WO1998004081A2 - Device for observation of behaviour of the tv audience - Google Patents

Device for observation of behaviour of the tv audience Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998004081A2
WO1998004081A2 PCT/BG1997/000008 BG9700008W WO9804081A2 WO 1998004081 A2 WO1998004081 A2 WO 1998004081A2 BG 9700008 W BG9700008 W BG 9700008W WO 9804081 A2 WO9804081 A2 WO 9804081A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
logic
mcu1
mcu2
converter
ram
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/BG1997/000008
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO1998004081A3 (en
Inventor
Michail Atanassov Janov
Petar Dimitrov Bojchev
Dimo Dimitrov Tupalejsky
Krum Nikolov Kuzmanov
Georgi Gochev Aleksiev
Original Assignee
Michail Atanassov Janov
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Michail Atanassov Janov filed Critical Michail Atanassov Janov
Publication of WO1998004081A2 publication Critical patent/WO1998004081A2/en
Publication of WO1998004081A3 publication Critical patent/WO1998004081A3/en

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04HBROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/56Arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition covered by groups H04H60/29-H04H60/54
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04HBROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/29Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services
    • H04H60/32Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04HBROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/29Arrangements for monitoring broadcast services or broadcast-related services
    • H04H60/33Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04HBROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/35Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
    • H04H60/38Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space
    • H04H60/39Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying broadcast time or space for identifying broadcast space-time
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04HBROADCAST COMMUNICATION
    • H04H60/00Arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linking to broadcast information or broadcast space-time; Broadcast-related systems
    • H04H60/35Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users
    • H04H60/45Arrangements for identifying or recognising characteristics with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time, e.g. for identifying broadcast stations or for identifying users for identifying users

