Programming data gathering systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 554,560, filed Mar. 19, 2004, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention concerns methods and systems for programming data gathering systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A wide variety of methods are available to track automatically consumer exposure to certain types of media, including television and radio. Television and radio employ receivable transmissions, whether visual, audible or otherwise electronically receivable, and thus are well-suited for measurement via electronic devices. [0004] Other forms of consumer activity, however, do not employ such types of transmissions and thus are not readily measurable. In particular, consumer publication reading activity, including reading of magazines, newspapers, books, etc., is technologically inert...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This system provides a minimally invasive, error-resistant way to gather data on publication usage, enabling more accurate reporting and reducing the burden on consumers, while improving the reliability of tracking data for market research and analysis.

Problems solved by technology

Other forms of consumer activity, however, do not employ such types of transmissions and thus are not readily measurable.

However, the actual purchase, renting or borrowing of a publication itself is insufficient information to identify or otherwise ascertain whether the publication has been read, or has been read multiple times, or to identify other useful information regarding the consumer's usage of that publication.

Unfortunately, surveys and diaries are labor-intensive, intrusive to everyday life, and prone to either intentional and / or inadvertent misreporting.

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