TW201742468A - System and method using audio carrier for audience measurement capable of accurately and real-time investigating and analyzing viewership or listenership for traditional cable TV, wireless TV channels, network A/V platform or radio station - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system using audio carrier for audience measurement, which mainly comprises a system end, a playing device, a receiving device, and a network server; wherein the system end is used to synchronously send a media signal and an audio carrier signal; the playing device is used to receive and play the media signal and the audio carrier signal sent by the system end; the receiving device is used to receive the audio carrier signal played by the playing unit and to record the time; and, the network server is used to receive the recording result from the processor of the receiving device. Thus, the present invention mainly utilizes adding a corresponding audio carrier signal onto a general medium signal, and uses the receiving device to receive the audio carrier signal and record the time, and then transmits the recording result to the network server for statistics of ratings.

Description

System and method for using audio carrier as a viewing survey

The present invention relates to a system and method for utilizing an audio carrier as a viewing survey, and more particularly to a situation in which an audio device such as a mobile phone receives the audio carrier to record a user's viewing of images, sounds, and/or other content, and is instantaneous or non-instant. Processing is passed to the web server for subsequent analysis of ratings.

In the past, the method of viewing surveys was usually conducted by using the telephone survey method and the viewing recorder survey method. The former is an interviewer who collects the interviewer's previous time by phone or visits the program currently inquired about the program, and then collects and analyzes the data to calculate the audience rating; the latter is in a randomly sampled family. The home TV is equipped with a viewing recorder, which automatically records the viewing situation every 24 hours a day, and then stores the data measured by the recorder, and transmits the data back through the telephone line at a fixed time every day. To the investigation company's computer room. Finally, after the calculation, you can know the ratings of a certain program at a certain time. Taiwan’s Nielsen Company calculates the ratings in Taiwan in the latter way.

The traditional telephone survey method cannot accurately record or know the actual viewing status of the respondent during the survey, and it is consumed when conducting the survey. The manpower and time costs are quite large. The information obtained is correct and is historical rather than immediate. The reference value is limited. The latter can clearly understand that the interviewee is watching programmes, advertisements and other information. The installation of recorders on television not only costs the installation and the cost of equipment, but also the accuracy of the sampling principle adopted. The survey households are stratified according to the current situation of the viewers and cannot be used for more users. Surveys also do not allow for immediate and temporary analysis of specific areas or objects. In addition, many emerging media such as Internet radio, Internet TV or video have emerged due to advances in technology. Their market share in viewing and listening has gradually increased. The traditional survey methods are indeed unable to respond. And the analysis of market conditions has formed a considerable dilemma.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for using an audio carrier as a viewing survey, which can accurately and instantly investigate and analyze the ratings or listening rates of various conventional wired, radio video channels, network audio and video platforms, or radio stations. Or even to investigate and analyze the viewing or listening of programs, advertisements, files or texts (such as e-books, web pages or text games, etc.) played on these platforms. Accordingly, any device or device capable of playing audio can be applied to the present invention.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a system for utilizing an audio carrier as a viewing survey, comprising: a system end for synchronously transmitting at least one media signal and at least one audio carrier signal; a playback device including a receiver and playing Unit, and the receiver is used to connect Receiving at least one media signal and at least one audio carrier signal sent by the system, and the playing unit is configured to play at least one media signal and at least one audio carrier signal; the receiving device comprises a radio component and a processor, and the radio component is used Receiving at least one audio carrier signal played by the playback unit, and the processor is configured to record the time at which the at least one audio carrier signal is received; and the network server, which is connected to the receiving device and receives the receiving device The result of the processor's record.

Accordingly, the present invention mainly uses a corresponding audio carrier signal to be attached to a general image and/or sound media signal, and receives the audio carrier signal by the receiving device and records the time, and transmits the recording result to the network servo. For the ratings of ratings.

Preferably, the audio frequency of the at least one audio carrier signal played by the playback device of the present invention is less than 20 Hz or greater than 20,000 Hz. In other words, the audio frequency of the audio carrier signal can be extremely low frequency or very high frequency that is inaudible to the human ear, and thus will not affect the quality of the user's viewing or listening.