Definitions

  • This invention refers to a device for observation of behaviour of the TV audience according to observation points that are distributed in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, whereby, in order to ensure complete observation measurements are made to include both TV sets and video units.
  • a device is known to exist for observation of behaviour of the TV audience which consists of two single-chip microcontroller units that are connected to each other by means of a serial peripheral interface.
  • random access memory RAM and permanent memory and identifier unit which includes A/D converter connected by means of buffer and cable to TV receiver, while at the other end the said microcontroller unit is connected by means of interface to a modem that is linked to a telephone line.
  • the interface RS232 is connected, too.
  • Connected to the second of the said microcontroller units are a presence sensor and a remote control receiver which operates together with remote control transmitter whose operation involves usage of infrared rays.
  • the first microcontroller unit is buffer powered by means of storage battery, while the second microcontroller unit is directly powered from the mains supply.
  • the essence of the solution which is offered consists of a device for observation of behaviour of the TV audience whereby said device includes two buffer attenuators which are respectively connected to the varicap voltages of the TV set and the video unit, if the latter is available. Also, to the TV set and the video unit are connected the digital inputs
  • IN1 IN16 e.g. 4 of these inputs are connected to the TV set, with 5 such inputs being connected to the video unit, that is, with the TV these include: TV switch on, change of range, video watching; with video unit these include, record, play, switch on video, change of range
  • Connected to the said digital inputs is a presence sensor Va ⁇ cap voltages, after passing through the attenuator buffers, are connected to an analogue multiplexer which on its part is connected to A/D converter
  • the said device is provided with two microcontroller units.
  • the multiplexer and the A/D converter Digital inputs by means of input-output logic are connected to the microcontroller unit
  • the said microcontroller is also connected to a modem which, on its part, is connected by means of interface circuit to a serial interface
  • a real time clock is also connected
  • the microcontroller unit are connected, by means of control logic permanent memory and random access memory Power to the random access memory and to the clock is buffered by means of storage battery
  • a remote control receiver The entire system is provided with common power supply from the mains.
  • the microcontroller unit is also connected to interface circuit for serial interface.
  • a second microcontroller unit is connected to the first one by means of serial peripheral interface.
  • This second microcontroller unit is connected, too, to a permanent memory, and by means of indication logic it controls the indication facility (display) of the device.
  • indication logic controls the indication facility (display) of the device.
  • Both microcontroller units are provided with built-in electrically erasable permanent memory EEPROM and serial peripheral interface SPI Advantages of the solution that is offered said device is capable of taking measurements not only when TV audience is watching TV programs, but also when video is watched. Such measurements are done in real time Table of channels is memorised into the permanent memory so that is cases of power failures no loss of table occurs. In addition, the said device is capable of registering visitors, not only members of the household.
  • va ⁇ cap voltage is read to achieve average values, then it is recorded into buffer cells, and this process is repeated 5 times so that, finally, the buffer cells are compared to decide which is the channel that is watched
  • the usage of serial peripheral interface allows for a drastic increase of the speed of response and reliability of the system, on the one hand, and for reduction of overall size, on the other Power Fail system is provided to accommodate rops in e mains vo age, as we as a c og sys em o ensu p the device
  • Fig 1 gives a schematic view of a model example of the said device
  • the device consists of two buffer attenuators (Bl 1 and Bl 2 BUFFER ATTENUATOR) which are respectively connected to the varicap voltages of the TV set and/or video unit Connected to the TV set and video unit are the digital inputs IN1 IN16, while to these inputs a presence sensor is connected Varicap voltages, after passing through the attenuator buffers, are connected to an analogue multiplexer AMUX, which on its part is connected to A/D converter
  • the said device is provided with two microcontroller units, MCU1 and MCU2 Connected to the first such unit are the AMUX multiplexer and the A/D converter Digital inputs by means of input-output logic are connected to the MCU1 microcontroller unit By means of this same logic the said microcontroller is also connected to a modem which, on its part, is connected by means of interface circuit to a serial interface RS232 To the said first microcontroller unit and by means of
  • the said device operates as follows
  • Switching on of TV set is read through one of the digital inputs
  • MCU1 starts reading varicap voltage (or voltages, provided that video is also switched on) by means of the AMUX analogue multiplexer and A/D converter Via digital inputs is possible to track the status of the TV set (whether meter or decimeter band) and video watching
  • the A/D converter value that has been read is recorded into a sequence of memory cells
  • the average value plus the signals for meter or decimeter band allow for determination of the TV program that is being currently watched
  • the operator by means of remote control unit memorises into the EEPROM the values of the A/D converter for all TV programs that are watched within the table of channels Afterwards, each switching of programs is compared with the table so that the program which is identified together with the real time are recorded into the RAM memory
  • into the EEPROM ID hours are recorded for reporting to the master computer at the center for observation of TV audience
  • the device by means of modem connects to the telephone line and transmits to the maste

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Social Psychology (AREA)
  • Testing, Inspecting, Measuring Of Stereoscopic Televisions And Televisions (AREA)
  • Debugging And Monitoring (AREA)

Abstract

Said device is used for observation of behaviour of the TV audience according to observation points that are distributed in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. Advantages of the device over other similar devices as existing so far: by means of this particular device it is possible to measure both video units and TV units; visitors can be registered; programs are measured in a more satisfactory manner; serious efforts have been made to ensure increased reliability. Said device includes two microcontroller units, MCU1 and MCU2, each being respectively connected to permanent memory EPPROM and to random access memory (RAM) with MCU1 being connected to analogue-to-digital converter (A/D converter), as well as to serial interface RS232 and MODEM, whereby in addition the said device includes also a presence sensor (PS) and remote control receiver (IR), while MCU2 is connected to display by means of interface. MCU1 consists of electrically erasable memory EEPROM and a serial peripheral interface SPI, and it is connected through a control logic MCU LOGIC to EPROM and RAM memories, to real time clock RTC and to A/D converter which is connected to input ATTENUATOR BUFFER1 and ATTENUATOR BUFFER2 by means of analogue multiplexer AMUX whereby MCU1 is connected to the remote control receiver IR, to the presence sensor PS and through input-output logic IO LOGIC to the digital inputs IN1...IN16 and to the outputs OUT1...OUT8, and also MCU1 is connected to MCU2 through a serial peripheral interface SPI, while MCU2 is connected to EPROM and INDICATION by means of indication logic Ind LOGIC, with the real time clock RTC and the random access memory RAM being connected to a storage battery while power to the whole device is provided from the mains supply.

