US5974299A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Audience rating system for digital television and radio
Assignee: Nielsen Co US LLC
•
Filing: 1998-05-27
•
Granted: 1999-10-26
•
Expires: 2018-05-27
Abstract
Abstract An audience rating system for digital television and radio, using identification codes in control streams of time-multiplexed digital transmissions. When a television set or radio, that is being monitored pursuant to the system, is turned on and tuned into a channel, and each time that the channel is changed, an identification code for each audio, video or auxiliary digital stream of the channel is extracted from the control stream, and recorded along with the time. The time is also recorded when the television set or radio is turned off. This data makes it possible to determine what stations, channels, and programs members of the audience being monitored are watching or listening to at any particular time. In the first preferred embodiment, the multiplexed digital transmission is received separately by the television set or radio (or an attached IRD) and a meter connected to it. The meter compares digital streams of the channel being received by the television set or radio with digital streams of each of the channels in the multiplexed digital transmission, until it finds a match. In the second preferred embodiment, the meter does not receive the multiplexed digital transmission separately, but has access to elementary streams extracted from the transmission by an IRD, and extracts identification codes for the channels being received from their elementary streams. The elementary stream may be accessed through an auxiliary connector in a digital decoder, through an access control card connector, or through soldering electrical connections to internal points in the IRD.
Inventors
- 👤 Enrico Emilio Massetti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H60/00; H04H60/35; H04H60/49; H04H60/37; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/4104; H04N21/4112; H04N21/426; H04N21/42607; H04N21/4263; H04N21/43; H04N21/434; H04N21/442; H04N21/44213; H04N21/44222; H04H60/09; H04H60/14; H04H60/21; H04H60/61; H04H60/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio, comprising the steps of: extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of a first channel, from a control stream of a multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the first channel by a receiver begins; recording at least one identification code extracted and thus time reception of the first channel begins; extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of any subsequent channel, from the control stream of the multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the subsequent channel by the receiver begins; recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the subsequent channel begins; and recording the time that reception by the receiver is ended.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio, comprising the steps of: extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of a first channel, from a control stream of a multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the first channel by a receiver begins; recording at least one identification code extracted and thus time reception of the first channel begins; extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of any subsequent channel, from the control stream of the multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the subsequent channel by the receiver begins; recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the subsequent channel begins; and recording the time that reception by the receiver is ended.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
120 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 1, wherein the multiplexed digital transmission is received separately by the receiver and by a meter; when the receiver is turned on, and when the channel that the receiver is tuned to is changed, the meter compares digital streams of the channel that the receiver is tuned to, to digital streams of each of the channels in the multiplexed digital transmission, until it finds a match and extracts at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of the channel from the control stream, and records the identification code along with the time; and when reception by the receiver is ended, the meter records the time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of multiplexed digital transmissions can be received at different frequencies; when the receiver is turned on, the meter records a first frequency received, and the time reception of the first frequency begins; and when the frequency received is changed, the meter records any subsequent frequency received, and the time reception of the subsequent frequency begins.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 2, wherein the multiplexed digital transmission is transmitted by electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 2, wherein the multiplexed digital transmission is transmitted by electricity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 2, wherein data recorded by the meter are stored in a memory unit of the meter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 2, wherein data recorded by the meter are transmitted to a computer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 1, wherein when the receiver is turned on, and when the channel that the receiver is tuned to is changed, an elementary stream is extracted from the multiplexed digital transmission, the elementary stream is passed to a meter, the meter extracts at least one identification code from the elementary stream, and the meter records the identification code along with the time; and when reception by the receiver is ended, the meter records the time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 8, wherein the control stream is accessed by the meter through an auxiliary connector in a digital decoder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 8, wherein the control stream is accessed by the meter through an access control card connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of multiplexed digital transmissions can be received at different frequencies; when the receiver is turned on, the meter records a first frequency received, and the time reception of the first frequency begins; and when the frequency received is changed, the meter records any subsequent frequency received, and the time reception of the subsequent frequency begins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 8, wherein the multiplexed digital transmission is transmitted by electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 8, wherein the multiplexed digital transmission is transmitted by electricity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 8, wherein data recorded by the meter are stored in a memory unit of the meter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An audience rating system for digital television and radio according to claim 8, wherein data recorded by the meter are transmitted to a computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus for audience rating of digital television and radio according to claim 1, wherein when the receiver is turned on, and when the channel that the receiver is tuned to is changed, an elementary stream is extracted from the multiplexed digital transmission, the elementary stream is passed to a meter, the meter extracts at least one identification code from the elementary stream, and the meter records the identification code along with the time; and when reception by the receiver is ended, the meter records the time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
130 words
A system for recording reception of pay programs on digital television and radio, comprising the steps of: extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of a first channel, from a control stream of a multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the first channel by a receiver begins; recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the first channel begins; extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of any subsequent channel, from the control stream of the multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the subsequent channel by the receiver begins; recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the subsequent channel begins; and recording the time that reception by the receiver is ended.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
130 words
A system for recording reception of pay programs on digital television and radio, comprising the steps of: extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of a first channel, from a control stream of a multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the first channel by a receiver begins; recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the first channel begins; extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of any subsequent channel, from the control stream of the multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the subsequent channel by the receiver begins; recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the subsequent channel begins; and recording the time that reception by the receiver is ended.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for audience rating of digital television and radio, comprising: means for extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of a first channel, from a control stream of a multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the first channel by a receiver begins; means for recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the first channel begins; means for extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of any subsequent channel, from the control stream of the multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the subsequent channel by the receiver begins; means for recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the subsequent channel begins; and means for recording the time that reception by the receiver is ended.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for audience rating of digital television and radio, comprising: means for extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of a first channel, from a control stream of a multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the first channel by a receiver begins; means for recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the first channel begins; means for extracting at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of any subsequent channel, from the control stream of the multiplexed digital transmission, when reception of the subsequent channel by the receiver begins; means for recording at least one identification code extracted and the time reception of the subsequent channel begins; and means for recording the time that reception by the receiver is ended.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for audience rating of digital television and radio according to claim 18, wherein the multiplexed digital transmission is received separately by the receiver and by a meter; when the receiver is turned on, and when the channel that the receiver is tuned to is changed, the meter compares digital streams of the channel that the receiver is tuned to, to digital streams of each of the channels in the multiplexed digital transmission, until it finds a match and extracts at least one identification code for at least one digital stream of the channel from the control stream, and records the identification code along with the time; and when reception by the receiver is ended, the meter records the time.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for audience rating system of digital television and radio according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of multiplexed digital transmissions can be received at different frequencies; when the receiver is turned on, the meter records a first frequency received, and the time reception of the first frequency begins; and when the frequency received is changed, the meter records any subsequent frequency received, and the time reception of the subsequent frequency begins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4547804A
Cited
US4697209A
Cited
US4647974A
Cited
US5019899A
Cited
US5532732A
Cited
US5646675A
Cited
US4972503A
Cited
US5278988A
Cited
US5574962A
Cited
US5450122A
Cited
US5512933A
Cited
US5425100A
Cited
US5659350A
Cited
US5450490A
Cited
US5594934A
Cited
US5872588A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-25 | 2003-04-26 | 2003-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | 2007-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-25 | 2011-04-26 | 2011-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |