CA1241735A - Television and market research data collection system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

TELEVISION AND MARKET RESEARCH
DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A remote data collection unit is provided at each of a plurality of panelist locations. The remote unit is adapted to be coupled to one or more television receivers or cable television converters.
The data collection unit monitors and stores infor-mation as to what TV mode is in use, identification of the TV viewing audience and events such as channel changes and the like. The data collection unit further includes means for optically scanning bar codes and the like and storing that information, which can be representative of product purchase information or panelist responses to market research surveys.
Substitute programming information may be supplied to selected panelist locations, as by transmission over an otherwise unused channel in a cable system along with control information. Information stored in data collection unit is periodically collected, either by interrogation of the data collection unit by a central computer, or by manual transfer of information to a portable data collector.

Description

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T~L~VI~I~N A~D ~AR~ET RE5~ARC~
~TA ~OI.LECTIO~ SYSTE~ AND ~IEl~OD

B~RGR~D OF TEE I~VENTION

The present invention relates to data storage and transmission systems and more particularly relates to monitoring systems for accumulating data at remote loca~ions and transmitting the data to a central location. More particularly, ~he presen~ invention relates to a 10 data collection system and method for collecting at remote panelist locations data relative to television viewin~ habit~ and preferences as well as product purch~ses and prefer2nces of a plurality of panelists, and transmitting the collected data to a 15 central location. In accordance with one embodiment of the prPsent invention, a data collection system is provided in which individual television receivers may be controlled from a central location to display ~ubstitute programming.
The prior art i5 replete with various systems and arrangements for monitoring viewins habits of television viewers. ~he earliest such ~ys~ems merely collected data on si~e for eventual manual collection as to the television channels 25 viewed and the times of viewing for various panels of viewers in order to determine market share and ratings oE various television programs. Later, ~ystems came into being for use with cable television systems with two way communications over 30 the cable system between the head end thereof ~nd various cable 3ubscribers. In Quch a system ~he television sets are typically interrogated periodically from this central location over the ~za~7 ;35 cable, with the channel selection and time ~nformation being qent ~ack to the central location and logged for s~ati~tical ompilation. 5uch systems have also been used in the past in so-called S pay television systems in which billing information is ~ent over the cable system to a central loca~ion from the various subscribers to the pay television system. The pri~r art also includes such systems in which a memory means is provided at the remote 10 location, i.e. at the television receiver, for accumulating data as to the channel being viewed and time. Th~ accumulated data is then periodically transmitted over conventional telephone line5 from the remote locations to the central location, by 15 telephone calls initiated by either the remote stations or the central location.
Systems for remotely accumula~ing data reqarding the habits of television viewers and their qualitative reaction to material ha~e today become 20 important ~rom the standpoint of market research.
For example, the effectiveness o~ television commercials can be monitored by correlating viewing of those commercials with subsequent purchase decisions made ~y panelists whose viewin~ habits are 2S being monitored. One manner of achieving this which has been utilized in the past is to have the cooperatin~ panelists keep a diary as to purchase of products. The purchase information recorded in ~ese diaries is then correlated with the 30 commercials viewed by those cooperating panelists.
In an alternative arrangement disclosed in the prior art, in areas where universal product code au~oma~ed check-outs are available, such as grocery store~ and the like, a panelist makes his or her purchasec and 3S at the check-out counter presents a card coded with 73~i a unique scanner panelist identiication similar to the univer~al product code symbol on the products purchased. The store's compu~er can au~omat;cally retain such purchase data for subsequent trans~er to 5 a market research company computer data base for correlation with the data regarding the various panelists viewing of commercials. Such arrangements of course require cooperation of stores within the area of the panelist locations, and are therefore 10 more suited for limited geographic groupings of panelists in a single locale or city, and are not readily applicable ~o a national assemblage of panelists extending across an entire country.
In market research rela~ing to commercials 15 and their e~fectiveness, it also is sometimes important ~o evaluate the effectiveness of al~ernative forms of a commercial. One way of achieving this in the context of a cable television sy~tem is to split the subscribers or panelists into 20 two or more groups, and then show the alternative forms of commercials to the respective groups of panelists. Correlation of product purchase information regarding those panelists with the forms of the commercials they viewed can then be used to 25 as~ess the effectiveness of the various alternative forms of the commercial. The prior art also includes examples of systems wherein certain portions of a viewing audience can be selected on a dynamic basis and furnished with substitute 30 programming. Such a system is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,639,686 to Walker et al. In accordance with that system, an auxiliary t~levision signal is broadcast which contain~ not only substitute programming, i.e. video signal 35 information, but also control information such as s pulse code information for remotely selecting panelists wnich are to receive the 3ubstitute programming. Digital address information i~
provided for e~ch of the paneli ts, and ~he portion 5 of the panelists which are to receive the substitute programming are selected by the pulse code information. The Walker et al patent notes that in selecting the panelists which are to receive the substitute progr~mming, the number of categories 10 available is dependent on the number of digital information bits tha~ are incorporated in the system. A later United States Patent No. 4,331,974 to Cogswell et al also disclo~es an arran~ement for selecting portions of a viewing audience on a 15 dynamic basis and furnishing those portions with substitute programming.
~ he present invention relates to an improved system and method which is of particular utility in market research type applications, but 20 which is not limited thereto.

OBJE~TS AND S~MMARY OP T~E INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for collectin~ at remote panelists locations data relative to ~hose 25 panelists, and transmitting the collected data to a central location.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a data collection system for collecting data relative to panelists t~levisiGn 30 viewing habits and preferences as well as market research data regarding panelists product purcha~s and preferences.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system and method in w~ich the remote locations are provided with ~e~ory for storing collected data, with collected data 5 being periodically transmitted to a central location over non-dedicated telephone lines.
It is still another object of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment, to provide such a system and method in which substitute 10 programming can be provided to selected of the panelists.
Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a remote data collection unit is provided at each of a plurality of panelist 15 locations. The remote unit is adapted to be coupled to one or more television receivers at each panelist location, or to one or more cable television converters in the context of a cable television system. The data collection unit includes a memory 20 and means for monitoring and storing information regarding which of a plurality of television m~des are in use, as well as viewer identification data.
~eans are provided to monitor and store events concerning television viewing, ~uch as channel 25 changes or the like. Further, the data collection unit includes means for optically scanning bar codes and the like and storing information regarding ~ame. Such bar codes and the like can be representative of product purchase information or 30 panelist responses to market research surveys and the like. In one embodiment, telephone communica-tion is periodically established between a central location and each of the remote units, and the contents of each data collection unit memory are 35 transmitted to the central location. Alternatively, ~2~7 ;35i a portable memory device can be taken to the loca-tion of each data collection unit to transfer the memory content thereof to a tape ~r disc or other storage device. In accordance with one embodiment 5 of the invention, du~ing telephone communicat-on between the central location and a remote unit, questionnaires can be downloaded from the central location to the memory of a remote data collection unit~ Such questionnaires can be clisplayed on a 10 television receiver coupled to the remote data collection unit, with means provided for a viewex or panelist registering answers to questions in the questionnaire, and the memory of the remote data collection unit storing the answers to the questions 15 for transmission to the central location at the next telephone communication therewith.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a viewer control is associated with each remote data collection unit. The viewer control 20 includes a television channel selector, which can be utilized not only in a normal mode for selecting channels but also to place the unit in a channel lock or a non-channel lock position. ~hen the data collection unit is in the channel lock position, the 25 television set ~ssociated therewith stays tuned to whatever channel was previously selected, but subsequent changes in the channel selector are ~tored in the data collection unit memory. This feature is useful for recording data relating to viewer response, individual viewer identification, responses to questionnaires and the like~
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, substitute programming information ~ay be supplied to each of the panelist locations, as by 35 transmission over an otherwise unused channel in a ~2~7~

cable system. Control information is also txansmitted along with the substitute programming, with the control information being utilized to select on a dynamic basis portions of the panelis~s 5 for receipt of substitute programming. The groups of panelists which are to receive the substitute programming information can be selected on a demographic bases or the like.
Other objects, advantages, and features of 10 the preBent invention will appear from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWI~GS

Fiqure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall system in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram illus~rating signal flow in accordance with the present 20 invention, Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating modification of a cable converter in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates the mode switches and data wand of a data collection unit in a~cordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 is a detailed block diagram of a data collection unit in accordance with the present invention.