Description

DEVICE FOR OBSERVATION OF BEHAVIOUR OF THE TV AUDIENCE
SCOPE OF APPLICATION
This invention refers to a device for observation of behaviour of the TV audience according to observation points that are distributed in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, whereby, in order to ensure complete observation measurements are made to include both TV sets and video units.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUIPMENT EXISTING UP TO DATE
A device is known to exist for observation of behaviour of the TV audience which consists of two single-chip microcontroller units that are connected to each other by means of a serial peripheral interface. Connected to the first of the said microcontroller units are random access memory RAM and permanent memory and identifier unit which includes A/D converter connected by means of buffer and cable to TV receiver, while at the other end the said microcontroller unit is connected by means of interface to a modem that is linked to a telephone line. In addition, to this microcontroller unit the interface RS232 is connected, too. Connected to the second of the said microcontroller units are a presence sensor and a remote control receiver which operates together with remote control transmitter whose operation involves usage of infrared rays. The first microcontroller unit is buffer powered by means of storage battery, while the second microcontroller unit is directly powered from the mains supply. (1)
TECHNICAL ESSENCE AND ADVANTAGES
The essence of the solution which is offered consists of a device for observation of behaviour of the TV audience whereby said device includes two buffer attenuators which are respectively connected to the varicap voltages of the TV set and the video unit, if the latter is available. Also, to the TV set and the video unit are connected the digital inputs
IN1 IN16, e.g. 4 of these inputs are connected to the TV set, with 5 such inputs being connected to the video unit, that is, with the TV these include: TV switch on, change of range, video watching; with video unit these include, record, play, switch on video, change of range Connected to the said digital inputs is a presence sensor Vaπcap voltages, after passing through the attenuator buffers, are connected to an analogue multiplexer which on its part is connected to A/D converter The said device is provided with two microcontroller units. Connected to the first such unit are the multiplexer and the A/D converter Digital inputs by means of input-output logic are connected to the microcontroller unit By means of this same logic the said microcontroller is also connected to a modem which, on its part, is connected by means of interface circuit to a serial interface To the said first microcontroller unit and by means of serial peripheral interface a real time clock is also connected To the microcontroller unit are connected, by means of control logic permanent memory and random access memory Power to the random access memory and to the clock is buffered by means of storage battery To this microcontroller unit is also connected a remote control receiver The entire system is provided with common power supply from the mains. The microcontroller unit is also connected to interface circuit for serial interface. A second microcontroller unit is connected to the first one by means of serial peripheral interface. This second microcontroller unit is connected, too, to a permanent memory, and by means of indication logic it controls the indication facility (display) of the device. By means of this indication it is possible to achieve a dialogue mode between the device and the TV viewers (or operator), such as registration and de- registration of viewers, evaluation of the quality of a program, questions for interview and various functions upon installation of the device, e.g. drill-tuning of the device to a given TV set, recognition of channels, modem link and other operational functions. Both microcontroller units are provided with built-in electrically erasable permanent memory EEPROM and serial peripheral interface SPI Advantages of the solution that is offered said device is capable of taking measurements not only when TV audience is watching TV programs, but also when video is watched. Such measurements are done in real time Table of channels is memorised into the permanent memory so that is cases of power failures no loss of table occurs. In addition, the said device is capable of registering visitors, not only members of the household. False reading of channels is avoided, vaπcap voltage is read to achieve average values, then it is recorded into buffer cells, and this process is repeated 5 times so that, finally, the buffer cells are compared to decide which is the channel that is watched The usage of serial peripheral interface allows for a drastic increase of the speed of response and reliability of the system, on the one hand, and for reduction of overall size, on the other Power Fail system is provided to accommodate rops in e mains vo age, as we as a c og sys em o ensu p the device
