System and method for set top box viewing data

A method in a subscriber terminal, comprising:

• receiving a configuration file from a headend device, wherein the configuration file instructs one or more of a plurality of subscriber terminals to monitor and upload data, wherein the headend device is configured to broadcast configuration files to the plurality of subscriber terminals and to select a subscriber terminal of the plurality of subscriber terminals based at least on demographic characteristics of users associated with each of the one or more of the plurality of subscriber terminals;
• determining that the subscriber terminal is included in the one or more of the plurality of subscriber terminals and responsive thereto periodically monitoring the data, the data including media displayed on a television and a dwelling time associated with a duration of an activity;
• storing the data in a memory, wherein the data has an associated timestamp;
• transmitting the data periodically to a data repository;
• analyzing the data to determine viewing patterns of an individual viewer associated with a subscriber terminal based on the data;
• and
• determining return on investment and yield for a program associated with a promo spot based on the data and a day and time at which the promo spot is aired.

A method, comprising:

• selecting a subset of a plurality of subscriber terminals from within a service-provider managed network based on demographic characteristics of users associated with each of the subset of the plurality of subscriber terminals;
• generating usage configuration rules based on the subset of the plurality of subscriber terminals;
• transmitting the generated usage configuration rules to the subset of the plurality of subscriber terminals;
• monitoring data according to configuration files broadcast to the plurality of subscriber terminals, wherein each configuration file includes a respective usage configuration rule and wherein each subscriber terminal is configured to use the respective usage configuration rule to determine whether to monitor the data;
• determining viewing patterns of an individual viewer associated with a subscriber terminal of the plurality of subscriber terminals based on the data;
• analyzing the data and targeted attributes to determine a predicted yield for potential targeted attributes and media;
• and
• determining return on investment and yield for a program associated with a promo spot based on the data and a day and time at which the promo spot is aired.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a set top box configured to monitor and transmit data according to a respective configuration file received from a headend device operating within a service-provider managed network,
• wherein the headend device is configured to broadcast configuration files to a plurality of set top boxes, wherein the configuration files instruct one or more of the plurality of set top boxes to monitor the data, wherein the headend device is further configured to select a set top box of the plurality of set top boxes based at least on demographic characteristics of a user associated with the selected set top box, and determine a return on investment and yield for a program associated with a promo spot based on the data and a day and time at which the promo spot is aired;
• and
• wherein the set top box is further configured to determine whether the set top box is included in the one or more of the plurality of set top boxes and to determine how to transmit the monitored data to a data repository in response to a triggering event based on the respective configuration file.