The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 11, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 09, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Michael Robert Hopple, Schenectady, NY (US);
Richard Louis Frey, Delanson, NY (US);
Donald Thomas McGrath, Scotia, NY (US);
Robert John Dunki-Jacobs, Mason, OH (US);
Assignee:
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 7/16 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 7/16 ;
Abstract
The present invention provides a system for recording a viewer's television viewership habits. Sensors monitor the audio signal, synchronization signal, and video signal emanating from the television. A time coincidence channel tag is mixed with the transmitted television audio or video signal at a dwelling by a master unit. Then by matching the channel tag of the viewed channel with the channel tag, an accurate identification of the viewed channel can be made.