| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| D338002 |
Scanner |
August 3, 1993 |
|
| 6484158 |
Dynamic rule based market research database |
November 19, 2002 |
| A market research database includes first and second information sets. The first information set contains first market research information, and the second information set contains second market research information. The market research database also includes a set of dynamic rules. At l |
| 6092069 |
Market research database containing separate product and naked product information |
July 18, 2000 |
| A market research database includes industry code information containing industry codes (such as UPCs), naked product information containing information about naked products, package information containing information about packages, and product definition information linking naked p |
| 5629739 |
Apparatus and method for injecting an ancillary signal into a low energy density portion of a co |
May 13, 1997 |
| An ancillary signal is injected into a program signal within the frequency band normally occupied by the program signal alone. The program signal includes a modulated carrier having a carrier frequency and a low energy density portion of the frequency band. The ancillary signal is select |
| 5594934 |
Real time correlation meter |
January 14, 1997 |
| A correlation meter is disclosed for determining tuning status of a tunable receiver. The correlation meter receives an output of the tunable receiver, such as an acoustic audio output of the tunable receiver. An analog to digital converter converts the output of the tunable receiver to |
| 5584050 |
Program monitoring system |
December 10, 1996 |
| A program monitoring system which monitors programs aired by a plurality of broadcast stations includes a plurality of the broadcast stations. Each broadcast station transmits to a central station program information concerning programs aired by the broadcast stations. The program in |
| 5550928 |
Audience measurement system and method |
August 27, 1996 |
| In a passive identification apparatus for identifying a predetermined individual member of a television viewing audience in a monitored viewing area, a video image of a monitored viewing area is captured. A template matching score is provided for an object in the video image. A Eigenface |
| 5526427 |
Universal broadcast code and multi-level encoded signal monitoring system |
June 11, 1996 |
| A multi-level encoded signal monitoring system and a universal broadcast code are provided. A plurality of encoders are provided for encoding a predetermined program source signal. The program source signal has a plurality of sequential segments. Each encoder is arranged for selectively |
| 5488408 |
Serial data channel metering attachment for metering channels to which a receiver is tuned |
January 30, 1996 |
| An attachment is arranged to permit channel metering of any of a variety of receivers which incorporates serial data communication buses. The attachment includes a computer for reading channel information carried by the serial data communication bus of a monitored receiver, a field p |
| 5481294 |
Audience measurement system utilizing ancillary codes and passive signatures |
January 2, 1996 |
| An audience measurement system collects data representative of tuned programs rather than of tuned channels, and includes (i) a household metering apparatus which records ancillary codes or extracts program signatures from the programs if no ancillary codes are found therein, (ii) a |
| 5450122 |
In-station television program encoding and monitoring system and method |
September 12, 1995 |
| An in-station method and apparatus for encoding television programs, including commercials, with a digital identification code recorded on a selected video scan line which is not normally visible to the television viewer, and for verifying the proper airing of such programs by such t |
| 5425100 |
Universal broadcast code and multi-level encoded signal monitoring system |
June 13, 1995 |
| A multi-level encoded signal monitoring system and a universal broadcast code are provided. A plurality of encoders are provided for encoding a predetermined program source signal. The program source signal has a plurality of sequential segments. Each encoder is arranged for selectively |
| 5331544 |
Market research method and system for collecting retail store and shopper market research data |
July 19, 1994 |
| A market research system and method are provided. A plurality of cooperating establishments are included in a market research test area. Each cooperating establishment is adapted for collecting and storing market research data. A computer system remotely located from the plurality of |
| 5315093 |
Market research method and system for collecting retail store market research data |
May 24, 1994 |
| A market research system and method are provided. A plurality of cooperating establishments are included in a market research test area. Each cooperating establishment is adapted for collecting and storing market research data. A computer system remotely located from the plurality of |
| 5305464 |
Method and apparatus for determining channel to which a receiver is tuned |
April 19, 1994 |
| A method and apparatus for identifying the channel to which a receiver is tuned includes a controller having a microprocessor, a ROM for storage of programs, a RAM for storage of data and a data storage and communication device; a controlled panel mounted adjacent a light emitting diode |