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Figure S i5 a block diagram of the telephone block in~erface and master/slave coupling in accordance wi~h one ~mbodiment of the inven~ionO

Figure 7 is a logic flow diagram of the 5 main loop of a data collection uni~ in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 8 is another logic flow diagram or converter control in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 i5 a logic flow diagram of another subroutine in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 10 is a logic flow diagram for the data LED control subroutine of one embodiment of the present invention.

Pigure 11 is a logic flow diayram of a subroutine also relating to converter control.

Figure 12 is a logic flow diagram related to storing optically scanned data from a bar code reader in accordance with one embodiment of the 20 present invention.

Figure 13 is a logic flow diagram rela~ing to control of a time window for telephone communications in accordance wi~h one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14 is a logic flow diagram relating to the survey function of one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 15 is a logic flow diagram for a communication subroutine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 16 is a block diagram relatiny to an 5 aspect of the invention in which viewer identifi-cation prompts are overlayed on the television screen.

Figure 17 is a block diagram of an alter-nate embodiment of the present invention in which a 10 portable data collection device is used to retreive data from data collection units instead of telephone links.

D~TAIL~D D~SCRIPTION OF T~E PREF~RRED E~BDDIME~TS

The present invention relates to a data 15 ~athering system which includes a plurality of remote units which are controlled from a central location. Each of the remote units is attached to a television receiver which is generally but not necessarily attached to a cable system. Each of the 20 remote units ~unctions to determine which of ~everal TV modes i9 in use a~ well as to store TV channel selector data and data from an optical input device.
~11 this data i~ ~tored for later transmission by each o~ the remote units to a central data 25 collecting point. In accordance with some embodiments o~ the invention, a video message for a TV viewer can be transmitted from the central location and stored at the remote units, for later display on the TV set associated with the remote 30 units. ~urther embodiment of the inYention allow '7~3~

for substitution of alternate programminy infor-mation by the central control point on selected of the remote units.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a 5 block diagram of the overall system. In accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the sys~em is illustrated in the con~ext of a cable TV system; the inv~ntion is not necessarily limited thereto, however. In Figure 1 signals on normal television 10 channels are received by head end antennas 11 associated with a CATV head end control system 12.
The signals from the normal television channels can be mixed with videotape or film sources from auxiliary sources 13 and 14. In accordance with the 15 invention, a control source 16 is also provided for transmitting digital data from and under the control of a microcomputer 170 These will be discussed in more detail later.
All of these various signals are mixed in the CATV head end 12 and transmitted over a cable system, generally indicated by reference numeral 18.
Figure 1 illustrates one of the remote units of this system of this inventiont although it should be understood that a plurality of such remote ~5 units are provided, suitably situa~ed in homes of panelists or the like who have agreed to serve on panels. As shown in Figure 1, a cable converter 19 and a data collection unit 21 as provided in accordance with the present invention are both 30 coupled to the cable system 18. A normal television receiver 22 is coupled to the cable converter 19~
There is al50 interconnection for passage of control signals both ways between the data collection unit 21 and the cable converter 19. This is explained in 3~ ~ore detail later.

3~;

In accordance with ~he invention, the data collect~on unit ~1 contains a memoryt and stores data as to which of a plurality of TV modes are in use, which TV channel is being viewed, as well ~s 5 input from a suitable optical scanning device, which will be discussed in more detail la~er. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, other data can be collected by the data collection unit, such as viewer quali~ative rating 10 of programs and responses to survey questionnaires and the like.
The data collection unit 21 is interconnected to a telephone block 22, through which incoming and outgoing telephone calls are lS coupled to the panelist's home ~ith suitable wiring and the like interconnecting telephone receivers 23 in the panelist's home.
A central data collection point is provided for the system in accordance with this invention, which need not be the same central locat;on as the CATV head end 12. The central location is indicated in Figure 1 by the central computer 24. The central location can include an appropriate computer with modems and the like for making connection over the 25 swieched telephone network 25 to each of the remote locations. This is illustrated in Figure 1 by the connection between the switched telephone network 25 and the ~elephone block 22 for the particular remote location shown in Figure 1. Periodically, the 30 ceneral computer 24 "dial~-up" each of the remote locations, establishes appropriate telephone communications with each of the data collection units 21, and the data stored in each of the data collection units 21 is transmitted via the switched 35 telephone network 25 to the central computer 24.

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While in telephone comm~nication, in addition to extracting the stored data from the data collection unit 21, the central computer 24 can al50 download via the telephone lines data into each of the data 5 collection units 21, as discussed in more detail hereafter. ~lso as discussed in more detail hereafter, in accordance with one as~ect and embodiment of the invention, appropriate interconnections are provided in the telephone block 10 ~2 so that when a telephone call comes in from the central computer 240 the call is routed to the data collection unit 21, and does not activate the telephone receivers 23 in the panelist~s l~ome.
~eferring now to Figure 2, there i5 shown 15 an additional block diagram illustrating ~ignal paths between the data collection unit 21, the cable converter 19, and a television receiver 22~
Referring to Figure 2, the data collection unit 21 includes an electronics portion 26 and a switching portion 27. The switching portion 27 consists of a number of switches, five in the embodiment ~hown in Figure 2, for selecting which of a v~riety of TV
modes are to be utilized. Thus, for example in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the inputs to the 25 switching portion 27 are the normal TV signal from a cable or antenna~ along with an interconnection to a computer, i.e. home computer, a VCR, and a game.
Depression of one of the five pushbuttons in the switching portion by a viewer or panelist selects 30 one or the other of these TV modes. A TV mode ~ignal corresponding to and indicative of one o~
these TV modes is stored in the data collect;on unit electronics section 26. As was briefly discu~sed in connection with the block diagram of Figure 1, in 35 accordance with one embodiment of the invention text information, such as survey questionnaires and the like, can be downloaded from a central location over the telephone lines and stored in the data collection unit electronics 26. Selection of a 5 "survey" function by the panelists, actuates this TV
mode and video text information is coupled through the corresponding switch in the switching portion 27 and coupled over RF signal line 28 to the input of ~he cable converter 19. The output of the cable 10 converter 19 is of course suitably connected to the television receiver 22.
In accordance with the present invention, control inormation is coupled both ways between the cable converter 19 and the data collection unit 15 26. In fact, in accordance with the present invention, and as described more fully hereinafter, it is the data collection unit electronics 26 which controls the television program material displayed on the television receiver 22, rather than the cable converter 19.
Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a typical example of the way in which cable converters are modified in accordance with the present invention ~or application of the present invention ~s thareto. Cable converters typically include a microprocesso2 section illustrated in Figure 3 by reerence numeral 29 and a tuning section illus~rated in Figure 3 by reference numeral 31. For example, in an exemplary arrangement, a ribbon cable is 30 normally supplied connecting the microprocessor board 29 to the tuning section 31. Typically, the micro-processor section controls a digital display and television receiver commands are received from a front panel on the cable converter, or a remote 73~
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control as well know in the art. The microprocessor section sends commands to the tuning section via the ribbon cable normally connecting the two. In accordance with the present invention, the ribbon 5 cable from the microprocessor board or section i5 interrupted and is connected to the data collection unit 21. The commands and the like from the microprocessor section 29 are interpreted by the data collection unit 21, which then in turn controls 10 selection of a channel by the tuning section or board 31. As discussed more fully hereaft2r, the data collection unit 21 will normally cause the tuning section 31 to select and display whatever channel was indicated in the command information 15 from the microprocessor section 29. ~owever, when the present invention is in a substitute programming function, the data collection unit 21 will or can substitute programming, i.e. select a channel for display other than the channel indicated by the 20 commands from the microprocessor board 29, for display at the television receiver. Also, the interconnection between the data collection unit 21 and the cable converter enables the data collection unit 21 to store information as to the channel being 25 viewed and at what times, etc.
Turning now to Fiyure 4, there is shown a representa~ion of the physical appearance of the data collection unit 21 in accordance with the present invention~ The uni~ is preferably 3n dimensioned such that a cable converter, such as the Teknika 6401 converter will sit right on top o the data collection unit. As illustrated in Figur~ 4, five TV mode selector switches are provided in the form of pushbutton switches. These correspond to 35 TV, game, computer, VCR, and survey. As mentioned 7~5i previously, in accordance with one aspect of the invention survey questionnaires and the like can be downloaded ~rom the central location over the telephone lines to memory in the data collection 5 unit. Selection of the survey pushbutton swit~h in the data collection unit will then cause the survey questionnaire to be displayed on the television screen a~ the viewer's or panelist's convenience, for recording of answers to the questionnaire by the 10 panelists. The manner in which these responses to the questionnaires are registered and stored is discussed hereinafter. ~owever, as illustrated in Figure 4, a ligh~ emittinq diode 32 is provided on the front panel of the data collection unit in o 15 association with the ~urvey pushbutton. When survey questionnaires are contained in the memory of the data collection unit and have not been responded ~o by the panelists, the light emitting diode 32 is lit in a ~anner discussed hereafter, so as to inform the 20 panelists that there is an unanswered questionnaire. An additional data light emitting diode 33 is provided on the front panel of the data collection unit and provides urther communication with a panelist, as discussed in detail hereafter.
Also shown in Figure 4 is a receptacle 34 provided in the front panel of the data collection unit. The receptacle 34 is adapted to receive a data wand 35, and an additional light emtting diode 36 is provided on the front panel of the data 30 collection unit for displaying indications relative to the data wand. The data wand 35 is an optical scanning device which contains its own internal memory. The data wand 35 can be used for sc~nning bar codes, such as the UPC codes ~ound on products, 35 and storing information relative to those bar codes. The data stored within the data wand 35 can be periodically transmitted to memory within the data collection unit, by inserting the data wand 35 into the receptacle 34~
A suitable example of an optical scanninq device 35 for recording bar codes is that manu factured ~y MSI Corporation and sold under the trademark "DATA ~AND." The MSI da~a wand is available with an R5-232C-type standard interface, 10 which is incorporated into the data collection unit 21 in accordance with the present invention. This interface allows connection to the computer and memory provided in the data collection unit, as discussed more fully hereafter.
Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a functional block diagram of a data collection unit in accordance with the present invention. The heart of the data collection unit is a microprocessor 37 and suitable programming for the microprocessor is 20 contained in a ROM 38. Details of the programming are discu3sed hereafter. A RAM 39 is also provided ~or storing event information such as channel selection, TV mode selection, data read by the optical scanner 35 and the like. A clock 40 is also provided to run the microprocessor 37, with the clock 40 also functioning to maintain a time of day indication for recording times in connection with events in the RAM 39. The RAM 39 typically is provided with 32k bytes storage. Also typically, 8k 30 bytes of ROM is provided.
The data collection unit contains a ~erial line driver 41, which is appropriately sel~cted to be one of those available which has a programmable baud rate. This serial line driver 41 is connected 35 via a multiplexer 42 to a variety of interfaces.

