DE4401571C2 - Procedures for the assessment of sound and / or image sequence - Google Patents

Description

There is a procedure in the field of sound and image recording known with which a lecturer the current interest can see that a circle of listeners is giving his lecture brings (DE 36 30 424 C2).

The listeners generate by means of a continuously adjustable position limbs signals that indicate the level of attention, of Of interest, consent or rejection indicative are. The signals of all listeners are entered into a computer give the mean and the spread from all signals calculated and immediately shows the lecturer, so that the latter the average assessment of his lecture and the Recognizes the degree of homogeneity of this statement and its breadth can design your lecture accordingly.

Here are brand owners and timers for labeling time same processes stimulus sequence - reaction sequence provided.

Have devices that operate according to this procedure meanwhile especially in adult education proven.  

When recognizing the audience's judgment on radio and The broadcasters have so far been prepared for it instructed to host surveys or participants Evaluate statements in the broadcast.

The results achieved are only of limited information capable of an actual state and a process of a program comprehensive listener / viewer assessment.

The present problem continues with the latter problem Invention without going into this field and the problems specifically described for this area should be limited. It is a variety of areas known with similar problems and for this the Invention have the same meaning.

The object of the invention is therefore a method to demonstrate the assessment of a situation by a variety of people who are different Can stop at a central location to be able to evaluate, for the "facts" the word "Stimulus source" or "stimuli emanating from a stimulus source" is, which is preferably the out beamed program from a radio or television station to act, the term "response" for the "Assessment of listeners and / or viewers" should be and the central point can be a studio of the broadcaster, but it is again pointed out that it is a preferred, but not the only type application of the invention is to act.

The problem is solved by the claims defined invention.  

This differs from the one mentioned at the beginning closest prior art (DE 36 30 424 C2) everything as follows:

While in DE 36 30 424 C2 the reactors have a electrical circuit with a controlling detection / Display device are connected, it is the front invention about self-sufficient decentralized recording devices, which are programmed in a preparatory phase and in a Data collection / evaluation phase read out and evaluated become independent in the acquisition phase, without Control by a central device.

The differences are divided into these phases the invention to DE 36 30 424 C2 as follows:

Preparatory phase

• - Central transfer of the process parameters of an examination to the individual recording devices and synchronization through a central computer,

Acquisition phase

• - Decentralized use of the recording devices and recording of the digitized transmitter signals at the location of the individual listener / viewer,
• - Activation / deactivation of decentralized acquisition by sequence-controlling microcontrollers are identical set times according to the start / end of the programs,
• - acoustic or / and visual indication to the listener / Spectators through the capture device before / at the start of the programs of interest,  
• - If necessary, recording corresponding sound signal sequences per broadcast, for Control of the actually set or belonged Consignment using a decentralized recording device,

Data collection / evaluation phase

• - Central takeover of those in the individual recording devices stored digitized response signal sequences and central evaluation.

The following applies with regard to the further state of the art:

In US 4,697,209 a method and device for automati identification of switched on or recorded Programs named. It includes localized in households Devices for recording the use of television and video Recorder. An event detection unit of these devices derives appropriate from the current video signal "Signatures", which together with the time in one Data storage are stored. A central evaluation station is stationed with these in different households Devices connected bidirectionally and compares the determined ten "signatures" with reference "signatures" with the aim of Identification, so as to use the TV / VCR of individual households.

In US 4,697,209 both the objective and the used means, as well as the organization of these with tel different from the present invention.

The invention is now shown in the drawing and according to explained below with reference to the drawing.

The drawing shows:

Fig. 1 representation of the decentralized individual detection in a semiconductor memory by means of micro-controllers (encoding of the reaction encoder positions),

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a central group evaluation of a number of semiconductor memories (decoding of the stored signal sequences).

With a radio broadcast there are sound signals, with a television audio and video signals are sent, corresponding Signal sequences are broadcast by a broadcasting station and by receive individual radio and television sets and act as stimulus consequences on the listener / viewer.

According to the invention, the individual listener or viewer now operates an infinitely adjustable actuator during the broadcast, a reaction generator, according to his feeling towards the shipment, d. that is, it gives by adjusting the actuator his feedback, his reaction to the currently presented Sequence of stimuli that this evokes in him.

Depending on the type, the assessment criterion may be that of a shipment required stimulus sequence the gradual liking / not liking (at Entertainment broadcasts), gradual approval / rejection (in discussions), the gradual interest (in information Shipments). The assessment is generally mean the overall impression of the stimulus sequences, d. H. in case of  Sound / image broadcasts integrating image and sound, aligned may be, but can also be specific in specific cases aspects such as sound design, image editing, action management etc. relate.

