Universal Optical Sensor for Infrared Signal Key Code Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audience measurement systems face challenges in accurately and consistently collecting data on television channel changes due to the variability in infrared signaling protocols used by different media remote controls from various manufacturers, which becomes more complex with upgrades and changes in remote control arrangements.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a key code detector that uses a query optical pulse signature, including a query symbol alphabet, to identify the key activated on the media remote control, allowing for generalized key code detection without prior knowledge of specific infrared signaling protocols, enabling consistent and accurate collection of media activity data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional infrared signal monitoring methods are used, then the system can collect data on television channel changes, but the accuracy and consistency of data collection deteriorates due to variability in infrared signaling protocols from different manufacturers
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal optical sensor that can detect infrared signals from multiple different remote control protocols without requiring protocol-specific configuration. The sensor captures raw optical pulse data that can be analyzed to identify key codes across various infrared signaling standards, making the measurement system adaptable to different manufacturers and protocol variations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from protocol-specific detection to parameter-based detection by analyzing temporal characteristics of optical pulses (pulse width, interval patterns) rather than relying on protocol-specific encoding. This allows the system to maintain measurement precision across different infrared protocols by focusing on universal signal parameters
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system tries to support multiple infrared signaling protocols, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases due to the need to handle various protocols from different manufacturers
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential temporal parameters from infrared signals (pulse durations, intervals, patterns) while discarding protocol-specific encoding details. This extraction approach allows the system to support multiple protocols without implementing full protocol stacks, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor acts as an intermediary that converts diverse infrared protocols into a unified raw data format. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of different protocols, allowing the system to handle multiple protocols through a single standardized detection mechanism rather than requiring separate handling for each protocol
3Ease of operation
If the system uses generalized key code detection without prior knowledge of specific protocols, then the ease of operation improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to protocol variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service detection by automatically analyzing the temporal patterns of received optical pulses to identify key codes without requiring external configuration or prior knowledge of the remote control protocol. The system adapts to the specific protocol being used by learning from the signal characteristics itself, making operation simple while handling protocol variability internally
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
This approach adapts to changes in remote control arrangements and protocols, providing reliable and accurate data collection for media activities like television channel changes without relying on complete prior knowledge of infrared signaling protocols.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor to sense the optical pulse stream
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for media monitoring and audience measurement. An example system includes a symbol alphabet meter to generate a query symbol alphabet based on captured data of an optical pulse stream, the optical pulse stream detected from a media remote control. The example system also includes a symbol alphabet matcher to apply a probability function to the query symbol alphabet and a reference symbol alphabet to determine a symbol alphabet matching probability, and determine a symbol alphabet match based on the symbol alphabet matching probability. In addition, the example system includes a key code detector to determine a key code based on the symbol alphabet match.