JPS5986344A - Data gathering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To gather a data at a low cost from a wide range of district by counting up sequentially received information of each home at a counter. CONSTITUTION:A detector 37 at each home is operated at a different time by a timer set means 31 to a counter 17 of a broadcast station. The detector 37 stores 29 a receiving channel of a TV receiver 25 at the setting time, codes 32 the stored data and transmits the data to a receiver 12 in a counter 17 via an automatic telephone transmitter 33 and a telephone line 11. Each receiving data of the receiver 12 is decoded 14 sequentially and supplied to a counter 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for collecting data such as audience ratings for preview broadcasting.

Traditional audience ratings surveys involve researchers calling each household,
We conducted a questionnaire survey on the name of the broadcasting station that was being watched in each household at a specific time by visiting them or sending materials by mail. However, with such a method, it is not only impossible to collect data instantaneously, but also it is not possible to know the state of the viewer ratings that change from moment to moment.

Also, in a pull television system, etc.
Although it is possible to collect data instantly using a dedicated line, it is not only expensive but also makes it impossible to collect data from a wide area.

The present invention was made in view of this situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method that allows data to be collected instantaneously and at low cost from a wide range of areas.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to investigate audience ratings of television broadcasts. In the figure, the left side shows the equipment at the broadcasting station, and the right side shows the equipment at each home. The video signal input from the input terminal 1 is supplied to the transmitter I33!3 via the mixer 2, and is transmitted from the antenna 4 using a carrier wave of a predetermined frequency. It is also input to the detection circuit 5 and the horizontal synchronization signal detection circuit 6, and the vertical retrace interval and water itj synchronization signal are detected respectively.The counter 7 outputs the horizontal synchronization signal after detecting the vertical retrace interval to the run 1, and When the number is reached, an output is issued to the control circuit 8. Reference numeral 9 is a command means operated when investigating the audience rating, and when the command means 9 is operated, the control circuit 8 is synchronized with the output issued by the counter 7. A C marker signal generator 10 is driven to supply a predetermined marker signal to the mixer 2. 11 is a telephone line, which is connected to a telephone 13 or a decoder 1 via an automatic telephone receiving device 12.
One out of every four women is inherited as a concubine. , 15 are indicators such as light emitting elements, which are turned on when the control circuit 8 generates an output and the line 11 is switched to the decoder 14 side. Reference numeral 16 denotes a data collection unit for collecting data from the decoder 14.

Automatic telephone receiving device 12, decoder 14, display 15J:
A plurality of collection terminals 17 are installed corresponding to a plurality of telephones 13 having different telephone numbers on the broadcasting station side.
There is C.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an antenna for receiving television broadcasting installed in each home, and its output is supplied via a distributor 21 to a television receiver 11125 consisting of a tuner 22, an amplifier 23, and a cathode ray tube 24. The output of the antenna 20 distributed by the distributor 21 is also supplied to the tuner 26. The tuner 22 allows each household to freely select the broadcasting station to be received, but the tuner 26 can select the broadcasting station to be received by the channel selection means 27; It is semi-fixed so that it cannot be changed. 28 is a control circuit, when the tuner 26 outputs the output, the tuner 2
2, the broadcasting station being received is stored in a storage circuit 29. Reference numeral 30 denotes a timer circuit, which outputs an output from the tuner 26 and when a time set by the setting means 31 has elapsed from 1:00.

32 is an encoder that encodes the data regarding the broadcasting station stored in the storage circuit 29 into a digital signal of a predetermined pitch of 1-, which is a combination of 1 and O, and its output is sent to the telephone line via an automatic telephone transmission device @33. 11.

34 is a telephone number setting device for setting the telephone number of the telephone t13 of the broadcasting station to which the transmitting device 33 should make a call. Reference numeral 35 denotes a display device, which is set to J when the control circuit 28 switches the transmitting device 33 from the telephone 36 side to the encoder 32 side. Distributor 21, tuner 2G, channel selection means 2
7, control circuit 28, memory circuit 29, timer 301 setting means 31, encoder 32, transmitting device 33, number setting device 3
4. A detection device 37 consisting of a display 35 is installed corresponding to a telephone 36 in each home. In addition, a predetermined plurality (for example, 30) of home detection devices 37 send a message to one collection terminal 17 of a broadcasting station.
is set, and each number setter 34 of each of the plurality of detection devices 37 is set so as to send a call to another collection terminal 17 of the broadcasting station.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of how the tuner 26 detects the marker signal. The video signal input from the terminal 40 is supplied to a vertical retrace interval detection circuit 41 and a horizontal synchronization signal detection circuit 42, where a vertical retrace interval and a horizontal synchronization signal are detected, respectively.