The position of the reaction generator causes a corresponding orderly reaction signal, the ongoing feedback by means of a reaction generator over a certain shipment a corresponding signal sequence, whereby for one - in Relation to the total duration of the shipment - short time interval (Order of seconds) is averaged so that the result signal sequence of recorded values the course of the Slider positions over the entire duration of the shipment and with regard to details of particular interest sufficiently precise reproduces.

To save the digitized signal sequence, a Semiconductor memory used by a microcomputer Module with analog / digital converter for converting the Reactor signal, clock / calendar for time allocation stored signals and for activation / deactivation the acquisition as well as an optical / acoustic Signal to the listener / viewer, communication lines for reading out the stored data and an Ab Running program for controlling the functions mentioned is operated.

It is expedient for each transmission to be examined a recording of the sound sequence or image / sound sequence on audio or Video tape for structuring the program into an audio sequence or Sequence of scenes for later analysis and in general for Reproduction of the stimulus-response sequence used in detail.  

The one per listener / viewer of a broadcast in one Memory collected coded data of the reaction generator Signal sequences are evaluated together in a computer tion read.

In a standard application, after the acquisition phase the total of the memory with that determined for a number the broadcast (s) filed assessment information of the one individual listeners / viewers across this program (s) a central evaluation site that is spent in the individual Data stored in capture devices is stored in the Zen transferred and evaluated there, mean value and Scattering of the time sequences are calculated as a graphic History shown, the data material is further out evaluates.

In a technically more complex solution, this can also be done con happening momentarily by the totality of memory, which in turn contain data that are for a short time interval (between 0.1 second and 2 seconds) averaged and stored, and the central computer with each other, e.g. B. wirelessly using existing radio telephone networks) are interconnected so that an evaluation at the location of the broadcast can be practically synchronized with the broadcast.

Method for further evaluation of the scale of the decoded Donor positions are known per se and also with a ver drive according to DE 36 30 424 C2 applied, so that on such mathematical / statistical evaluation procedure can be.  

Fig. 1 of the drawing shows a schematic representation of the decentralized recording of the reactions of a listener / viewer (coding) of an audio-visual presentation (stimulus source 11 or stimulus sequence) by means of a microcomputer with a computer core (CPU) 12 and read-only memory (ROM) 16 in one Semiconductor memory (RAM) 13 , wherein the stimulus source 11 is a device for playing a radio broadcast, sound recordings of various types, a television broadcast, a video tape, a film, but it is also a life performance in image and sound can. The continuously changed position of the reaction generator 2 during the performance provides an electrical signal proportional thereto, which is continuously digitized by means of an analog-digital converter 14 .

For control purposes, audio signals converted using a microphone 5 and preamplifier 6 can also be digitally recorded using an analog / digital converter 17 . A clock with calendar that also runs in idle status provides exact time stamps and ensures the activation / deactivation of the system at the specified times of start / end of the programs. The components of this reaction detection are summarized in module 200 .

Corresponding sequences, stored in the read-only memory (ROM) 16 , part of the microcomputer 12 , 16 , are implemented by the computer core (CPU) 12 , e.g. B .:

• - Computer-controlled activation (default settings):

Start of the system activation at a certain preset date, time (scheduled start of the program), acquisition of a tone sequence over a few seconds to identify the program, digitization and storage in the semiconductor memory, then ongoing acquisition of the response signal, averaging over a preset time interval (e.g. 0.5 seconds), storing in the semiconductor memory 13 , termination after a preset, intended duration of the program, possibly again recording and storing the tone sequence over a few seconds to identify the (subsequent) program.

• - user-controlled activation:

As above, but start and stop determined by listeners / viewers 1 .

Fig. 2 of the drawing finally shows in a schematic Dar position, the central group evaluation (decoding) of a number of semiconductor memories 13 a, 13 b. . . , if necessary with sound pattern recognition for control, time stamp assignment of the individual recordings and digital data transfer to the central computer with display and storage in another computer.

The in the semiconductor memories 13 a, 13 b. . . Stored data, as described above, are grouped into the coded sequences of the response positions, averaged over short time intervals (e.g. 0.5, 1, 2 seconds), for periods corresponding to the duration of the respective audiovisual broadcasts, clearly assigned by the likewise stored computer or user-controlled times (time / date) with regard to the start and stop of data acquisition.

Additionally stored tone sequence sections are required for a possibly necessary identification of the program actually heard by the user / test person, the temporal assignment is already given by the clock / calendar of the data acquisition (according to FIG. 1).

The digital information converging in a central computer in FIG. 2 provides the coded reaction generator positions of certain previously selected stimulus sequences, e.g. B. of radio or television programs, for the corresponding institutions, are stored in a memory of the central computer in accordance with the actual time grid of the programs in accordance with the above-mentioned basic parameters of time / date. The tone sequence sections additionally recorded at certain times within the detection periods serve, if considered necessary, to check that the test person had actually stopped the centrally scheduled program at the given time.