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First, a wand interface 43 is provided for acceptin~
data from the optical scanner 35O As discu~ed previously, the wand interface provided with the MSI
data wand has a s~an~ard RS~232 output at a 1200 S baud rate. Ano~her input to the multiplexer 42 is a modem 44 contained within the da~a collec~ion unit. The modem 44 is a Bell 202 compatible, half duplex modem with an au~o ~nswer capability. This modem 44 is coupled to the telephone block interface 10 22, which is described in more detail hereafter.
The data transfer rate via the modem 44 is also 1200 baud.
The data collection unit also contains a receive only interface, shown as simplex receiver 45 15 in Figure 5 which receives an input from the cable system. This simplex channel uses an FM carrier on the cable and originates as a broadcast ~rom the CATV head end. As more fully discussed hereafter in connection with a discussion of the substitute 20 proqramming aspect of this invention, certain control information is transmitted to the remote data collection units via this cable simplex channel. The transmission speed of this channel in accordance wi~h one embodiment is 9600 baud.
~5 A master/slave communication block 46 is shown in Figure 5 as coupled to the telephone block intexface 22. This master~slave communication block is only applicable where a plurality of television sets are provided in one panelist's home. The 30 specific functioning of the master/slave relationship is described hereafter in connection with Figure 6.
A parallel interface 47 is provided Eor providing the interface between the data collection 35 unit and the cable converter. Thus the inputs and ~2~

outputs of this parallel interace are from ~he microprocessor in the cable converter and to the ~uning section of th~ cable converter (see ~igure 3).
A parallel interface 48 is also provided for decoding the mode or function selec~ switches provided on ~he front panel of the data collection unit (see Figure 4) and for controlling the three light emitting diodes 32, 33 and 36 on the front 10 panel of the data collection unit.
A video interface 49 is provided for providing video output information to the television receiver through the cable converter to display ~urvey questionnaires and the like on the television 15 receiver when the survey mode is selected. As mentioned previously, in accordanc~ with one aspect of this invention survey questionnaires can be downloaded over the telephone lines from the central location to the remote units while they are in 20 telephone communication. The survey questionnaires aFe stored in RAM 39 and light emitting diode 32 is lit on the front panel of the da~a collection unit to inform the panelists that there is an unanswered questionnaire. When the panelist selects the survey 25 function, the video interface 49 produces a composite video signal for display on the ~elevision receiver to display the questions in the questionnaire.
A battery 50 is also shown in the functional block diagram of Figure 5. Although normal power connection for powering the data collection units is via the normal household power supply, a battery backup can be provided to en~ure that the data collection unit remains powered up during any temporary power outages at the panelist's home, so as not to lose current time of day information in the clock 40 or any of the data stored in ~he RAM 39.
All of the circuitry functionally 5 illustrated in the block diagram of Figure 5, with the exception of the master slave ommunications 96 and the telephone block interface 22, can be any appropriate integrated circuits or the like which are available on the market for the functions 10 indicated.
An important aspec~ of the data collection unit in accordance with the presen~ invention is its interface to the cable converter. Specifically, it is the data collection unit itself which controls 15 the tuning of the cable converter. The viewer or panelist appears to control the cable converter normally, but the signals are actually intercepted by the data collection unit and it is the data collection unit that commands the tuning of the ~0 converter, as has been described above in connection with Figures 2 and 3. During most television viewing activity, the data collection unit will command the ~uner to select the same channel that the viewer has selected. ~owever, when in func~ions which are 25 described as "Channel-~ock" and during "Dynamic Allocation", the data collection unit will select channels other than the one being displayed.
Channel Lock is a data collection unit unction in which the cable converter remains locked 34 on one channel regardless of the activity orcurring with the converter control and the channel number being digitally displayed on the cable converter.
Channel Lock is entered by selecting an unoccupied converter channel, such as channel 35. When the 3sdata collection unit decodes channel 35, it will freeze the converter on the channel previously selected and illuminate ligh~ emit~ing diode 33 sn the front panel of the data collection unit S~ee Figure 4~. The viewer or panelist can now u~e the S converter control to display any channel numbe~ on the converter without changing the channel being viewed. The data collection unit will collect events, as in the normal viewing mode, including storing the ~ubse~uent channels selec~ed during the 10 Channel Lock condition as events. Each time the data collection unit collects events the light emitting diode 33 will be blinked off, corresponding to an indication that an event has been captured by the data collection unit. This Channel Lock feature 15 is useful from a number of standpoints. For example, when in a Channel Lock condition the viewer could select various channels for entry as events with the various channel numbers ~elected correspondin~ to the viewers qualitative reaction to 20 programming. As another example, a particular channel number could be entered while in the Channel ~ock condition which corresponds to the identifica-tion of particular individuals who are viewing the program within the household. ~ particular 25 embodiment of identifying viewers is described hereafter in connection with Figure 16. Likewise, selection of channel numbers while in a Channel Lock condition is useful in connection with responding to survey questionnaires and the like, which is ~0 described more fully laterO A key feature of the present invention is that entry of such qualitative viewer reaction data and the like i8 achieved while being abl~ to use the normal channel selector associated with the cable converter, rather than any 35 kind of separate key pad or other data entry 73~i device. The "Channel-Lock" condition is exited by sPlecting an unoccupied converter channel, such as 36, at which time ~he light emitting diode 33 iB
extinguished and normal tuning of the converter is 5 resumed.
As has been previously described, the select switches or mode switches provided on the front panel of the data collection unit ~see Fi~ure 4) allows the viewer to select one of a number of 1~ alternate signal sources. For example, these possible alternative signal sources are TV (either cable or air~, VCR, game, computer and survey. The switches as shown in Figure 2 ~elect one of the signal sources and route it to the input of the 15 cable conver~er. ~he data collection unit monitors ~he switch selection and controls the converter tuning accordingly. If TV viewing is 3electedp then normal converter operation is enabled. If one of the other four sources are selected, the data 20 collection unit will record an event and tune the converter to the appropriate channel to tune the signals which are selected. For example, the game and VCR output may be on channel 3, while the computer output is on channel lOo These are 25 specific parameters that can be adjusted with respect to any particular installation.
Dynamic allocation i5 a term used to describe the concept of blind or invisible channel substitution. As described earlier, United States 30 Patent No. 3,639,686 to Walker et al relates to such a dynamic allocation or substitute programming kind of ~ystem. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a substitute programming arrangement in accordance with the principles of the 35 Walker et al patent is incorporated. Basically, the ~2~ 1~735i dynamic allocation process i5 one in which one or more channels in selected households are substi~uted with another test channel by the data collection unit.
The materials substituted usually are commercials, for purposes of market research with respect to the efficacy of commercials. In practice, a set of subs~itute commercial cut-ins are scheduled each day. For example, each cut-in can be 10 assigned a two digit number. For each cut-in, a channel remap table is loaded into the data collection unit. The remap tables are simple and consist, for example, of one or more channel numbers and the channel they are to be remapped to. At any 15 given time, the memory in the data collection unit can hold a number of such remap tables. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the remap tables are downloaded over the cable channel and received by the simplex receiver 45 (Figure 5).
Each data collection unit has an identification number. There can either be unique identification numbers ~or each data collection unit corresponding to each panelist location, or panelists can be grouped in accordance with 25 demographic considerations and assigned a common identification number. Identifica~ion numbers for each data control unit can be downloaded to the unit from the central location during telephone communications be~ween same.
Since the messages transmitted on the simplex channel over the cable are received by all data collection units, they must be addressed to particular data collection units or ~roups of data collection units and be appropriately formatted with 35 message delimiters and the data collection unit 3~

