BG64609B1 - Device for the collection of informartion about the viewers' interest in tv programmes - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the collection of information about the viewers' interest in TV programmes, which can be used in conjunction with any type of TV remote-controlled receivers. The device enables connection to a main frame , collecting and processing the information by a modem on the telephone line or by the return channel of the cable distribution network. When fitted close to a TV receiver, the device can be programmed to recognize the signals emitted by the TV remote control. Then every reswitching of a TV channel is registered in the memory of the device. The device is made using standard electronic units, integrated circuits, photoreceiver and a suitable software for controlling the microprocessor.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a device for collecting information about the viewers' interest in television programs, which can be used in conjunction with any type of remote controlled television sets and allows connection to a central computer collecting and processing information via a telephone modem or via the reverse channel of the cable distribution network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known devices (“peep meters”):

1. Implemented through specialized systems that take into account the frequency of the viewer's oscillator and send it to a central computer via a telephone line modem.

2. With a built-in TV converter, through which the viewer selects the desired television program, and the microprocessor device stores and sends, via telephone modem, the collected information about the viewer's interest in the television programs.

Known devices have the following disadvantages: devices of the first type require intervention in the television set of the viewer, which in most cases is undesirable by the viewer himself; the noise resistance of the system is not good in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields (mobile phones, local radio and television stations, etc.); for devices of the second type, the viewer is forced to work with the remote control of the converter and not that of his TV; the processing of the signal from the television converter creates a risk of deterioration of the quality of the program being watched; the addition of a converter complicates and increases the cost of the device, decreases its reliability and increases power consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a user-friendly device.

The viewer for television viewer interest consists of a universal reader, a microprocessor module with a memory and a clock, a specialized reader, a modem for sending the collected information and a power unit, which is programmed when placed near a television set. recognize the signals emitted by the TV's remote control and memorize them over time.

The device can forward the collected information to a central computer via a modem, both via telephone line and through a reverse channel of a cable distribution network.

Explanation of the annexed figures

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1, which is a block diagram.

An exemplary embodiment and application of the invention

The device is located close to the television set of the viewer and is being "trained" to recognize the signals emitted by the remote control of the television set.

The universal reader 1 receives the signals from each button on the television remote control and transmits them for processing to the microprocessor memory module and the clock 2.

Simultaneously or sequentially with the specialized remote control of the data acquisition device (FIG.

1), through the specialized reader 3, the information is entered into the microprocessor memory module and clock 2 that, by pressing button 1 of the TV remote control, the received signals correspond to the signal sequences of the button 1 of the specialized remote control.

Similarly, other functional buttons on the TV remote control of the viewer are entered and memorized.

After the "training" of the device for gathering information about the viewer's interest in television programs has been completed, the algorithm of action is as follows:

1. The viewer switches on the television receiver and selects the desired program with his remote control (DU).

2. The signals emitted by the DU are received from Unit 1 and compared by Unit 2 with those previously memorized through “training”.

3. The memory of 2 stores the astronomical time measured by the clock at each switch of the television channel.

4. On a program in a central computer at a certain time, through block 4, the collected information about the viewer's interest is "downloaded" and transmitted over the telephone line or the reverse channel of the cable network.

5. Power supply unit 5 provides the necessary voltages for the normal operation of all units and for maintaining the current time when the power supply fails.

The device has the following advantages: no intervention is required in the viewer's television set; the viewer changes the television programs with the remote control on his own receiver; the viewer watches television programs of the same quality as before the installation of the viewer for gathering information about the viewer's interest (without television converter); the device may transmit the collected information about the viewer's interest in the broadcast television programs, either by telephone line or via the reverse channel of a cable television network.

An exemplary embodiment is accomplished with standard electronic blocks and integrated circuits, a photodetector and appropriate microprocessor management software.

Claims (2)

Claims 1. A device for collecting information about viewers' interest in television programs, comprising a modem for transmitting the collected information (4) and a power unit (5), characterized in that it also comprises a universal reader (1), a microprocessor module with a memory and clock (2) and a dedicated reading device (3), recognizing the signals emitted by the TV remote control and memorizing them over time when programmed near a television set. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it can transmit the collected information to a central computer via the modem (4) both via telephone line and through the return channel of a cable distribution network.