Methods and apparatus to adaptively select sensor(s) to gather audience measurement data based on a variable system factor and a quantity of data collectible by the sensors
AssigneeThe Nielsen Company (US), LLC
InventorsPaul M. Mears, Arun Ramaswamy
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus to adaptively gather audience information data are disclosed. The disclosed methods and apparatus monitor system factor(s) and select one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors positioned to gather audience measurement data based on the monitored factor(s). Thus, the disclosed methods and apparatus adapt to the conditions they face by selecting an amount and/or type of audience measurement data they gather.
Claims36
A method of gathering audience measurement data comprising:
- monitoring a variable system factor reflecting a current system condition;
- summing an amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by a plurality of sensors located to develop the audience measurement data at a local site, the plurality of sensors being located at the same local site;
- adaptively selecting, using a processor, at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on a comparison involving (a) the variable system factor and (b) the amount of data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors to adapt to the current system condition;
- and
- storing the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor.
A non-transitory medium storing machine readable instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
- monitor a variable system factor;
- sum an amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being gathered by a plurality of sensors located to develop the audience measurement data at a local site;
- adaptively select at least one sensor from the plurality of sensors based on a comparison involving (a) the variable system factor and (b) the number of bytes of data per unit of time that that is currently capable of being gathered by the plurality of sensors;
- and
- capture the audience measurement data developed by the at least one selected sensor.
An apparatus to gather audience measurement data comprising:
- a plurality of sensors located at a local site to gather audience measurement data;
- a switch coupled to the sensors to selectively connect the sensors to an output in communication with a remote site;
- and
- a sensor selector to select which of the sensors the switch connects to the output based on a comparison involving (a) an amount of audience measurement data per unit of time that is currently capable of being collectively gathered by the plurality of sensors and (b) at least one variable system factor monitored at the remote site, wherein the sensor selector is to route data collected from one or more of the sensors to the remote site based on the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.