iden~ificatiQn numbers~ As discussed above, the dynamic alloca~ion remap tables are downloaded over ~he cable channel and received by the simple~
receiver 45 a~ each of the data collection units.
These remap ~ables are s~ored in RAM 39. A remap table is enabled, during the cut-in, by continually transmitting the cut-in number down the cable to the simplex communica~ion channel~ Whenever a data collection unit receives a cut-in number, the 10 particular remap table is enabled for some predetermined time, i.e. 0~5 seconds. When the remap table is enabled for a particular data collection unit, the data collection unit automatically provides substitute programming a~
15 indic~ted by the remap table to the television receiver of the panelist. This alternate programming is transmitted from the cable head and do~n channels normally not used for entertainment.
This dynamic allocation feature facili~ates 20 market research. By displaying alternate forms of a coMmercial to different groups of panelists, and correlating tha~ display both with the demographic data concerning the panelists and the product purchases by the panelists, the efficacy of the 25 commercials can be evaluated.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention correlation of panelist viewing activity as to commercials and the like with product purchases made by the panelist has been greatly 30 facilitated. The earliest market research techniques relied upon a panelist filling out a purchase diary or the like with this information then being manually collected by the market re~earch organization for correlation with viewing activity 35 of that particular panelist. Systems have been ~2~3~;

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proposed in which viewing activity of a paneli3t iB
correlated with product purchase informati~n with respect to that panelist by monitoring at stores within a limited geographic area surrounding the 5 panelists the product purchase information with respect to that panelist. Specifically, each panelist has an identification card presented at a grocery store at the like which uses check out coun~ers having the facility for optically reading 10 universal produc~ codes on products. When the panelist makes purchases, the identification of that panelist is seanned into the computer at the store, along wi~h ~he product purchase information with respect to that panelist. This information is 15 either coupled from the store' 5 computers to the market research organization, or collected at a later time from the stores by the market research organization.
For certain market research activities, it 20 might be desirable to have a national group of panelists, spread acro~s the geographic extent of the United States or whatever other country that is the subject ~f the market research. For such an arrangement, it would not really be feasible for the 25 market research organization to have arrangements with and be tied into the computers of stores spread ~11 across the country. Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, collection o~ information regarding product purchases by a 30 panelist has been greatly facil;tated.
As described in connection with Figure 4, the data collection unit in accordance with this one aspect is equipped with an optical scanner, one suitable example of which is a product known as the 35 ~SI data wand. ~his is a hand held device that contains an internal memory and can be used f~r scanning bar codes, ~uch as universal product codes, con~ained on products purchased by a panelist.
Thus, in accordance wi~h this one aspect of ~he 5 present invention, product purchase information with respect to a particular panelist is easily collected by the panelist simply scanning the data wand over the universal product codes on the products purchased by the panelist. The MSI data wand has an 10 internal memory which can store approximately 4,000 diqits. This memory is of a sufficient extent to store the product code and a price for about 300 items, which should be adequate for recording the daily purchases for a household. After scanning 15 products with the data wand, the data wand can be inserted into the receptacle in the front panel of the data collection unit and the memory contents of the data wand transferred to memory within the data colleotion unit. As explained previously, the MSI
20 data wand can be obtained with an RS-232 interface for this purpose, which interface is incorporated within the data collection unit. The procedure for transferring the data wand information into the data collection unit is as follows. The panelist turns 25 on the cable converter, enters the channel lock condition, and then selects an unu~ed channel, such as 34, which is programmed to instruct the data collection unit to monitor the interface with the data wand. The panelist then scans the data wand 30 over a special code that is provided with the data wand which instructs the data wand to transmit data.
The data wand is then inserted into the holder or receptacle within the data collection unit. After ~he data has been received and verified by the data 35 collection unit, the light emitting diode 36 (see 7;3~

Figure 4) provided on the front panel of the data collection unit will blink off and on for fiv2 seconds, so as to inform the panelist that the operation has been successfully completed. Then, 5 the panelist extracts the wand ~rom the data collection unit, clears the wand memory in accordance with features provided in the data wand, and reinserts the data wand into the data collection unit for storage in the receptacle~
Subsequently, when telephone communication is established between the central location and the individual data collection units t the various panelists homes, the stored product purchase information with respect to the various panelists is 15 transferred from memory of the data collection unit to the central location. This greatly facilitates collection of such product purchase data with respect to individual panelists, and correspondingly facilitates correlation thereof with viewing 20 activity oP those panelist~. Using such an arranyement, a nationwide yroup of panelists scattered over a wi~e geographic area i~ practical.
As has been previously mentioned, when a particular data collection unit is in contact with the central location, a survey guestionnaire or the like may be downloaded over the telephone lines into memory of the data collection unit. Whenever the data collection unit contains an unanswered questionnaire, the data collection unit will 30 illuminate the survey light emitting diode 32 on the front panel of the data collection unit so as to inform a panelist that the data collection unit contains a survey which has not been answered.
Anytime that this light emitting diode 32 is 35 illuminated, the panelist may elect to turn on the television and depress the survey select mode select switch on the front panel of the data collec~ion unit. The data collection uni~ will detect depression of the survey select switch, illuminate 5 the da~a light emitting diode 33, tune the cable converter to the appropriate channel, and output the first question to the television through the video interface 49 (Figure s). The converter is automatisally placed in a channel lock condition at 1~ thi~ time by the data collection unit. The viewer can thus use the converter control or channel selector to enter channel numbers to answer whatever questions are presented in the questionnaire. For example, a questionnaire might ask a question and 15 give five possible responses~ with a number ~eside each of the possible responses. The panelist enters a channel number corresponding to the number adjacent the answer the panelist is giving to the question. When all the questions have been answered by the panelist, the data light emitting diode 33 on the front panel of the data collection unit will be extinquished. When the panelist then depresses another mode select switch, the survey light emitting diode 3~ will also be extinguished.
As has been described previously, the trans~er of data from the remote data collection units to the central location is achieved in one embodiment by telephone communications over the switched telephone network between the central 30location in each o~ the various remote units. ~lso, situations arise in which there is more than o~e television receiver within a single panelist'~ home, and qome means is necessary to collect viewer data and the like with respect to each of the television 3Ssets, and store and communicate that data to the 12~1~35 central location at an appropriate time. Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown one embodiment of the invention which illustrates the manner of effecting telephone communications from a remote 5 location or panelist's home to the central location, and also the situation in which there is more than one television receiver in a single panelist's home which have to be monitored.
Referring now to Figure 6, there i~
10 illustrated a telephone block generally indicated by reference numeral 55. At each building or house there is a point at which telephone service enters the building which is referred to as the telephone "block." This block includes terminals for the 15 telephone lines 56 and 57 and may also contain several other devices to protect telephone line service, such as lightening arresters and voltage limiters (not shown). Typically, the telephone block also contains a low voltage transformer 20 indicated by reference numeral 58 which is used to supply lighting power to the telephone. In accordance with standard color coding, the telephone lines 56 and 57 are respectively green and red and extend to a number of telephone jacks, two of which 25 59 and 60 are illustrated in Figure 6. Two signal lines 61 and 62 from the low voltage transformer 58 also extend to the various telephone jacks and are color coded yellow and black, respectively.
In accordance with the present invention, a 30 telephone block interface 22 is provided at the point of the telephone block within a building.
This telephone block 22 is interfaced to the telephone lines 56 and 57 as well as the low voltage power lines 51 and 62. Low voltage from the 35 transformer 68 is used to supply power via a power 7~5;