The transmitted data sequence of the acquisition may be required If necessary in the central computer by further averaging be implemented on a coarser time grid.

The encoded for a particular program parallel time sequences, the feedback from the test subjects on the audiovisual performance of the corresponding broadcast, are regarding the course of group mean and scatter evaluated and together with the above Time sequences of the individual subjects to another Transfer calculator. In this the course of Mit telwert and scatter plotted, the over carried data are stored on file and are the basis of a more extensive application-oriented Analysis.  

The computer-controlled activation addressed in the decentralized individual detection in semiconductors according to FIG. 1 requires application-specific presettings of the individual detection devices.

The necessary presettings and the comparison of the internal clocks are expediently carried out by means of the central computer of an arrangement according to FIG. 2, with the difference from the data evaluation shown in FIG. 2 that, in the presetting, data are not taken over from the central computer, but the central computer controls the individual recording devices as part of a dialog sequence.

The individual acquisition devices according to FIG. 2 are switched to reception in the basic state with respect to the central computer which may be connected to them.

After requesting and decoding special data words on Communication input of an acquisition device, message from the central computer, this may go from the exit survived in another operating state.  

In the normal process, the sequence of operations results states of the individual recording device:

• 1) Transfer of the default settings from the central computer *
• - computer or user-controlled process,
• - averaging time interval,
• - If necessary, activation and deactivation times with regard to recording the feedback for shipment 1 , 2 . . , Adjustment of internal clock / calendar, delete data storage, finally transition to operating status 2),
• 2) Acquisition and coding of the response signal sequence according to the preset parameters, periodic polling of the communication input Apply a message as a command to transition to operating status 3) or operating status 1),
• 3) transmission of the coded data to the central computer, expediently as a data block of a defined structure and scope, finally transition to operating state 1) again.

To reduce the power consumption of the battery operated Detection devices are expediently used as microcomputers uses a highly integrated microcontroller, being above named operating state 2) as working state 2-A) for the period of data collection or as a control status 2-K) or as a waiting state 2-W).  

In the waiting state 2-W) the power consumption of the microcontro by switching off functions reduced the working state. The microcontroller is now programmed so that it periodically (e.g. every second) from the waiting state 2-W) to the control state 2-K) passes over and checks for certain conditions, e.g. B., whether according to the computer-specified start time or user actuated switch the acquisition / coding of the sequence of Reactor signals etc. must take place, whether at the commun cation input a message from the central computer lies etc., if necessary in the working mode 2-A), in the preset operating state 1) or in the Transfer operating state 3), or else, if none of the above or other corresponding Conditions is fulfilled, again in the waiting state 2-W) to fall behind.

The change of the operating states mentioned can the Be users of the recording devices or the technician / test head on the central computer expediently by opti cal signaling device (e.g. LEDs) and / or acoustic signal encoder (e.g. piezo electronic sound transducer) is displayed become.

By means of an acoustic signal generator, at preset Activation times in the user registration device / Subject from the registration device again for safety the beginning of the intended for submitting the feedback Be made aware of the shipment.

Claims (5)

1. A method for the assessment of sound and / or video broadcasts and signal sequences, which emanate in a similar way from a central point ( 11 ) and are received by a large number of mutually independent subjects ( 1 ) as a stimulus sequence and are to be assessed , With progressive stimulus sequence with an adjustable reaction generator ( 2 ) per test person ( 1 ) generates a signal sequence and a storage means ( 13 ) is supplied in a manner assignable to the stimulus sequence, characterized in that the positions of the respective reaction generator ( 2 ) on site of the individual test subject ( 1 ) are stored in a recording phase by an autonomous recording device ( 200 ) in a memory means ( 13 ) associated therewith in digitized form as reaction generator creation data, the recording devices ( 200 ) of the test subjects being previously in a preparatory phase by a central Computer programmed and synchronized to a sequence of special process parameters rt were taken while in an evaluation phase in a central computer, the response generator data stored in the storage means ( 15 ) of the recording devices ( 200 ) are taken over for evaluation. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the start / end times of the programs intended for the examination and thus the corresponding activation / deactivation periods of the recording devices ( 200 ) are programmed as running parameters centrally, so that these in the Acquisition phase are only active at the time of broadcasting of certain programs. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the individual user of the detection device ( 200 ) before / at the activation time of the intended for feedback program (s) is made aware of an acoustic signal. 4. The method according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that a partial recording of sound signal sequences is made for each shipment, to control the actually set or heard shipment on the individual detection device ( 200 ). 5. The method according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the recording devices wirelessly using existing radio telephone networks immediately responded to the test subjects send the central station so that an evaluation at the location of Program practically synchronized with the program can.