When a vertical retrace interval is detected, the counter 43 resets the previous count value, counts the number of horizontal synchronization signals that will arrive thereafter, and outputs an output when the value reaches a predetermined value. This predetermined value matches the value of the counter 7 on the broadcasting station side. Therefore, when the counter 43 outputs an output, the marker detection circuit '44 detects whether or not there is a marker signal in the input video signal.
generates output.

Figure 3 shows one terminal of a broadcasting station (multiple terminals corresponding to number 17).
For example, the setting time of the setting means 31 in the detection device @37 of 30) is shown. Now, if the telephone number of the telephone 13 that the terminal 17 corresponds to is 03-900-0000, then data will be sequentially sent to this number from, for example, 30 households (detection device 37), so the 30 The setting time of the detection device 37 is set as follows. 1. In FIG. 3, the interval Δi is a period for confirming the presence of a dial tone when the transmitting device 33 makes a call to the receiving device 12, and according to the rules, it requires at least 3 seconds as Jζ. The interval 13i is a period necessary for sending dial pulses. The destination number has 7 0s, 1 3, 1 9, and 8 spaces between numbers, so for a 10PPS type phone, it takes 13 seconds [o, 1X (10x7+3+9)+〇, 6X8
), half of that for 2OPPS type telephones, 6.
5 seconds, and 1.7 seconds (0.1x9+0.1x8) for a button type telephone. In section 01, after sending dial pulses, the exchange calls the destination line J'
This is the required period of time, and is approximately 5 seconds at maximum. Section D
i is the period required for the automatic telephone receiving device 12 to detect the bell signal, and is approximately 4 seconds at maximum. The interval Ei is a period necessary for transmitting data, and is approximately 4 seconds. The interval Fi is a grace period for both the transmitting and receiving sides 83 to ensure that the line is opened, and is set to 1 second. The interval Gi is the time remaining from when the marker signal is detected in each household until the automatic telephone transmitting device 33 starts the dialing operation, and is calculated from the following formula.

Gi = (AI +81) + (i -1)
(C + D + E + F) - (Ai + Bi) Of course, the home telephone 36 that should be called first is 1.
If it is a 0PPS type, it will take 30 seconds after the marker signal is detected until the data is sent and the line is released. If the home telephone 36 that is to make the second call is also of the 10 PPS type, it will take 16 seconds for the telephone 36 to finish transmitting dial pulses, but the setting means 31 will control the timer circuit. 30 for 14 seconds (G2=1.1
1 second). If the third household telephone 36 is of the 2° PPS type, the timer circuit 36 is set to 34°.
．． Set to 5 seconds (G3=34.!5 seconds).

If the fourth household telephone 36 is of the button type, the timer circuit 3o is set to 53°3 seconds (G4
= 53.3 seconds). Thereafter, the J3 timer circuit 30 is set in the detection devices 37 of 30 households in the same manner. If this J: is set, immediately after the data transmission of the first detection device 37 is completed and the line is released, the first (
The i+1)th detector @37 will be exposed, and data will be collected efficiently.

Detection devices 37 in other 30 homes have similar time settings corresponding to other terminals 17 with different telephone numbers of broadcasting stations.
It will be held in

Now, suppose that the broadcasting station of the 8th channel T1 wants to investigate its audience rating, and the broadcasting station will have the detection device 37 installed in the necessary number of homes. At this time, the channel selection means 27 is
channel, so that the tuner 26 always receives the 8th channel. In addition, in order to ensure that every 30 homes corresponds to a terminal 17 with one number of a broadcasting station, the number of the calling party is set using the number setter 34, and the setting number and the type of telephone of each home are set. Considering, 30
The setting means 31 sets the data transmission order within the home.

The broadcasting station of the eighth channel operates the command means 9 at the time when the audience rating is to be investigated. When the command means 9 is operated, a marker signal (for example, a white flag) is inserted into the luminance signal portion of the horizontal sweep signal of a predetermined time from the vertical retrace gate detected immediately thereafter. (The number of horizontal synchronization signals is selected so that they do not substantially appear in the image.) At this time, the control circuit 8
output to the receiving device 12, the line 11 is forcibly switched from the telephone 13 side to the decoder 14 side to avoid connection, and the display 14 is turned on to display that the telephone 13 is unusable.

Therefore, when the receiving device 12 detects the arrival of the calling signal, it operates to supply the data signal sent from the circuit 1m11 to the decoder 14.