| 5278988 |
Automated receiver monitoring method and apparatus |
January 11, 1994 |
| A method and apparatus are provided for determining a particular transmitting station from which program signals are received and translated by a monitored receiver within a test area and including mobile receivers. A stored transmitter characteristic table includes a corresponding t |
| 5245533 |
Marketing research method and system for management of manufacturer's discount coupon offers |
September 14, 1993 |
| A market research system is provided for management of manufacturer's discount coupon offers. The market research system includes an automated coupon processing system for processing coupon redemption data. The coupon redemption data includes offer identification. At least one manufactur |
| 5243423 |
Spread spectrum digital data transmission over TV video |
September 7, 1993 |
| A co-channel communication system allows transmission of one or more data signals in an active or visible portion of a video raster in a manner that is imperceptible to a viewer. More particularly, the data signal is transmitted over a preselected active video lines of a video raster. In |
| 5165069 |
Method and system for non-invasively identifying the operational status of a VCR |
November 17, 1992 |
| A method and apparatus are provided for identifying one of a plurality of operational modes of a monitored video cassette recorder (VCR). A sensor is positioned near the monitored VCR for detecting a radiated signal of the monitored VCR. The detected signal is appplied to a filter for |
| 5031228 |
Image recognition system and method |
July 9, 1991 |
| An image recognition system and method are provided for identifying a pattern of a plurality of predetermined patterns in a video image. A plurality of feature image signatures are stored corresponding to each of the plurality of predetermined patterns. A universal feature image sign |
| 4972504 |
Marketing research system and method for obtaining retail data on a real time basis |
November 20, 1990 |
| A market research retail sales data collection system and method includes a plurality of cooperating retail stores, each having an in-store device for automatically collecting processing and storing market research data in a substantially totally passive or non-invasive manner with respe |
| 4972503 |
Method and apparatus for determining audience viewing habits by jamming a control signal and ide |
November 20, 1990 |
| A method and apparatus for determining the channel of a plurality of predetermined channels to which a remotely controlled receiver is tuned. A viewer transmitter device includes a keyboard for receiving viewer entered selections and a remote transmitter which transmits infrared, ultraso |
| 4943963 |
Data collection and transmission system with real time clock |
July 24, 1990 |
| A communication method and a data collection and transmission system are provided having at least one remotely located monitoring station. A central computer is arranged for bidirectional communication with each of the monitoring stations. Each of the monitoring stations includes a s |
| 4937742 |
Automated system for statistically analyzing data characteristics of shipments of coupons to ide |
June 26, 1990 |
| A manufacturer's discount coupon redemption system and method provide for the automated statistical analysis of coupon shipment data characteristics in order to identify coupon shipment parametric abnormalities. Allowable ranges for preselected coupon shipment data characteristics are |
| 4930011 |
Method and apparatus for identifying individual members of a marketing and viewing audience |
May 29, 1990 |
| A method and apparatus are provided for identifying predetermined individual members of a television viewing audience/marketing group in a plurality of monitored areas. A plurality of predetermined identification signals are stored each corresponding to one of the predetermined indiv |
| 4888638 |
System for substituting television programs transmitted via telephone lines |
December 19, 1989 |
| A market research system is shown for substituting stored television programs for regularly scheduled, broadcast television programs having a particular identification code wherein the substitute television programs may be transmitted via telephone lines to the households of cooperating |
| 4876736 |
Method and apparatus for determining channel reception of a receiver |
October 24, 1989 |
| A method and apparatus are provided for determining the channel of a plurality of predetermined channels to which a remotely controlled receiver is tuned. A first transmitter device includes a keyboard for receiving viewer entered selections and transmits infrared or ultrasonic contr |
| 4858000 |
Image recognition audience measurement system and method |
August 15, 1989 |
| An image recognition method and system are provided for identifying predetermined individual members of a viewing audience in a monitored area. A pattern image signature is stored corresponding to each predetermined individual member of the viewing audience to be identified. An audie |
| 4853882 |
System and method for protecting against redundant mailings |
August 1, 1989 |
| A system and method for protecting against redundant mailings compile mail listings associated with, for example, refund promotion requests received during a given period of time for a number of different refund promotions. Each listing in the compilation is compared on an automated basi |
