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. 18, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 02, 1999
Applicant:
Inventor:
Cheuk Wan Chan, Tarpon Springs, FL (US);
Assignee:
Nielsen Media Research, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 9/00 ; H04N 7/16 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N 9/00 ; H04N 7/16 ;
Abstract
A non-invasive or minimally invasive intermediate frequency (I.F.) probe is disclosed for use as part of a broadcast audience measurement system. The probe can be used both to acquire a representation of a tuned signal and to inject a recognition signal into a tuned signal. The probe is configurable for use with both analog (e.g., NTSC, PAL or SECAM) and digital (e.g., ATSC) television broadcasts. Optionally, when in the injection mode, the I.F. probe can be used with another sensor;to determine which of several inputs to a monitored receiver is providing the audio and/or video output(s) selected by an audience member.