Furthermore, the system end of the present invention can be used to synchronously transmit a plurality of media signals and their corresponding complex audio carrier signals, the complex audio carrier signals having different frequencies. Accordingly, the present invention can distinguish between different channels, different audio and video programs or different advertisements by different frequencies, so as to facilitate subsequent recording and integration.

In addition, the receiving apparatus of the present invention may further include a storage unit and a transmission unit; the processor converts the received at least one audio carrier signal into a specific mark, and records the specific mark and the time at which the at least one audio carrier signal is received in the storage. Unit: The transmission unit is used to record The specific tag recorded in the storage unit and the time when the at least one audio carrier signal is received are sent to the network server. In other words, the receiving apparatus of the present invention can convert an audio carrier signal into a specific mark, such as a character, a numerical value, or a symbol, etc., to represent a channel, a video program, or an advertisement of the audio carrier signal; and, the specific mark can be transmitted by the transmission unit. And the time to watch or listen to the web server.

Furthermore, the receiving device of the present invention may be a smart phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a remote controller, a dedicated device, or other electronic device to which the receiving device of the present invention is attached.

In another aspect, the playback device of the present invention can be at least one of a display device, a set-top box, or a broadcast radio having at least an audio playback function, and the receiving device can be integrated into the playback device. In other words, the playback device of the present invention may be a display device or a set-top box incorporating the receiving device.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a method for using an audio carrier as a viewing survey, which includes the following steps: a system side synchronously transmits at least one media signal and at least one audio carrier signal; and a receiver of a playback device receives the system end Transmitting the at least one media signal and the at least one audio carrier signal, and playing the at least one media signal and the at least one audio carrier signal through a playing unit; and receiving, by the receiving device, the at least one played by the playing unit An audio carrier signal, and recording, by a processor, a time at which the at least one audio carrier signal is received; and the receiving device is connected to a network server, and transmitting the record result of the processor of the receiving device to the network server.

Preferably, in the method of the present invention, the system end is used Simultaneously transmitting a plurality of media signals and corresponding multi-audio carrier signals, and the plurality of media signals are selectable from at least one of a plurality of channels, a plurality of images and/or sound programs, and a plurality of advertisements, and the plurality of audio carrier signals Can have different frequencies.

In addition, in the method of the present invention, after receiving, by the receiving device, at least one audio carrier signal played by the playing unit, the processor converts the received at least one audio carrier signal into a specific mark, and receives the specific mark and receives at least one The time of the audio carrier signal is recorded in a storage unit: the receiving device uses a transmission unit to transmit the specific mark recorded in the storage unit and the time when the at least one audio carrier signal is received to the network server. In other words, in the method provided by the present invention, the receiving device can record, count or even analyze the viewing status of the user, and periodically transmit the result to the network server.

In addition, in the method of the present invention, after receiving, by the receiving device, at least one audio carrier signal played by the playing unit, the processor may convert the received at least one audio carrier signal into a specific mark, and use a transmission unit to mark the specific mark, And when the time of receiving at least one audio carrier signal is sent to the network server. In other words, in the method provided by the present invention, the receiving device can directly transmit the user's viewing status to the network server.

1‧‧‧System side

2‧‧‧Players

21‧‧‧ Receiver

22‧‧‧Play unit

2A‧‧‧Display device

2B‧‧‧Set-top box

3‧‧‧ Receiving device

31‧‧‧ Radio components

32‧‧‧ processor

33‧‧‧ storage unit

34‧‧‧Transmission unit

4‧‧‧Web server

AF‧‧‧audio carrier signal

CH‧‧‧Specific mark

Vs‧‧‧ media signal

T‧‧‧ time

1 is a schematic view of a system of a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the system of the first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a storage unit of the receiving device in the first embodiment of the present invention Schematic diagram of the stored content.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Before the present invention is described in detail in the present embodiment, it is to be noted that in the following description, similar elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, the drawings of the present invention are merely illustrative, and are not necessarily drawn to scale, and all details are not necessarily shown in the drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for using the audio carrier as a system for viewing survey according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system for using the audio carrier as a system for viewing survey according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Block diagram. It should be noted that the following embodiments use wired or radio video channels as the subject of the survey, but the invention is not limited thereto, and all analogous or digital content can be applied to the present invention, and other broadcasts, for example, Listening rate of radio stations, viewing surveys of single programs or advertisements, viewing surveys of video and/or audio channels or files on the Internet, or even text content such as text broadcasts of ball games, browsing rates of e-books or web pages, etc. In short, the present invention can be applied to all media disseminated content and devices or devices that can play audio.