supply 63 to a tone detector 54. This tone detec~or ~4 is a low energy detector u~ed to detect the presence of a control tone, for example a 15Dg~z signal which can be imposed on the low voltage lines 5 61 and 62, in a manner discussed hereafter. Thus the tone detector 64 is connected to the power lines 61 and 62 via coupling capacitors 65 and 66. The tone detector 54 is coupled to and controls a relay 67 which is actuated between the position shown in 10 Figure 6, wherein the telephone lines 56 and 57 are not interrupted, to a position where the telephone lines 56 and 57 are coupled through a load resistor 68 and capacitors 69 and 70.
In Figure 6 there is shown a master data 15 collection unit 71 which is typically connected to a television receiver 72. Provided as part of the master data collection unit 71 is a modem 73, which as discussed previously can be a standard kind of modemr such as an auto-answer Bell 202 modem. This is a 1200 ~aud, half~duplex device. The modem 73 in accordance with this invention is also connected to a telephone jack, for connection to the telephone lines 56 and 57.
A tone generator-encoder 74 is coupled to the master data collection unit 71 and through a resistor 75 to one of the power lines 61 and 52.
Similarly, a tone decoder 76 i5 also coupled through a load resi~tor 77 to one of the signal lines 61 and 62 and throu~h an amplifier 7a to the master data collection unit 71.
In operation, the master data collection unit 71 will enable the modem 73 for a limited period of time or ~Iwindow~ each day. Typically, a call-in window of a two hour duration will be opened once per day at a time when the telephone system i5 normally not in use, i.e. ~-S a,m, in the morning.
During this time window, the master data collection unit 71 will answer each incoming telephone eall, and quickly determine if the call originate~ ~rom 5 the central location. The manner in which thi~ i5 done is as follows.
During ~he call in window, a ring signal occurring at the telephone block 55 is a siqnal of about 45 volts at 25Hz. This is impressed across 10 the telephone signal lines 56 and 57, and would normally cause telephone sets connected to the telephone service to ring. ~owever, the master data collection unit 71 samples the first half cycle of any incoming signal during the call in window for 15 voltage and pulse duration. If the microprocessor within the master data collection unit 71 determine~
the signal is a ring signal, the tone generator encoder 74 is caused by the data collection unit 71 to impress a 150KHz tone on the low voltage lines 61 and 62. In response to this tone, the tone detector 64 actuates the relay 67. With the relay 67 actuated, the remainder of the ring Qignal is absorbed by the load resistor 68. Since load resistor 68 is sufficiently low in value to indicate 25 to the telephone system that a connect has been made, there will be no further rings..
The modem 73 is a standard telephone modem well known to those skilled in the art. This modem is caused by the microprocessor within the master data collection unit 71 to send a two to four second tone, such as a 380Hz side tone, back to the callin~
source via the telephone lines 56 and 57 and the coupling capacitors 69 and 70. If the calling source is in fact the computer at the central 35 location, the computer at the central location will 735i respond with an answering tone, and two way computer-to-computer conversation will be established. If, on the other hand, there is no answering tone from the source of the telephone 5 call, indicative that the calling party is nvt the central location computer, the data collection unit 71 removes the 150KHz carrier tone on the low voltage leads Sl and 62, causing a disconnect.
If the call coming in during the call in 10 window is in fact not the central computer, but a normal telephone caller, ~he ~elephone caller would hear the side tone and the disconnect, and a dial tone would be returned. If such a call comes in and a disconnect oecurs, the data collection unit 71 is 15 programmed to disable the tone generator encoder 74 for a predetermined period of time, such as twenty minutes. Thus, any calls coming in durin~ this next predetermined time period of twenty minutes or the like would cause normal telephone ringing. The 20 caller, having been disconnected, would then be able to dial his call again, this time with success.
Inasmuch as the se~uence of events occurs outside of normal telephone usage hours, it is not believed that such a sequence of events represent any serious impairment to normal telephone usage.
If it is determined that the calling source is the central ~omputer, so that computer-to-computer communication is established, upon establishment of that communication the central 30 computer, under appropriate programming, calls on the master data collection unit for the information stored during the day. Upon receiviny this information, the central location may cause ~ new program to be loaded into the data collection unit 35 71 memory, such as a questionnaire or the like as :~2~ ~73~

discussed previously. If the master data collection unit 71 is the only data collection unit to be communicated with by the centra] location, the central computer upon completion of receiving the S stored in~rmation and loading any new program information into the mas~er data collection unit 71 simply disconnec~s, and all circuits return to normal.
Referrinq to Figure 6, one embodiment of 10 the invention is also illustrated in which ~here are multiple television receivers within a single panelist' 5 home which must be monitored. As illustrated in Figure 6, two additional telPvision receivers 81 and 83 might exist in a panelist's 15 home, and slave data collection units ~0 and R2 are associated therewith as illustrated in Figure 6.
These slave data collection units 80 and 82 are coupled to the low voltage lines 61 and 62. Thus, the slave data collection units can be connected to 20 any of the various telephone jacks within the panelist's house, and coupling ~o the master data collection unit and the other circuitry iQ by means of the existing telephone wiring within the household. In accordance with one embodiment of the ~5 invention, all signals received from the centr21 location via the modem 73 are sent first to the master data collection unit 71, then echoed via the tone generator 74 to the signal lines 61 and 62 so that the slave data collection units 80 an~ 8 30 receive the incoming data. Tone ~enerator 74 generates a multiplicity of tones to keep the relay 67 closed, plus an additional variable fre~uency tone representing the data beinq transmittcd. These tones ranqe, for example, from a lSOK~z to 350K~z 35 and are impressed as carrier currents on the signal ~2~

lines 61 and 62. Each of the slave data collection units contains a microproce~sor and would require a tone generator and tone decoder similar ~o the tone generator 74 and tone decoder 76, but would not 5 require any separate modem. Each of the slave data coll~ction units receives ~he identical data to the master data collection unit 71. By addressing ~he data stream~ the slave data collection units can be caused to act independently. When a slave data 1~ collection unit is ~alled upon to respond, so as to transmit data stored in ~he slave data collection units the carrier current signal impressed on the low volta~e lines 61 and 62 reverses direction, the tone decoder 76 receives the signal from the slave 15 data collection unit, decodes it into standard data which ls then echoed by the master data collection unit 71 through the modem 73 to the central location.
In the manner described above~ each of the 20 data collection units, which are coupled together via the exi~ting telephone wiring in a panelist 1 9 home, receives all o the incoming information from the central location, and can be caused to respond independently to transmit data stored in each of the ~5 data collection units back to ~he ~elephone lines to the central location. Of course, other variations are possible. For example, at a preset programmed time programmed into the microproces~or of the master data collection unit 71, the master data 30 collection unit can poll each of the slave data collection units by carrier current over the low voltage telephone wiring 61 and 62 to collect the available data at each of the slave data collection units, addressing each of these slave data 35 collection units seriatum by code as necessary.

