Adaptive Sensor Selection for Audience Measurement Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audience measurement systems for broadcasted television and radio face challenges in efficiently gathering accurate data due to variability in system factors such as sensor availability, bandwidth, and storage capacity, leading to inefficiencies in data collection and processing.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive system that prioritizes sensor usage based on fixed and variable system factors, employing a sensor selector to determine which sensors to activate or deactivate, ensuring data collection and processing align with available resources, using a switch to manage sensor output and a communication link, and a storage monitor to manage data storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are activated to gather audience measurement data, then measurement precision and data accuracy are improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters by adjusting which sensors are active based on current system conditions. The sensor selector module modifies sensor activation states in response to varying bandwidth availability, storage capacity, and sensor validity, allowing the system to optimize between measurement precision and resource consumption without fixed configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor activation configuration is made dynamic rather than static. Sensors are selectively activated or deactivated based on real-time system conditions including bandwidth availability, storage capacity, and sensor validity status. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high measurement precision when resources permit while reducing complexity when resources are constrained
2Quantity of substance
If all available sensors are used for data collection, then quantity of data is improved, but loss of information increases due to inability to process and transmit all data
Solution Approach 1:
The system intentionally collects more data than can be immediately processed or transmitted by activating all valid sensors, then applies partial action by selectively transmitting only the most critical or representative data portions. This approach ensures maximum data quantity is gathered while managing transmission constraints through intelligent data prioritization and selective transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the sensor selector module continuously monitors system conditions including bandwidth availability and storage capacity, then adjusts sensor activation and data transmission decisions accordingly. This closed-loop control prevents information loss by adapting data collection and transmission rates to match actual processing and transmission capabilities
3Reliability
If sensors are continuously activated to ensure data availability, then reliability is improved, but use of energy and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous sensor activation, the system employs periodic action by activating sensors only when needed based on scheduled measurement intervals and real-time system conditions. The sensor selector module periodically evaluates whether sensor activation is necessary based on current bandwidth, storage, and data collection requirements, reducing energy consumption while maintaining data availability through strategic sensor activation cycles
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to adaptively gather audience information data are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus monitor system factor(s) and select one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors positioned to gather audience measurement data based on the monitored factor(s). Thus, the disclosed methods and apparatus adapt to the conditions they face by selecting an amount and/or type of audience measurement data they gather.