Viewer channel monitoring for usage of TV or radio receivers - determining listening indices by identifying channel connected to receiver, registering number of viewers via individual memory units, and channel and passing data via telephone to central unit

摘要

Information on the channel being viewed via a TV receiver (1) is passed to a monitoring unit (5). Individual viewers watching the programme in the area (P) are provided with a small transponder (11a,11b,11c) which they must carry whilst participating. A unit in the monitoring unit (13) sends out coded signals via an antenna, and receives back different codes for each participant. The codes will enable personal details of that person to be retrieved. The monitoring unit collects all the information on the participants and channel being viewed continuously, and passes (6) the information via a telephone plug (7) and line (8) to a central unit (9) which collects and analyses information coming from different locations. ADVANTAGE - Better monitoring of programmes being viewed, allowing more accurate advertisement figures to be compiled.