~2~ ~7~

Thus, all of the data from all of the various data collection uni~s within a panelist~s home would be stored in ~he master data collection unit. ~hen, upon contact of the master data collection unit 71 with the central location, the central location would obtain the data by simply contacting the master data collection unit. Similarly, the central location would load the master data collection unit with any new programs, such as questionnaires and 10 ~he like, which are to be stored in memory at the various data collection units. Then, when the central location disconnected the telephone connection with the master data collectivn unit 71, the master data collection unit can then relay the 15 new programs to the slave data collection units, addressing each by code as necessary.
Thus, in accordance with the above described arrangement and as illustrated in Figure 6, a plurality of data collection units can be 20 provided within a single panelist's home associated with a respective different plurality of television receivers, for monitoring each of the television receivers in the same fashion as a single data collection unit is provided to monitor one single ~5 television receiver. ~lthough the various slave data collection units have been shown as coupled to the master data collection unit through the existing telephone wiring in a panelist's home, it should be clear that exis~ing power wiring within a panelist's 30 home can al50 be used for the same function. That is, carrier ~ignals can be impressed upon the power wiring within a panelist's home for transferring data to and from Yarious slave data collection units to the master data collection unit. Of course, as a 35 further alternative, dedicated wiring could be installed in a panelist's home for connectlng the variQus slave data collection units to the ma~ter dat~ collection unit.
Turning no~ to Figure 7, there is ~hown a 5 logic flow diagram for the software controlling the m~in loop (ML) of the microprocessor within the data control unit. ~he first decision block is as to whether or not there is a cut-in message present. It will be recalled as discussed previously ~hat remap 10 tables for aehieving dynamic allocation or substitu~e programming are ~tored in the memory o the data collection units and are enabled by transmission of a cut-in num~er down the cable. If there is a cut-in message present, ~he cut-in 15 activation event is logged, and all flags in the system are cleared. If there is no cut-in message present, then the logic flow is to the next decision block as to whether or not the channel lock is on.
If the channel lock is on, the next decision block 20 is to whether or not a data wand start condition exists. If a data wand start condition exists, the logic flow is jump subroutine (JSR) to data wand read module. The no conditions to the decision block for the channel lock on and data wand start ~S lead to a decision block as to whether or not connection to central site is established. If it i~, the next block is a jump subroutine (J~R) to col~munication module. If connection to central cite ~s not established, then ~he next decision block is to whether or not the clock is advanced to the nex~
second. If it is not advanced to the next second, the logic flow is back to the upper portion of the main loop (ML). If the clock i~ advanced to ~he next second, the next decision block is to ~hether 35 or not the converter is on. If the converter is on, ~2~

the logic flow progresses to a main loop 1 tMLl)o If the converter is not on, the next decision block is to whether or not the conver~er was on. If i~
was not, the logic ~low is back ~hrough the main 5 10QP ML. I~ the converter was on, then the next decision block is to log an off event, and turn off the data light emitting diode (light emitting diode 33 in Figure 4). The timing of the lower portion of ~he logic flow diagram indicated in Figure 7 i,e. as 10 to whether the converter is on, is executed once per second in accordance with the programming. Vther aspects of subroutines, such as the converter control subroutine discussed hereafter, are interrupt driven and operate asynchronously to the 15 ~ottom portion of the ML loop in Pigure 7.
Components of the data collection unit system which are interrupt driven pass flags and values to this main loop ML for logging and dispatching.
Turning now to Figure 8, there is shown the 20 logic flow diagram for the main loop 1 (MLl)~ This loop is entered when the logic flow in Figure 7 has a yes decision as to whether or not the converter is on. The first decision block in the loop MLl is to whether or not the converter was off. If the conver~er was off, an on event is logged, and the blink flag is set (which as discussed later causes the data light emitting diode to blink). If there i5 a no decision to the logic block as to whether the converter was off, the logic flow is to the 30 decision block as to whether or not there is a change in the select switches. If there is, an event is logged and the logic flow passes to a decision block as to whether or not a non-TV
position i5 selected. If the decision is yes, the 35 appropriate output channel is ~et on the converter for whatever position is selected, i.e. computer, VCR, etc. The next decision block is to whether or not the select ~witches are in the survey position. If so, there is a jump subroutine (JSR) 5 to the survey module. Nex~, there is a jump subroutine to data LED control, and following that a jump subroutine to test converter channel.
Following that~ there is a jump subroutine to window control. This window control refers to whether or 10 not the time window permitting call in f rom the central location to the remote unit i5 open or closed. As previously discussed, advantageously a two hour window may be employed at a time when it i5 not expected that the telephone in the panelist's lS home will be in use, i.e. early in the morning hours.
Ref2rring now ~o Figure 9, there is shown the main subroutine for clock housekeeping and converter control. The subroutine illustrated in 20 logic flow diagram form in Figure 9 is interrupt driven with the rate thereof set as a system parameter. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the interrupt rate is nominally set for 0.1 second. The flags and values set in the subroutine illustrated in Figure 9 are monitored by the main loop illustrated in Figure 7. Referring now specifically to the subroutine illustrated in Figure 9, the ~irst decision block is ~o whether or not the converter is on. If the converter is on, the ~elect switches are read and the converter channel is read. The next decision block is as ~o whether or not the channel lock is on. If the channel lock is not on, the next decision blo~k is whether or not the TV is selected. If the TV is 35 selected, the next decision block is whether or not the channel has been changed. If the channel has been changed, then the subroutine commands the converter ~o tune to the new channel.
The bottom portion of the logic flow 5 diagram of Figure 9 relates to clock housekeepin~0 The first decision block is whether or not there ls an increment in ~he second of day. If there is, the subroutine executes an incremen~ to ~he seconds of day value. The next decision block is as to whether 10 or no~ there is a day overflow, If there is, the subroutine resets the cecond of d~y and sets a midnight flag, indicative that a day has passed~
The block labeled RTl is an exit from this subroutine. ~s indicated, the subroutine is 15 interrupt driven at a rate system parameter, which in accordance with one embodiment is nominally set for 0.1 second.
Turning now to Figure 10, there is illustrated a logic flow diagram for the data LED
20 control module, referring to the data light emitting diode provided on the front panel of the data collection unit. This is the data LED control block illustrated in Figure 8. In the subroutine of Figure 10, the firs~ decision block is as to whether 25 or not the channel lock is on. If it is, the data LED is turned on. The next decision block is ~s to whether or not the blink flag is set. If it is, ~he data LED is toggled on and off. The next decision block i3 whether or not the current time i~ gre~ter 30 than the blink time. If it is not, there is an exit from the subroutine (RTS). If it is, the blink flag is ~et if the channel lock is off and the next blink time is calculated. The subroutine then loops back to reenter the decision block as to whether or not 3S the current time i~ greater than the blink time.