As shown in the figure, the embodiment mainly includes a system end 1, a playback device 2, a receiving device 3, and a network server 4. The system end 1 of the embodiment is a wired or radio video channel providing end. And synchronously transmitting a plurality of media signals Vs and their corresponding audio carrier signals AF. In other words, the system side 1 simultaneously transmits the media signals Vs of multiple channels and their pairs The audio carrier signal AF should be used, and the frequency of each audio carrier signal AF is different, thereby distinguishing different channels. Moreover, the audio frequency of each audio carrier signal AF in this embodiment is less than 20 Hz or greater than 20,000 Hz, and the extremely low frequency or extremely high frequency that the human ear cannot hear, so it will not affect the user's viewing or listening. quality.

On the other hand, the playback device 2 located at the user end receives the media signal Vs of the plurality of channels transmitted by the system terminal 1 and its corresponding audio carrier signal AF. The playback device 2 of the present embodiment is a general television set, which includes a receiver 21 and a playback unit 22. The receiver 21 is configured to receive the media signal Vs and the audio carrier signal AF, and play the media signal Vs through the playing unit 22. And an audio carrier signal AF; wherein the audio carrier signal AF is played through the speaker of the television.

Furthermore, as shown in the figure, there is a receiving device 3. In this embodiment, a smart phone is used, which has an application (APP) pre-installed, and the application (APP) can be set to be always on, timed on, or when needed. The application is manually opened by the user. Furthermore, the receiving device 3 includes a radio component 31, a processor 32, a storage unit 33, and a transmission unit 34. The radio component 31 is a radio microphone for receiving the audio carrier signal AF played by the playback unit 22.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which is a schematic diagram of the contents stored in the storage unit 33 of the receiving device 3 in the first embodiment of the present invention. When the application (APP) in the receiving device 3 is in the activated state, the sound pickup unit 31 will continuously receive the sound, and the processor 32 converts the received audio carrier signal AF into a specific mark CH, which is the channel in this embodiment. The code, as shown in FIG. 3, is the 24th channel.

Then, the processor 32 records the specific mark CH and the time T of receiving the audio carrier signal AF in the storage unit 33, that is, "20160623143058~20160623150020" as shown in FIG. 3, which indicates that the user watches the channel 24 The time is from 14:30:58 on June 23, 2016 to 15:00:20 on June 23, 2016.

Finally, the processor 32 transmits the specific mark CH and the time T recorded in the storage unit 33 to the network server 4 through the transmission unit 34, which can be sent after a statistical period of time, for example, daily transmission or Sent weekly. On the other hand, the network server 4 integrates the viewing records of all users and aggregates them into a rating statistics report.

In summary, the present embodiment utilizes an audio carrier signal for viewing a survey on a general media signal, and the user can perform a rating survey as long as the user is willing to open an application (APP) on the smart phone. However, the survey results of this method are extremely accurate, and can even be investigated and analyzed according to the preferences of users in different regions, different genders, different age groups, or different occupations, which can effectively solve the traditional methods of surveying people. Lack of high labor costs, inaccurate survey results, and insufficient coverage of survey respondents.

Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system for using the audio carrier as a system and method for viewing survey according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a second embodiment of a system and method for using the audio carrier as a viewing survey according to the present invention. System block diagram. The main difference between the second embodiment of the present invention and the first embodiment is that the receiving device 3 of the second embodiment is integrated into the playing device 2, and the user's viewing record is directly uploaded to the web server 4.

Further, as shown in the figure, the playback device 2 of the present embodiment includes a display device 2A and a set-top box 2B; wherein, the display device 2A is a general television set, and a set-top box 2B is widely used as a device for receiving and decoding audio and video signals. However, in the present embodiment, the receiving device 3 is integrated in the set top box 2B. In other words, when the display device 2A plays the media signal Vs and the audio carrier signal AF, the radio component 31 of the receiving device 3 in the set-top box 2B will receive the audio carrier signal AF, and the processor 32 converts the received audio carrier signal AF into one. The CH is specifically tagged, and a specific tag CH and the time T at which the audio carrier signal AF is received are instantaneously transmitted to the network server 4 by using a transmission unit 34.

