# US 2019/0174126 A1 · Methods and apparatus for automatic tv on/off detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174126 A1 - Document ID: US20190174126A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/272,804 - Filed: 2019-02-11 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-20 - Assignees: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Applicants: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC - Inventors: Michael Jordan Liss; Richard Lee Horner; Charles Clinton Conklin; James Joseph Vitt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174126A1 ## CPC - H04N 17/004: {for digital television systems} - G01R 35/005: {Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references (G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence)} - H04H 60/32: Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations - H04N 5/64: Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers (furniture aspects {of television cabinets} A47B81/06) - G09G 2330/021: Power management, e.g. power saving - G09G 2370/04: Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller - H04N 21/44213: {Monitoring of end-user related data (arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H04H: BROADCAST COMMUNICATION (multiplex communication H04J; pictorial communication aspects of broadcast systems H04N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus are disclosed to determine a power state of a device. An example apparatus includes a chart generator to determine respective counts for a plurality of measurements during a calibration period, the measurements indicative of an amount of power drawn by the device, the counts indicating respective numbers of times the respective measurements were detected. The example apparatus also includes a calculator to identify a first threshold based on at least one of the counts, and determine a second threshold. The example apparatus also includes a comparator to compare a measurement to the first threshold and to the second threshold, and a state detector to store an indication that the device is in an indeterminate state if the measurement is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus to detect a power state of a device, comprising: a chart generator to determine respective counts for a plurality of measurements during a calibration period, the measurements indicative of an amount of power drawn by the device, the counts indicating respective numbers of times the respective measurements were detected; a calculator to: identify a first threshold based on at least one of the counts; and determine a second threshold; a comparator to compare a measurement to the first threshold and to the second threshold; and a state detector to store an indication that the device is in an indeterminate state if the measurement is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further including a checker to determine that the device is in an ON power state when a previous power state is an OFF power state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further including a timer to initiate a delay period in response to the indication of the indeterminate state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the comparator is to compare a plurality of measurements to the first threshold during the delay period, and, further including a detector to, when at least one of the plurality of measurements is less than the first threshold, identify the device is in an OFF power state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the detector is to interrupt the delay period in response to an indication that the device is in an ON power state during the delay period, the indication to indicate that audio data was received from the device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, further including a checker to determine that the device was in an OFF power state during the delay period if the device is identified in an OFF power state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the comparator is to compare a plurality of the measurements to the first threshold during the delay period, and, when none of the plurality of measurements is less than the first threshold, the detector to identify the device is in an ON power state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the checker is to determine that the device was in an ON power when the detector determines that the device is in an ON power state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the checker is to determine that the device is in an OFF power state when the detector determines that the measurement is less than the first threshold. ### Claim 10 A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least: determine respective counts for a plurality of measurements during a calibration period, the measurements indicative of an amount of power drawn by a device, the counts indicating respective numbers of times the respective measurements were detected; identify a first threshold based on at least one of the counts; determine a second threshold; compare a measurement to the first threshold and to the second threshold; and store an indication that the device is in an indeterminate state if the measurement is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tangible computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to, when the device is in an indeterminate state: identify a previous power state associated with the device; and store an indication that the device is in an ON power state if the previous power state is an OFF power state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The tangible computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to, when the device is in the indeterminate state: initiate a delay period; compare a plurality of measurements to the first threshold during the delay period; and if at least one of the plurality of measurements is less than the first threshold, identify the device is in an OFF power state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tangible computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to, when the device is in an OFF power state during the indeterminate state: store an indication that the device was in the OFF power state during the delay period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The tangible computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to identify that the device is in the ON power state when none of the plurality of measurements are less than the first threshold during the delay period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The tangible computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine to: store an indication that the device was in the ON power state during the delay period when the device is in the ON power state during the indeterminate state; store an indication that the device is in an OFF power state if the measurement is less than the first threshold; or store an indication that the device is in an ON power state if the measurement is greater than the second threshold. ### Claim 16 A method to detect a power state of a device, the method comprising: determining, by executing an instruction with a processor, respective counts for a plurality of measurements during a calibration period, the measurements indicative of an amount of power drawn by the device, the counts indicating respective numbers of times the respective measurements were detected; identifying a first threshold based on at least one of the counts; determining a second threshold; comparing a measurement to the first threshold and to the second threshold; and storing an indication that the device is in an indeterminate state if the measurement is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further including, in response to the device being in the indeterminate state: identifying a previous power state associated with the device; and storing an indication that the device is in an ON power state if the previous power state is an OFF power state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further including, in response to the device being in the indeterminate state: initiating a delay period; comparing a plurality of measurements to the first threshold during the delay period; and if at least one of the plurality of measurements is less than the first threshold, identifying that the device is in an OFF power state. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further including, in response to the plurality of measurements being greater than the first threshold during the delay period: identifying that the device is in the ON power state; and storing an indication that the device was in the ON power state during the delay period. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the identifying of the device being in a power state during the indeterminate state includes: storing an indication that the device is in an OFF power state if the measurement is less than the first threshold; or storing an indication that the device is in an ON power state if the measurement is greater than the second threshold.