EXAMPLES
Fig 1 gives a schematic view of a model example of the said device The device consists of two buffer attenuators (Bl 1 and Bl 2 BUFFER ATTENUATOR) which are respectively connected to the varicap voltages of the TV set and/or video unit Connected to the TV set and video unit are the digital inputs IN1 IN16, while to these inputs a presence sensor is connected Varicap voltages, after passing through the attenuator buffers, are connected to an analogue multiplexer AMUX, which on its part is connected to A/D converter The said device is provided with two microcontroller units, MCU1 and MCU2 Connected to the first such unit are the AMUX multiplexer and the A/D converter Digital inputs by means of input-output logic are connected to the MCU1 microcontroller unit By means of this same logic the said microcontroller is also connected to a modem which, on its part, is connected by means of interface circuit to a serial interface RS232 To the said first microcontroller unit and by means of the SPI serial peripheral interface a real time clock RTC is also connected To the MCU1 microcontroller unit are connected, by means of control logic (MCU LOGIC), EPROM permanent memory and random access memory (RAM) Power to the random access memory and to the clock is buffered by means of storage battery To this microcontroller unit is also connected a remote control receiver The entire system is provided with common power supply from the mains The MCU1 microcontroller unit is also connected to interface circuit for serial RS232 interface A second microcontroller unit is connected to the first MCU1 unit by means of serial peripheral interface SPI This second microcontroller unit is connected, too, to EPROM permanent memory, and by means of indication logic (Ind LOGIC) it controls the indication facility (display) of the device
The said device operates as follows
Switching on of TV set is read through one of the digital inputs Then MCU1 starts reading varicap voltage (or voltages, provided that video is also switched on) by means of the AMUX analogue multiplexer and A/D converter Via digital inputs is possible to track the status of the TV set (whether meter or decimeter band) and video watching The A/D converter value that has been read is recorded into a sequence of memory cells The average value plus the signals for meter or decimeter band allow for determination of the TV program that is being currently watched Upon installation of the device, the operator by means of remote control unit memorises into the EEPROM the values of the A/D converter for all TV programs that are watched within the table of channels Afterwards, each switching of programs is compared with the table so that the program which is identified together with the real time are recorded into the RAM memory On the other hand, into the EEPROM ID hours are recorded for reporting to the master computer at the center for observation of TV audience When the specified time comes, the device by means of modem connects to the telephone line and transmits to the mastei computer the contents of its RAM memory TV viewers operate this device through a remote control unit (with infrared rays) whereby commands from the control panel through the remote control receiver are read by the MCU1 TV viewers may register themselves, express evaluations give answers to questions, participate in an interview which is loaded by the master computer The dialogue between viewers and device is carried out by means of the remote control unit and the display unit Message from the MCU1 are sent by the serial peripheral interface SPI to MCU, while MCU2 on its part using the program in the EPROM and the indication logic (Ind LOGIC) writes the messages via INDIKATION Into the EPROM of MCU2 it is possible to memorise ASCII tables in different languages In cases of drops in power supply, both controllers receive a PF signal (power fail) after which into the RAM memory the contents of all mam registers is saved, and it is only then when the microcontroller stops After resumption of power supply, the RTC clock sends a signal to the microcontroller which, upon resumption of operation, reads the registers saved in the memory, thereby starting from the point at which the stop has occurred
In cases of confusion in the program, which may happen when interference of signals occurs, there is a system for identification of errors in the program, such as non-existent instructions or failure to pass through a program branch for a specified time This results in another re-starting of the microcontroller with no loss of the contents of memory and clock

