Non-obtrusive programming monitor

An apparatus for collecting data concerning usage of a programming monitor component of a home entertainment center by monitoring at least one component of said home entertainment center provided with a control signal receiving device for receiving control signals produced by a user remote control and a digital keypad for inputting control commands therefor, comprising:

• sensor means for detecting said control signals produced by said user remote control;
• transferring means for transferring said control signals from the sensor means to said control signal receiving device of said at least one component;
• a touch panel array positioned over said digital keypad and operative to provide touch control signals upon user actuation thereof;
• said transferring means being operative to produce corresponding control signals in response to said touch control signals and to provide the corresponding control signals to said control signal receiving device;
• means for generating usage data concerning usage of said programming monitor component based on said control signals detected by said sensor means;
• and
• means for outputting said usage data from said generating means to enable monitoring of the usage of said programming monitor component.

Apparatus for collecting data concerning usage of a programming monitor component of a home entertainment center by monitoring at least one component of said home entertainment center controlled by control signals, comprising:

• at least one touch sensitive means positioned over a digital keypad of the at least one component for receiving the control signals;
• means for transferring the control signals form the at least one touch sensitive means to the at least one component;
• generating means for generating usage data concerning the usage of said programming monitor component, said generating means being coupled with the at least one touch sensitive means to receive the control signals therefrom, said generating means being operative to generate said usage data based on the control signals received thereby from the touch sensitive means;
• and
• means for outputting said data from said data generating means to enable monitoring of the usage of said programming monitor component.

An apparatus for collecting data concerning usage of a programming monitor component of a home entertainment center by monitoring at least one component of said home entertainment center controlled by infrared control signal energy received by control signals receiving means thereof, comprising:

• at least one infrared remote control unit for generating said infrared control signal energy;
• sensor means for detecting said infrared control signals energy from said at least one infrared remote control unit;
• means for preventing transmission of said infrared control signal energy from said at least one infrared remote control unit to said control signal receiving means;
• generating means for generating infrared light signals corresponding with said infrared control signal energy and supplying said infrared light signals to said control signal receiving means of said at least one component;
• means for generating data concerning usage of said programming monitor component based on said infrared control signal energy received by said sensor means;
• and
• means for outputting said data from said generating means to enable monitoring of the usage of said programming monitor component.

A method of monitoring a home entertainment center having a plurality of components each having a respective user actuatable control responsive to infrared control signal energy received thereby, to provide data concerning usage of at least one programming monitor component of the home entertainment center, comprising the steps of:

• detecting infrared control signal energy produced by user actuation of an infrared remote control for actuating a respective user actuatable control of a corresponding one of said plurality of components;
• preventing reception of the infrared control signal energy by the respective user actuatable control;
• determining the corresponding one of said plurality of components of said home entertainment center for which said infrared control signal energy was produced;
• applying a control signal corresponding with the infrared control signal energy to said respective user actuatable control;
• generating data concerning usage of the programming monitor component based on the infrared control signal energy;
• and
• recording said data concerning usage of the programming monitor component.

A method of monitoring a home entertainment center having a plurality of components each having a respective user actuatable control, to provide data concerning usage of at least one programming monitor component of the home entertainment center, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a control signal produced by a user for actuating a respective user actuatable control comprising touch sensitive means located over a digital keypad of a respective one of said plurality of components;
• determining the respective one of said plurality of components of said home entertainment center for which said control signal was provided;
• applying said control signal to said respective user actuatable control;
• generating data concerning usage of the programming monitor component based on the control signal;
• and
• recording said data concerning usage of the programming monitor component.

An apparatus for collecting data concerning usage of a programming monitor component of a home entertainment center by monitoring at least one component of said home entertainment center provided with a control signal receiving device for receiving control signals produced by a user remote control, comprising:

• sensor means for detecting said control signals produced by said user remote control;
• control signal transmitting means positioned over said control signal receiving device for transmitting said control signals thereto while blocking the reception of control signals from said user remote control by said control signal receiving device;
• means for generating usage data concerning usage of said programming monitor component based on said control signals detected by said sensor means;
• and
• means for outputting said usage data from said generating means to enable monitoring of the usage of said programming monitor component.

A method of monitoring a home entertainment center having at least one component operative to provided at least one of a visual signal and an audible signal to an audience member pursuant to control signals energy provided to a control input of said component in response to an action of an audience member, comprising the steps of:

• intercepting control signal energy directed to said control input of said component by the audience member for exercising a predetermined control of said component such that said control signal energy is prevented from reaching said control input in an amount sufficient to exercise said predetermined control;
• providing second signals corresponding with the intercepted control signal energy to the control input of said component so that the predetermined control thereof is exercised;
• and
• generating data concerning usage of the component based on the intercepted control signal energy.

A method for collecting data concerning usage of a programming monitor component of a home entertainment center including at least one component provided with a control signal receiving device for receiving control signals produced by a user remote control, comprising:

• positioning a sensor means over said control signal receiving device for detecting control signals produced by said user remote control, said sensor means permitting transmission of said control signals therethrough to be received by said control signal receiving device;
• detecting said control signals with the use of said sensor means;
• transmitting said control signals through said sensor means to the control signal receiving device of said at least one component;
• and
• generating usage data concerning usage of said programming monitor component based on the detected control signals.

A method of monitoring a home entertainment center having a plurality of components each having a respective user actuatable control responsive to mechanical control signal energy received thereby, to provide data concerning usage of at least one programming monitor component of the home entertainment center, comprising the steps of:

• detecting mechanical energy applied by a user to operate a respective user actuatable control;
• preventing reception of the mechanical energy by the respective user actuatable control;
• determining the respective one of said plurality of components of said home entertainment center for which said mechanical energy was provided;
• applying an infrared light signal corresponding with said mechanical energy to an infrared remote control receptor of said respective one of said plurality of components;
• generating data concerning usage of the programming monitor component based on the mechanical energy;
• and
• recording said data concerning usage of the programming monitor component.

Apparatus for collecting data concerning usage of a programming monitor component of a home entertainment center by monitoring at least one component of said home entertainment center controlled by control signals, comprising:

• touch sensitive means for providing touch control signals upon user actuation thereof;
• means for preventing user access to a digital keypad of said at least one component operative to input user commands thereto;
• means for providing control signals to said at least one component corresponding with the touch control signals provided by said touch sensitive means upon user actuation thereof;
• generating means for generating usage data concerning the usage of said programming monitor component based on the touch control signals provided by the touch sensitive means;
• and
• means for outputting said data from said data generating means to enable monitoring of the usage of said programming monitor component.