LED Modulator Tuning Data Export
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing diversity of broadcast systems, including cable and satellite systems, complicates audience measurement by making it difficult to accurately determine the program being viewed, as traditional methods rely on the channel tuned by the television, which may not reflect the actual program being displayed due to the presence of external receiving devices like set top boxes and digital video recorders.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a software meter within receiving devices to collect and export tuning data by modulating an LED, allowing the data to be sensed and extracted, even in devices without a dedicated output port, using a data collector and LED modulator to convert data into a readable format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional audience measurement methods are used that rely on monitoring the channel tuned by the television, then the measurement process is simple, but the accuracy of determining the actual program being viewed deteriorates due to the presence of external receiving devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (receiver or set-top box) that sits between the broadcast signal and the television, equipped with a software meter that captures tuning data. This intermediary enables accurate program identification by monitoring the actual decoded output rather than the raw tuner input, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical monitoring approach (directly monitoring TV tuner) with a software-based solution (software meter running on receiver hardware). This substitution allows for accurate program identification through digital signal processing and data extraction, overcoming the limitations of traditional electrical monitoring methods.
2Measurement precision
If receiving devices are equipped with software meters to collect tuning data, then accurate program identification is achieved, but the device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a software meter that leverages the existing multi-functional capabilities of modern receivers and set-top boxes. The same processor and memory resources used for video decoding, conditional access, and electronic program guides are also utilized for tuning data collection, eliminating the need for dedicated hardware and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The software meter is designed to utilize the receiving device's own internal resources (processor, memory, existing data structures) to collect and store tuning data. The system serves itself by using its inherent capabilities rather than requiring external measurement equipment, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If receiving devices without dedicated output ports need to export tuning data, then compatibility with existing devices is maintained, but the ease of data extraction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication layer that translates tuning data into formats suitable for extraction through existing device interfaces. The software meter captures data in memory and provides multiple export pathways (serial port, parallel port, USB, infrared, radio frequency) that leverage existing communication hardware, making data extraction easy without requiring dedicated output ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal data export mechanism that can utilize any available communication interface on the receiving device. The software meter is designed to export tuning data through multiple possible channels (serial, parallel, USB, infrared, radio frequency), allowing easy data extraction through whichever interface is most convenient or already present on the device.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate collection and export of tuning data from various receiving devices, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods by using LEDs to transmit data in a format that can be sensed and interpreted, thereby improving audience measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
an LED modulator to modulate an LED in response to the tuning data
Implementation Method 2
a photo sensor to detect the modulated LED signal
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to export tuning data collected in a receiving device are disclosed. An example method of collecting audience measurement data comprises collecting tuning data within a receiving device, and modulating an LED associated with the receiving device to export the collected tuning data from the receiving device.