| 4764808 |
Monitoring system and method for determining channel reception of video receivers |
August 16, 1988 |
| A system and method are provided for determining the broadcast signal source for the signal being displayed by a video wave receiver, whether tuned by the monitored receiver or an associated tuner device, such as a cable converter or video cassette recorder. The monitoring system include |
| 4723302 |
Method and apparatus for determining channel reception of a receiver |
February 2, 1988 |
| A method and apparatus for identifying a channel to which a receiver is tuned sequentially detects a signal of the receiver and stores a characteristic value of the detected signal for a predefined sequence of frequencies. The stored values corresponding to the predetermined channels |
| 4697209 |
Methods and apparatus for automatically identifying programs viewed or recorded |
September 29, 1987 |
| A method and apparatus for identifying programs such as television programs received from various sources detects the occurrence of predetermined events such as scene changes in a video signal and extracts a signature from the video signal. The signatures and the times of occurrence of t |
| 4677466 |
Broadcast program identification method and apparatus |
June 30, 1987 |
| A method and apparatus for identifying repetitively broadcast programs, such as commercial advertisements broadcast on television and radio, detects the occurrence of predetermined events in a video signal and/or in an audio signal, detects a stability condition and extracts a signature |
| 4644509 |
Ultrasonic audience measurement system and method |
February 17, 1987 |
| Method and apparatus for identifying a number of people in a monitored area wherein a first reflected ultrasonic wave map of the monitored area is collected that includes background objects. A second reflected ultrasonic wave map of the monitored area is collected when people may be pres |
| 4630108 |
Preprogrammed over-the-air marketing research system |
December 16, 1986 |
| A preprogrammed over-the-air marketing research system includes transmission facilities for delivering a regularly scheduled television signal and a low power, microwave transmitter or satellite transponder for delivering a special over-the-air television signal, including substitute |
| 4425578 |
Monitoring system and method utilizing signal injection for determining channel reception of vid |
January 10, 1984 |
| A system and method is provided for determining the channel to which a video wave receiver is tuned. The system includes an RF signal source connected to the antenna input of the video wave receiver, a frequency control stage that determines the signal frequencies generated by the RF |
| 4345753 |
Process and apparatus for aligning paper documents |
August 24, 1982 |
| A process and apparatus for aligning paper documents includes a paper jogger having a removable paper tray for receiving a large number of individual paper documents, such as retail store coupons, and adapted to slide onto and to be removably secured to an oscillating platform of the |
| 4208652 |
Method and apparatus for identifying images |
June 17, 1980 |
| A method and apparatus for identifying images having different spatial characteristics divides the image into a predetermined number of image elements, determines whether each of the image elements is relatively light or relatively dark and assigns a white designation or a black desi |
| 4166540 |
Document sorter utilizing cascaded sorting steps |
September 4, 1979 |
| An automatic document sorter particularly suitable for sorting retail store coupons employs a plurality of relatively coarse sorting processes in cascade. The sorting processes sequentially sort the documents according to predetermined properties of the document, including codes, such as |
| 4048562 |
Monitoring system for voltage tunable receivers and converters utilizing voltage comparison tech |
September 13, 1977 |
| A system for remotely monitoring or determining the channel to which a voltage tunable receiver (or CATV converter) has been tuned includes an encoder for measuring the magnitude of the tuning voltage applied to the tuning section of the receiver and for generating a channel representati |
| 4038504 |
Rotary, printed circuit wafer switch and method for adjusting |
July 26, 1977 |
| A wafer switch includes a printed circuit board having etched thereon a common ring and a desired number of contacts having parallel sides at an angle to a radius of the common ring, and includes a rotor. The rotor has mounted on one side a blade that bridges between a contact and the co |
| 4025851 |
Automatic monitor for programs broadcast |
May 24, 1977 |
| A system for automatically monitoring the programs broadcast by network affiliated broadcasting stations includes a plurality of remote monitoring sites and a central office for periodically interrogating the remote monitoring sites. Each remote monitoring site contains apparatus for |
| 3973206 |
Monitoring system for voltage tunable receivers and converters utilizing an analog function gene |
August 3, 1976 |
| A system for monitoring the channel to which a remotely located voltage tunable receiver or converter is tuned includes a comparator for comparing the magnitude of the tuning voltage with an internally generated reference voltage to determine the channel number. The reference voltage is |