~J'~73~i Turniny now to Fi~ure 11, there is illustrated in logic flow diagram form the ~ubroutine relating to the test converter channel module referred to in Fiqure 8. In ~igure 11, the 5 first decision block is as to whether or not khe channel has changed. If i~ has, an event is logged. Next decision block is as ~o whether or not the channel lock is on. If it is, the data LED i~
10 turned off (which will appear as a blink when the LED is turned on later) and there is an exit from the subroutine i.e. a re~urn to start. If 9 on the other hand the channel lock is not on, the next decision block is as to whether or not this i~ a 15 channel lock entry, i.e. has a channel been selected that corresponds to entering channel lock. If it does, the channel lock is set on, the data LED is turned on, and the blink flag is turned off and there is a return to start. If, on the other hand, 20 this is not a channel lock entry, the next decision block is as to whether or not the channel entered is a channel lock exit. ~f it is, the channel lock is cleared and the data LED is turned off. If it is not a channel lock exit, there is a return to start 25 for the subroutine.
Turning now to Figure 12, there is shown a logic flow diagram for the data wand read module.
The first step in ~he logic flow is to initialize memory pointers, 50 that the data read in from the 30 data wand is placed in the proper portion of the memory of the data collection unit. The next step in the logic flow is to connect the universal asynchronous receiver transmitter to the data ~and interface. Characters are then read out one by one 35 from the data wand interface and stored in memory~

~o Figure 13 illustrates the logic flow for the window control module. As illustrated, the only decisions are whether or not it is time to open the window or close the window so as to permit 5 es~ablishing telephone communications between the data collection unit and the central location.
Referring now to Figure 14, there is shown a logic flow diagram for the survey module the first step in the subroutine is to retrieve the respondent 10 i.d. In connection with the survey function, it is useful to have dif~erent members of a panelist's household separately answer the questions in a survey. For this purpose, each of the members of the household are assigned an i.d. number. When the 15 survey select switch is selected to enter the survey mode, the channel lock ~ondition of the converter is automatically entered and the converter is tuned to the appropriate channel to display the survey questions. The first question presented is to ask ~o the person answering the survey to enter his or her i.d. number, which is simply a preassigned channel number which the respondent enters. The next decision block is with respect to whether or not there is an exit code in the information coming ~rom 25 the survey data storage in memory. If there is, the subroutine is exited. The next decision block if there is no exit code is as to whether or not there are que3tions to ask. If there are, various pointers with respect to memory location and the 30 like are initialized and the next question in the ~urvey data is displayed. The respondent re~ponds to the question by entering a channel number that corresponds to one of a plurality of possible answers to the question. This response is retrieved 35 and stored in memory. The next decision block i5 to ~1 whether or not there are any questions remaining for ~his i.d~, i.e. whether or no~ this particular member of ~he household has fur~her question~ which need to be answered. If there are, the next 5 question is displayed, the response retrieved and stored, and so on. If there are no questions remaining for this particular respondent, a "questions finished" message is displayed. The next decision block is to whether or not there are 10 questions remaining for any i.d., that is, whether or not there are further survey questions for any other members of the panelist's household. If there are not any further questions xemaining for any i.d., the survey light emitting diode is 15 extinguished. As previously discussed, this survey light emitting diode on the front face of the data collection unit is illuminated whenever there are any unanswered survey questions in memory.
Turning now to Figure 15, there i5 20 illu5trated a logic flow diagram with respect to the communicàtion module. ~he ~irst step in the subrou~ine is a fetch command, whi~h is simply a receipt of a character stream. The character stream is decoded, and the command dispatch step involves referencing the place in the memory corresponding to the decoded command, and execution of the relevant further commands stored at tha~ location in memory. The final decision block in ~his subroutine is as ~o whether or not there is a bye command That 30 is, at the end of the character stream an en~ry signaling that it is the end of the character ~tream is inserted, and this decision block decides whe~her or not the communication is ended.
Polling the data ollection units from a 35 central location using telephone lines and modems 7~
~2 may not always be the best technique for retrieving stored data from the memories of the data collection units. For example, ~here are markets where the incidence of private household telephones is 5 small. ~s another example, ~here may be some applications in which assembled and analyzed market research data is not needed until a fairly long time interval a~ter the raw data is collected. ~or these kinds of applications~ a different e~bodiment of the 10 present invention has been developed which uses a portable data collector for collecting data from the data collection unitO
This alternate embodiment i5 illustrated in block diagram form in Figure 17. The system as 15 shown in Figure 17 is somewhat similar to the system shown in Figure 1, and like system components in the two drawings are identified by the same reference numerals. The data collection unit 21' shown in Figure 17 can be almost the same data collection 20 unit 21 as referred to previously, with the difference that the modem is eliminated from the data collection unit and an external electrical connector (reference numeral 100 in Figure 17) is instead provided. Also, in the system shown in 2S Figure 17 the telephone block and switched telephone network are not utilized: that is, there are no telephone connections. Instead of daily transfers of data from the RAM memory of the data collection units to a central computer via telephone, data

3~ simply accumulates in the ~AM. Periodically, such as once every week or every two weeks, a "meter reader" visits each panelist household with a protable~data collector 101. The portable data collector is simply a digital data recorder 35 including a microprocessor with associated operating ROM and RAM and storage medium, such as magnetic cassette tape or disc~ The ROM holds all the executable code required ~o enable the device to communicate with the data collection units and the RAM is used to buffer data extracted from the data 5 collection units~ Such devices are commercially available, and one suitable device is available from Pegasus Data Systems of Middlesex, ~ew Jersey and identified as Buffered Digital Data Recorder Model PDI-BF. That particular device utilizes a magnetic 10 cassette tape. In operation, the portable data collector is simply connected ~o the external electrical connector 100 o~ the data collec~ion unit 2~'~ The microprocessor in the portable data collector is suitably programmed to input ~he 15 appropriate si~nals and commands to the data collection unit for transfer of the data stored therein to the portable data collector. These are simply the same commands as would be given the data collection unit by a central computer over telephone 20 lines in the earlier described embodiment and, for example, would include commands of retrieve da~a collection unit status, retrieve event data, clear data collection unit data area, reset data collection unit clock (if required), and resume 25 normal data collection unit activity.
The portable data collection unit is used to play back the recorded data from the data collection units to the central computer 24 a~
illustrated in Fi~ure 17. The data collection unit 30 serial numbers, which are written onto the t~pe or disc of the portable data collector along with the data, permit the central computer to identify which particular panelist household corresponds to each 3~