Accordingly, the second embodiment is mainly used for presentation. The receiving device 3 of the present invention is not necessary for an independent electronic device, and may be integrated into the playback device 2, and is not recorded by the receiving device 3 at the user end. The user's viewing situation is necessary, and the user's viewing status can be directly notified to the web server 4, and submitted to the network server 4 for data collection and analysis and statistics.

The above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples for convenience of description, and the scope of the claims is intended to be limited to the above embodiments.

1‧‧‧System side

2‧‧‧Players

21‧‧‧ Receiver

22‧‧‧Play unit

3‧‧‧ Receiving device

31‧‧‧ Radio components

32‧‧‧ processor

33‧‧‧ storage unit

34‧‧‧Transmission unit

4‧‧‧Web server

AF‧‧‧audio carrier signal

Vs‧‧‧ media signal

Claims (10)

A system for utilizing an audio carrier as a viewing survey includes: a system end for synchronously transmitting at least one media signal and at least one audio carrier signal; a playback device including a receiver and a playback unit, the receiver being used for Receiving the at least one media signal and the at least one audio carrier signal sent by the system, the playing unit is configured to play the at least one media signal and the at least one audio carrier signal; the receiving device includes a radio component, and processing The receiving component is configured to receive the at least one audio carrier signal played by the playing unit, the processor is configured to record the time when the at least one audio carrier signal is received; and the network server, and The receiving device reaches a connection and receives a record of the processor of the receiving device. For example, the audio carrier of claim 1 is used as a system for viewing surveys, wherein the audio frequency of the at least one audio carrier signal played by the playback device is less than 20 Hz or greater than 20,000 Hz. For example, the system of claim 1 utilizes an audio carrier as a system for viewing surveys, wherein the system end is configured to synchronously transmit a plurality of media signals and corresponding multi-audio carrier signals, the complex audio carrier signals having different frequencies. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving device further comprises a storage unit and a transmission unit; the processor converts the received at least one audio carrier signal into a specific tag, and the a specific tag and receiving the at least one audio payload The time of the wave signal is recorded in the storage unit: the transmission unit is configured to send the specific mark recorded in the storage unit and the time when the at least one audio carrier signal is received to the network server. The system of claim 1 uses an audio carrier as a system for viewing surveys, wherein the receiving device is selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a remote controller, and a dedicated device. At least one. For example, the audio carrier of claim 1 is used as a system for viewing surveys, wherein the playback device is at least one of a display device and a set-top box, and the receiving device is integrated in the playback device. A method for using an audio carrier as a viewing survey includes the following steps: a system side synchronously transmits at least one media signal and at least one audio carrier signal; and a receiver of a playback device receives the at least one media signal sent by the system end And the at least one audio carrier signal, and playing the at least one media signal and the at least one audio carrier signal through a playing unit; and receiving, by the receiving device, the at least one audio carrier signal played by the playing unit, and transmitting through the processing The device records the time at which the at least one audio carrier signal is received; and the receiving device is connected to a network server and transmits the record result of the processor of the receiving device to the network server. The method of claim 7, wherein the system is used for synchronously transmitting a plurality of media signals and corresponding thereto. And a plurality of audio carrier signals, the plurality of media signals being selected from at least one of the group consisting of a plurality of channels, a plurality of video programs, a plurality of sound programs, and a plurality of advertisements, the plurality of audio carrier signals having different frequencies. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving device receives the at least one audio carrier signal played by the playing unit, and the processor converts the received at least one audio carrier signal into a specific Marking, and recording the specific mark and the time when the at least one audio carrier signal is received in a storage unit: the receiving device uses a transmission unit to record the specific mark recorded in the storage unit, and receive the at least The time of an audio carrier signal is sent to the network server. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving device receives the at least one audio carrier signal played by the playing unit, and the processor converts the received at least one audio carrier signal into a specific Marking, and using a transmission unit to immediately send the specific tag and the time when the at least one audio carrier signal is received to the network server.