On the other hand, the marker signal is detected by a tuner 26 having a detection circuit as shown in FIG. The control circuit 28 stores the channel being received by the tuner 22 (for example, the first, third, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth, or twelfth r channel) in the storage circuit 29 when the marker signal is detected. Make me remember. At this time, the control circuit 28 also outputs an output to the timer circuit 30, causes the setting means 31 to start timing operation at the set time, and outputs an output to the transmitter 33, connecting the line 11 to the telephone 36 side. The telephone 36 is switched from the telephone to the encoder 32 side, and the display 35 is set to indicate that the telephone 36 is disabled. Alternatively, the transmitting device 33 is switched when the timer 30 completes the timing operation for a predetermined period of time and outputs an output (when starting the calling operation).
It is also possible to return. In addition, when switching the transmitting device 33, if the telephone 36 is in use, it is either not forced to switch and the data transmission is stopped, or the timing is further adjusted based on the time when the data transmission for 30 households ends. If the interval is extended, the data may be transmitted again when the intercostal space is reached. and,
When the set time of the timer circuit 30 arrives, the control circuit 2
8 drives the telephone calling device 33 to start making a call to the telephone number set by the setting device 34. As explained in FIG. 3, the line of the receiving apparatus 12 is open at the time when the transmitting apparatus 33 completes sending out dial pulses, so the line of the receiving apparatus 12 is not busy and is quickly connected. Therefore, the data stored in the storage circuit 29 is transferred to the encoder 32.
The received data is encoded by the broadcasting station via the line 11, demodulated by the decoder 14, and then totaled by a data totalizer 1 or 16 such as a monitor. The control circuit 28 counts the number of bits of data sent from the transmitting device 33, and releases the transmitting device 33 from the line 11 immediately when a predetermined number of bits is counted (when the end of data is detected). Similarly, the control circuit 8 counts the number of bits of data received by the receiving device 12, and disconnects the receiving device 12 from the line 11 when a predetermined number of bits has been counted.

The above operations are performed in each terminal 17.

The data collection 81 machine 16 may be provided in each terminal 11117m, and a totalizing machine may be further provided to compile the entire data.

In the above embodiment, the case where the audience ratings are investigated has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to the inspection &1 of meters for electricity, waste, water, etc.

As described above, in the present invention, a marker signal is transmitted via broadcast radio waves, and receiving means for receiving this marker signal is provided in each household. Since the stored data is automatically aggregated using a regular telephone line, it is not only possible to aggregate data that changes from moment to moment.
It is difficult to cross the collection range, and it takes a lot of time to collect. The cost for this will not be huge. Furthermore, the number of data bits is kept constant, and the line is opened immediately when the data transmission/reception of that number of bits is completed, and the calling operation for the next data transmission/reception is started before the previous data transmission/reception is completed. ,
Since the bell signal for the next data transmission/reception is made to arrive promptly at the timing when the previous data transmission/reception is completed and the line is released, data can be quickly collected.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings all show embodiments of the invention,
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall concept of the data collection system, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the marker signal detection means, and Fig. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the automatic telephone calling device. be. 10...Marker signal generator 13.36...Telephone 17...Data collection terminal 25...Television receiver 37...・Detection device

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) One automatic telephone receiving device is associated with a plurality of automatic telephone transmitting devices, and at a predetermined time, the plurality of automatic telephone transmitting devices sequentially start calling the one automatic telephone receiving device. A method in which data is collected via a telephone line at a predetermined time before the time at which the (i-1)th automatic telephone transmitting device finishes transmitting the data and releases the telephone line. , the first automatic telephone calling device starts an operation for making a call, and the automatic telephone receiving device starts the (i-th
-1) The calling signal from the first automatic telephone transmitter reaches the automatic telephone receiver immediately after the first data reception is completed and the telephone line is released. Which data collection method to use? (2) The predetermined time is determined by taking into account at least one of the period Δ for confirming the dial number 1 to the dial pulse and the dial pulse sending period B for the first automatic telephone transmitting device. A data collection method according to claim 1, characterized in that: (3) The time G from the predetermined time until the first automatic telephone call Saki starts the operation for making the call,
The automatic telephone receiving device receives the incoming call signal during the period A, the period B, and the period C during which the exchange searches for the telephone line of the automatic telephone receiving device in each of the automatic telephone transmitting devices up to the i-th automatic telephone transmitting device. a detection period F; a period F for transmitting the data;
3. The data collection method according to claim 2, wherein the data collection method is determined in consideration of at least one of the grace periods F for releasing the telephone line. (4) The data collection method according to claim 3, characterized in that the first holding time G1 is calculated using the following formula: %( ). (5) The data collection method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data has the same number of pings in each automatic telephone transmitting device. (6) The data collection method according to claim m5, wherein the end of the transmission or reception of the data is detected by counting the number of bits.