns to block 910 to process other media
information as
described above.
[0063] Otherwise, if the usage information monitor 720 receives the usage
information, the usage information monitor 720 may reset the probability
factor to zero
and identify the current SID as a new SID (block 975). A probability factor of
zero
indicates that the current SID is not the same as the previous SID. The
portable metering
device 520 may be configured to wait and receive the entire sequence of the
current SID
(e.g., all three digits) before identifying the new SID. The new SID
corresponds to a
newly tuned channel of the media delivery device 530. As a result, the data
collector 740
may associate the media information with a newly tuned channel instead of the
previously
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tuned channel (block 990). Control returns to block 910 to process other media
information as described above.
[0064] As noted above, the media delivery device 530 may operate in various
modes
in which the media delivery device 530 does not deliver audio output directly
or at all to
the panelist 150. For example, the panelist 150 may initiate the mute mode of
the media
delivery device 530 when the panelist 150 is using the telephone and/or when
the panelist
150 desires to initiate a closed caption feature of the media delivery device
530 (e.g., a
text version of audio output is presented on-screen by the media delivery
device 530).
Even though the media delivery device 530 does not deliver audio output to the
panelist
150 in the mute mode, the panelist 150 may continue to consume media because
the
media delivery device 530 may deliver video output to the panelist 150. In
that case, the
portable metering device 520 may collect media consumption data as described
in
connection with FIG. 10.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 10, the process 1000 is merely provided and described
in
conjunction with the components of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 as an example of one way
to
program a processor to collect media consumption data in various operating
modes of the
media delivery device 530 in which the media delivery device 530 does not
deliver audio
output directly or at all to the panelist 150. The process 1000 begins with
the data sensor
510 at the portable metering device 520 monitoring for the media information
550 from
the media delivery device 530 (block 1010). Based on media information 550
received
by the portable metering device 520, the data sensor 710 determines whether
the media
delivery device 530 is delivering audio output (block 1020). If the media
delivery device
530 is delivering audio output, the data collector 740 may identify a tuned
channel of the
media delivery device 530 (block 1050). For example, the portable metering
device 520
may implement the probability protocol as described herein to identify the
tuned channel
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as a previously tuned channel or a newly tuned channel. Accordingly, the data
collector
740 may associate the media information 550 with the tuned channel identified
at block
1050 to form media consumption data (block 1060).
[00661 Otherwise, if the data sensor 710 determines that the media delivery
device
530 fails to deliver audio output at block 1020, the usage information monitor
720
monitors for usage information from the base metering device 510 (block 1030).
The
usage information may include information indicative of an operating mode
event
associated with the media delivery device 530. For example, the usage
information may
indicate that the media delivery device 530 is operating in the mute mode in
which the
media delivery device 530 is turned on but does not deliver audio output. In
another
example, the usage information may indicate that the media delivery device 530
is
operating in the headphones/earphones mode in which the media delivery device
is turned
on but delivering audio output indirectly to the panelist 150 via a set of
headphones/earphones (i.e., the media delivery device 530 is not delivering
audio output
via its internal speakers). Based on the usage information, the usage
information monitor
720 determines whether the media delivery device 530 is turned on (block
1040). As
mentioned above, the base metering device 510 may determine whether the media
delivery device 530 is turned on by monitoring for a sweep frequency signal,
power
consumption, and/or light emission of the media delivery device 530. If the
portable
metering device 520 receives usage information indicative of the media
delivery device
530 being turned off, control returns to block 1010 to monitor for the media
information
550. Otherwise, if the portable metering device 520 receives usage information
indicative
of the media delivery device 530 being turned on, the data collector 740 may
identify the
tuned channel (block 1050) and associate the media information 550 with the
tuned
channel to form media consumption data (block 1060).
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[0067] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example processor system 2000 adapted
to
implement the methods and apparatus disclosed herein. The processor system
2000 may
be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a personal
digital
assistant (PDA), a server, an Internet appliance or any other type of
computing device.
