Remote Control Device for Audience Meter Demographic Data Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing remote control devices for audience measurement meters fail to properly account for visitor members and do not allow for the entry or logging of guest demographic information, such as gender and age, which is essential for accurate audience measurement.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a remote control device with a visitor data entry section and improved infrared (IR) messaging protocols that enable the transmission of gender and age information to the audience measurement meter, allowing any viewer to log in and update their demographic details, and featuring ergonomic changes like a slimmer design and backlit LCD for ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing remote control devices are used for audience measurement, then basic audience monitoring is possible, but visitor members and guest demographic information cannot be properly accounted for

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to account for visitor members and guest demographic informationVSAvoidguest demographic information (gender, age)

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control device is divided into functional sections: a media control section for basic remote functions and a visitor data entry section for demographic information collection. This segmentation allows the device to handle both existing audience measurement tasks and new visitor tracking capabilities without interfering with each other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary data transmission mechanism between the remote control device and the audience measurement meter. The remote control device collects visitor demographic information locally and transmits it to the meter through an improved infrared messaging protocol, enabling the system to capture and process guest information that was previously lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If remote control devices lack visitor data entry capabilities, then device simplicity is maintained, but accurate audience measurement is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of audience measurementVSAvoidremote control device functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control device is designed with multi-functionality, combining both media control operations and visitor data entry capabilities in a single device. This universal design allows the device to serve multiple purposes: controlling media playback and accurately capturing audience demographic information, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring separate specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If remote control devices do not allow demographic data entry, then ease of operation is maintained, but audience composition information is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudience composition informationVSAvoiduser interaction for data entry

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The remote control device enables visitors to self-register and enter their own demographic information directly through the device interface. This self-service approach allows audience members to provide their own gender and age data without requiring manual data collection or complex administrative procedures, maintaining ease of operation while capturing essential audience composition information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 logging and transmission of viewer demographic information, improving the accuracy of audience measurement by allowing guest members to register and update their details, and enhancing user interaction with the device through improved design and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

improved infrared (IR) messaging protocols that enable the transmission of gender and age information to the audience measurement meter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11863831B2Remote control devices to interface with audience measurement meters

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 THE NIELSEN CO (US) LLC

AI summary

Remote control devices to interface with audience measurement meters are disclosed. An example remote control device to interface with an audience measurement meter includes an audience management controller to, responsive to a gender value input via a user interface of the remote control device, store the gender value, responsive to an age value input via the user interface of the remote control device, store the age value, generate a message including the gender value and age value, and a transmitter to transmit the message to the audience measurement meter, the message including a sequence of infrared codes.