Claims

1 A device for observation of behaviour of the TV audience, which includes two microcontroller units, MCU1 and MCU2, each being respectively connected to permanent memory EPPROM and to random access memory (RAM) with MCU1 being connected to analogue-to-digital converter (A/D converter), as well as to serial interface RS232 and MODEM, whereby in addition the said device includes also a presence sensor (PS) and a remote control receiver (IR), while MCU2 is connected to display by means of interface and characterised by the fact that the MCU1 consists of electrically erasable memory EEPROM and a serial peripheral interface SPI, and it is connected through a control logic MCU LOGIC to EPROM and RAM memories, to real time clock RTC and to A/D converter which is connected to input ATTENUATOR BUFFER1 and ATTENUATOR BUFFER2 by means of analogue multiplexer AMUX whereby MCU1 is connected to the remote control receiver IR, to the presence sensor PS and through input-output logic IO LOGIC to the digital inputs IN1.. IN16 and to the outputs OUT1. OUT8, and also MCU1 is connected to MCU2 through a serial peripheral interface SPI, while MCU2 is connected to EPROM and INDICATION by means of indication logic Ind LOGIC, with the real time clock RTC and the random access memory RAM being connected to a storage battery while power to the whole device is provided from the mains supply
PCT/BG1997/000008 1996-07-23 1997-07-07 Device for observation of behaviour of the tv audience WO1998004081A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BG100735 1996-07-23
BG100735A BG62375B1 (en) 1996-07-23 1996-07-23 Device for monitoring the behaviour of tv viewer audience

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998004081A2 true WO1998004081A2 (en) 1998-01-29
WO1998004081A3 WO1998004081A3 (en) 1998-06-04

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WO (1) WO1998004081A2 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005008356A2 (en) * 2003-07-22 2005-01-27 Antonio Paulo Pessoa Faria Survey and entertainment exhibition module
WO2014206181A1 (en) * 2013-06-28 2014-12-31 深圳市科曼医疗设备有限公司 Patent monitor and multi-mcu memory data exchange device for same
CN116261064A (en) * 2023-02-20 2023-06-13 山西科达自控股份有限公司 Remote 5G wireless control device and method for coal mining machine

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104238412B (en) * 2014-09-05 2017-01-25 上海理工大学 Optoelectronic isolation type SPI-like channel based on DSP driving

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2486342A1 (en) * 1980-05-08 1982-01-08 Chesebrough Ponds VIDEO INSPECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
US4673983A (en) * 1985-10-29 1987-06-16 Sony Corporation Picture-in-picture television receivers
GB2295065A (en) * 1994-11-10 1996-05-15 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Magnetic recording and playback apparatus
EP0714081A1 (en) * 1994-11-22 1996-05-29 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Video surveillance system
RU2068625C1 (en) * 1995-08-21 1996-10-27 Гонта Алексей Степанович Device for tv monitoring

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2486342A1 (en) * 1980-05-08 1982-01-08 Chesebrough Ponds VIDEO INSPECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
US4673983A (en) * 1985-10-29 1987-06-16 Sony Corporation Picture-in-picture television receivers
GB2295065A (en) * 1994-11-10 1996-05-15 Mitsubishi Electric Corp Magnetic recording and playback apparatus
EP0714081A1 (en) * 1994-11-22 1996-05-29 Sensormatic Electronics Corporation Video surveillance system
RU2068625C1 (en) * 1995-08-21 1996-10-27 Гонта Алексей Степанович Device for tv monitoring

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005008356A2 (en) * 2003-07-22 2005-01-27 Antonio Paulo Pessoa Faria Survey and entertainment exhibition module
WO2005008356A3 (en) * 2003-07-22 2005-03-24 Antonio Paulo Pessoa Faria Survey and entertainment exhibition module
WO2014206181A1 (en) * 2013-06-28 2014-12-31 深圳市科曼医疗设备有限公司 Patent monitor and multi-mcu memory data exchange device for same
CN116261064A (en) * 2023-02-20 2023-06-13 山西科达自控股份有限公司 Remote 5G wireless control device and method for coal mining machine
CN116261064B (en) * 2023-02-20 2024-01-05 山西科达自控股份有限公司 Remote 5G wireless control device and method for coal mining machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BG100735A (en) 1998-02-27
WO1998004081A3 (en) 1998-06-04
BG62375B1 (en) 1999-09-30

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