Method for polling headphones of a passive TV audience meter system
US4652915A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 12, 1985 |
| Grant date | Mar 24, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 12, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04H60/45
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for polling headphones of a passive tv audience meter system. Tv audience members wear headphones by which they may receive the audio portion of the tv programs. The headphones are enabled to receive the audio for a short time by periodic polls transmitted by a tv audience meter. The headphones in turn acknowledge to the polls to indicate to the meter which members of the audience are watching tv. The method uses short and long period polls in conjunction with a timer whose period is shorter than the long period poll. The long period poll permits activation of headphone but also prevents adequate audio reception until the headphone acknowledges the poll. The short period poll is entered in response to the receipt of an acknowledgement and permits uninterrupted audio.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.