[0068] The processor system 2000 illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a chipset
2010,
which includes a memory controller 2012 and an input/output (I/O) controller
2014. As
is well known, a chipset typically provides memory and I/O management
functions, as
well as a plurality of general purpose and/or special purpose registers,
timers, etc. that are
accessible or used by a processor 2020. The processor 2020 is implemented
using one or
more processors. In the alternative, other processing technology may be used
to
implement the processor 2020. The processor 2020 includes a cache 2022, which
may be
implemented using a first-level unified cache (Ll), a second-level unified
cache (L2), a
third-level unified cache (L3), and/or any other suitable structures to store
data.
[0069] As is conventional, the memory controller 2012 performs functions that
enable
the processor 2020 to access and communicate with a main memory 2030 including
a
volatile memory 2032 and a non-volatile memory 2034 via a bus 2040. The
volatile
memory 2032 may be implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory
(SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random
Access Memory (RDRAM), and/or any other type of random access memory device.
The
non-volatile memory 2034 may be implemented using flash memory, Read Only
Memory
(ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), and/or
any
other desired type of memory device.
[0070] The processor system 2000 also includes an interface circuit 2050 that
is
coupled to the bus 2040. The interface circuit 2050 may be implemented using
any type
of well known interface standard such as an Ethernet interface, a universal
serial bus
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(USB), a third generation input/output interface (3GIO) interface, and/or any
other
suitable type of interface.
[0071] One or more input devices 2060 are connected to the interface circuit
2050.
The input device(s) 2060 permit a user to enter data and commands into the
processor
2020. For example, the input device(s) 2060 may be implemented by a keyboard,
a
mouse, a touch-sensitive display, a track pad, a track ball, an isopoint,
and/or a voice
recognition system.
[0072] One or more output devices 2070 are also connected to the interface
circuit
2050. For example, the output device(s) 2070 may be implemented by media
presentation devices (e.g., a light emitting display (LED), a liquid crystal
display (LCD),
a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a printer and/or speakers). The interface
circuit 2050,
thus, typically includes, among other things, a graphics driver card.
[0073] The processor system 2000 also includes one or more mass storage
devices
2080 to store software and data. Examples of such mass storage device(s) 2080
include
floppy disks and drives, hard disk drives, compact disks and drives, and
digital versatile
disks (DVD) and drives.
[0074] The interface circuit 2050 also includes a communication device such as
a
modem or a network interface card to facilitate exchange of data with external
computers
via a network. The communication link between the processor system 2000 and
the
network may be any type of network connection such as an Ethernet connection,
a digital
subscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, a cellular telephone system, a
coaxial cable, etc.
[0075] Access to the input device(s) 2060, the output device(s) 2070, the mass
storage
device(s) 2080 and/or the network is typically controlled by the I/O
controller 2014 in a
conventional manner. In particular, the I/O controller 2014 performs functions
that
enable the processor 2020 to communicate with the input device(s) 2060, the
output
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device(s) 2070, the mass storage device(s) 2080 and/or the network via the bus
2040 and
the interface circuit 2050.
[0076] While the components shown in FIG. 11 are depicted as separate blocks
within the processor system 2000, the functions performed by some of these
blocks may
be integrated within a single semiconductor circuit or may be implemented
using two or
more separate integrated circuits. For example, although the memory controller
2012 and
the I/O controller 2014 are depicted as separate blocks within the chipset
2010, the
memory controller 2012 and the I/O controller 2014 may be integrated within a
single
semiconductor circuit.
[0077] In addition, while this disclosure is made with respect to example
television
systems, it should be understood that the disclosed system is readily
applicable to many
other media systems. Accordingly, while this disclosure describes example
systems and
processes, the disclosed examples are not the only way to implement such
systems.
[0078] Further, although certain example methods, apparatus, and articles of
manufacture 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 fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either
literally or under
the doctrine of equivalents. For example, although this disclosure describes
example
systems including, among other components, software executed on hardware, it
should be
noted that such systems are merely illustrative and should not be considered
as limiting.
In particular, it is contemplated that any or all of the disclosed hardware
and software
components could be embodied exclusively in dedicated hardware, exclusively in
firmware, exclusively in software or in some combination of hardware,
firmware, and/or
software.
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