block of data recorded in the portable data collection unit.
Instead of a digital data recorder as referred to above, the portable data recorder may be 5 a suitable programmed minicomputer or the like, wi~h data extracted from the data collection unit wri~ten onto a floppy disc.
One of the advantageous features of the remote data collection units in accordance with the 10 present invention is the ability to collect data defining the composition of the television viewing audience in each panelist household. As explained previously, one way of ach;eving this in the present invention is to use the channel selector ~o cause lS the cable converter or tuner to enter a channel-lock condition. When in the channel-lock condition, the data collection unit disables normal channel tuning 80 that the channel selec~or can be used to enter numbers which are stored in the data collection unit 20 memory. Each member of the panelist household is assigned a viewer identification number. These viewer identification numbers are entered into the data collection uni~ via the channel selec~or to indicate which members of the panelist household are 25 in the room. While viewers are allowed to enter viewer identification numbers at any time, in an e~ort to remind viewers to enter the viewer identification numbers, the data collection unit will periodically issue a prompt.
In one ver~ion of a data collection unit/ a viewer identification prompt is implemented u~ing the light emittiDg diode 33 labeled "data." When viewer identifications are required, the data collection units flashes the light emitting diode on 35 and off at a rate of once per second. When viewers 73~;
~s see the flashing light emitting diode 33~ they are expected to enter rhannel-lo~k and enter their viewer identifications via the channel sel2c~0r.
Entering channel-lock causes light emi~ting diode 33 5 to stop flashing and be illuminated continuou~ly.
Each time a viewer identification number is en~ered, the light emitting diode 33 will blink off for half a second to indicate to ~he viewer that the identification number has been accepted by the data 10 collection unit. When all the viewer identificati~n numbers have been entered, the channel-lock mode is exited, and light emitting diode 33 is ex~inguished.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, viewer identification data is 15 obtained in a somewhat different manner. As has been previousiy explained , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention the data collection unit includes hardware and programming which permits presentation of text and graphics on 20 the television receiver to which it is connected.
This arrangement can be used to implement the Survey function of the data collection unit. In accordance with one arrangement of the present invention, and referring to Figure 16, a technique is implemented 25 to have the viewer identification prompt appear on the television screen itself, no matter what channel is selected.
In Figure 16 a video generator 91 is provided which communicates with and reads the 30 contents of a RAM 92 and produces a video output.
The RAM 92 can be part of ~he R~M 39 illustrated in Figure 5 and the video generator 91 can be part of the video interface 49 illustrated in Pigure 5. In both the Survey mode and the viewer identification 35 sequence, the contents of the video data stored in ~6 RAM 92 are read as lines of ~ bit ~SCII charactersO
The output of video generator 91 is passed through an RF modulator 93 which i3~ in effect, a small TV
transmitter that sends a picture displaying the characters stored in the RAM 92. The carrier 5 frequency for this signal is ixed to be identical to that of the output of the cable converter, which is usually channel 3.
In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention which uses a cable converter, the 10 cable converter converts all incoming television signals to a single output channel, for example, channel 3. A small receiver 94 is used to demodulate this RF signal and extract the vertical sync pulse. ~his pulse is fed into a synchronizer 15 circuit 96, which starts the RF modulator 93 and video generator 91. The R~ signal from RF modulator 93 is presented to a switch 97. The ~witch 97 is a suitable electronic switch or high speed switching of an RF signal. This switch selects the RF signal 20 from either the cable converter or the RF modulator 93 and directs the selected signal to the teievision receiver.
Switch 97 is controlled by a switch control circuit 98. This switch control circuit 98 detects 25 the border that appears around the area on the television screen where the text is written. The signal level change that occurs at the left edge of a screen of text is a trigger causing the switch control circuit 98 to set the switch 97 to select 30 the output of RF modulator 93. The switch control circuit can also detect the transfer of a byte of data in which all the bits are set (i.e. hexadecimal FF) from the RAM 92 to the video generator 91. The detection of a data byte with all bits set causes ~,a~35 ~7 the switch control circuit 9~ to reset switch 97 to select the converter output.
The text can appear anywhere on ~he television screen. Each line of tex~ i5 di~played 5 until the end of the line or until a byte con~aining hexadecimal FF is read from the RAM 92. If a text line is not to be displayed, the byte corresponding to the first character of tha~ line is set to hexadecimal FF. Full lines or por~ions of lines can lQ be switched. The overall effect is that of lines of characters being displayed over the picture from the cable converter.
The microprocessor ~ontrols this d;splay via the RAM 32 and an overlay enable line 99. The 15 microprocessor first loads RAM 92 with the characters to be displayed and bytes of hexadecimal F~ to de~ine areas of the screen that are to remain unaffected. When the microprocessor sets the overlay enable line 99, the text is displayed over 20 the normal picture. The overlayed text is removed when the microprocessor clears the overlay enable line.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present inYe~tion, the viewer identification, 25 prompting 5ignal takes the form of two flashing ~ymbols Isuch as **) in the upper left portion of the television screen. When the data collection uni~ requests viewer identifications, the two ~ymbols (**) appear on the ~creen and blink 30 continuously back and forth between two colors at a rate of once per second. These symbols continue to flash until a viewer causes the data collection unit to enter the channel-lock mode. When the data collection unit enters channel-lock, the symbols 3~

stop flashing and the overlay on the television screen is the following:

*~ 2 ~ 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 71 72 PRESENCE OF GUE5T ML ~M

Each of the numbers 2 to 18 corresponds to a valid viewer identification for a member of the panelist household. The purpose of the special identification numbers 71 and 72 is explained hereafter.
Each time a viewer identification number is entered, the corresponding number in the di~play shown above is inverted in color to indicate to the person entering the data that the data collection unit has accepted that input. Should a number that 15 is already inverted on the display be entered, that number on the display reverts to its normal color.
Thus, multiple entries of the same number will cause the number on the display to toggle back and forth between normal ~olor and inverted color~ This 20 allows the per50n entering the data to change a particular viewer identification entry should that be required.
The special viewer identification numbers 71 and 72 are used to indicate the presence of male 2s and ~emale guests, respectively. If a 71 is entered as a viewer identification number, the following three line display appears as ~n overlay on the television screen:

- ML GUEST COUNT ~Y AGE 2-6:
7~ 12-17: 18-24: 25-34:
35-4g: 50-54: 554:

~9 This is a request for the number of male guests in each of the age categories that ar~
present in the room. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the channel 5 ~elector includes ~ scan up and scan down control ordinarily used to scan ~elevision programming.
When in ~e viewer identification mode, this scan control can be used to position or move a cursor on the television screen to "jump" among the various 10 categories displayed in response to entry of the .special viewer identifications numbers. Entry of a number through the channel selector while the cursor is positioned at one of the categories is an indication of the number of guests in the specified 15 age categories presented in the room.
In a similar manner, entry of the viewer identification number 72 produces an overlay on the television screen with corresponding age categories and directed to female ~uests present in the room.
2~ When the composition of the complete viewing audience has been specified, the person entering data can exit from the channel-lock condition and the display overlay is removed from the screen~
Upon subsequent entries into the ~5 channel-lock condition, the text overlays on the television ~creen are presented with the audience composition information displayed as it was defined ~he previous time that viewer identification data was entered. If the audience has not changed, this can be signified by merely entering and exiting channel-lock. If the audience has changed, the channel selector and ~can control can be u ed to change any entries that are no longer connected.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment 35 of the invention, the viewer identification prompt 73~

is first issued when the television set is turned on. The viewer identification prompt is al50 presented whenever a 30 minute period passes ~i~h no viewer identification data being entered. In this S manner, a comple~e account of audience compo3ition is recorded by the da~a collection unit on a current basis for the programming being viewed on the television set.
Although the present invention has been 10 described and illustrated with respect to preferred and exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be clear that various modifications are within the ~kill of those in this art, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A system for collecting data with respect to cooperating television viewers or panelists, including a centrally located computer and a plurality of remote units at a corresponding plurality of panelist locations, each of said remote units being for connection to a television broadcast receiver and comprising receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal; a viewer control means including a channel selector coupled to said means for receiving a television broadcast signal; a data collection unit for coupling said receiving means to the television broadcast receiver, said data collection unit including a microprocessor and memory means for storing programming information for said micro-processor and for storing data; said viewer control means being monitored by said microprocessor which stores data representing the state of said viewer control means in said memory means; an optical reader associated with said data collection unit and for use by a panelist to scan data, said data being stored in said memory means under control of said microprocessor; a portable data collection unit including data storage means for periodic connection to said data collection unit to effect a transfer of data stored in said data collection unit memory means to the data storage means of said portable data collection unit, said portable data collection unit being connectable to said centrally located computer for transferring the contents of the portable data collection unit data storage means thereto.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal comprises a cable converter for connection to a cable system.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal comprises a cable converter for connections to a cable system and wherein said data collection unit is responsive under control of said microprocessor to enter a channel lock condition upon selection of a first predetermined channel by said channel selector, whereby the cable converter under micro-processor control stays tuned to whatever channel is currently selected despite further changes in said channel selector, and wherein selection of a second predetermined channel by said channel selector exits the channel-lock condition, the events of entering and exiting the channel-lock condition being stored in said memory as events, any channel numbers selected while in the channel-lock condition also being stored in said memory as events.

4. A method of collecting data from a plurality or cooperating panelists at a plurality of remote locations comprising the steps of:
providing at each remote location receiving means for receiving a television broadcasting signal for use with an associated television broadcast receiver;
providing at each remote location a viewer control means coupled to the receiving means including at least a channel selector;
providing at each remote location an optical reader for use by a panelist to scan data, and storing at each remote location the data scanned by the optical reader;
monitoring the viewer control means and storing at each remote location data indicative of changes therein;
providing a portable data collection unit having memory storage means:
periodically coupling the portable data collection unit to apparatus at each of the remote locations for transferring data collected at each remote location to the portable data collection unit corresponding to changes in the viewer control means and data scanned by the optical reader; and transferring data from the portable data collection unit to a central computer for analysis.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 including the step of periodically providing on-screen prompts on the television broadcast receiver as to the composition of the audience viewing the television broadcast receiver with changes in the viewer control means in response thereto being indicative of the identity of persons in the audience.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the viewer control means is provided with means for selecting a channel-lock condition and a non channel-lock condition, and including the step of periodically providing on-screen prompts on the television broadcast receiver, and wherein changes in the channel selector during the channel-lock condition are indicative of the identity of persons in the viewing audience.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the on-screen prompts are overlayed visible prompts and including the step of automatically switching into the channel-lock condition of the channel selector when the overlayed visable prompts appear, whereby subsequent changes in the channel selector are indicative of the identity of persons in the viewing audience.