Cooperative system for measuring electronic media

1. A method of measuring the electronic media usage associated with a device comprising:

tracking media usage activities associated with the device via a software agent;

using a processor to obtain media information from a media handler resulting from performance of a media research task by the media handler;

dynamically configuring the media research task to be performed by the media handler, wherein the media research task is associated with handling of electronic media by the media handler, and wherein dynamically configuring the media research task includes changing handling of the electronic media by the media handler to filter the media information based on media research information of interest to generate filtered media information, the media research information of interest identified by a host in response to a query by the media handler;

using a processor to communicate the filtered media information to the software agent or another software agent via a defined interface that provides interoperability between the media handler and at least one of the software agents; and

receiving from at least one of the software agents the media information.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further including a media research entity providing an information product to another entity, wherein the information product is developed at least in part using the filtered media information.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes measuring interactions of an individual with the media handler.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes measuring interactions of an individual with the electronic media.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining metadata associated with the electronic media.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining presentation information associated with presentation of the electronic media.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining contextual information associated with the electronic media.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining an identifier of the media handler.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining an identifier of the host of the media handler.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes producing a timestamp related to presentation of the electronic media.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining identifying information associated with the electronic media.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the identifying information includes an identification tag.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the identifying information includes an identification tag provided by a media research entity.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the identifying information is based on an AMOL code.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the identifying information is based on an ISCI code.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein at least some of the identifying information is encrypted.

17. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the software agent is to configure the media research task.

18. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media includes streaming audio content.

19. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media includes streaming video content.

20. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media includes recorded content.

21. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media includes television content.

22. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media includes radio content.

23. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media handler handles MPEG-encoded electronic media.

24. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media handler handles high-definition television content.

25. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media handler handles digital television content.

26. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the defined interface includes an API.

27. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the defined interface is associated with a communication protocol.

28. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media is obtained from a network.

29. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media is obtained from a local source.

30. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media is obtained from a removable storage device.

31. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electronic media is obtained from an optical recording medium.

32. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the software agents is hosted in a people meter.

33. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the software agents is hosted in a device worn by an individual.

34. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a definition of the media research task is provided by a media research entity.

35. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising tracking an individual via the software agent in response to detecting that the individual is within the scope of a media presentation device associated with the media handler.

36. The method as recited in claim 35 , wherein the individual is assigned to the software agent by a media research entity prior to tracking the individual.

37. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media information is media usage information.

38. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media information is media content.

39. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the media handler is provided by a first business entity and the software agent is provided by a second business entity.

40. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein configuring the media research task to be performed by the media handler comprises sending a request to perform the media research task from a software agent to the media handler.

41. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising collecting by the media handler the media information regardless of the presence of the software agents.

42. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein dynamically configuring the media research task includes determining if media information is associated with a media object.

43. A method as defined in claim 42 further comprising determining if a message related to the media information has been created for the software agent.

44. A method as defined in claim 43 further comprising creating a message for the software agent.

45. A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein dynamically configuring the media research task includes selectively presenting media to a user.

46. A method as defined in claim 45 , wherein dynamically configuring the media research task further includes determining if there is presentation information to report.

47. A method as defined in claim 46 further comprising adding the presentation information to a message to be sent to the software agent.

48. A method as claim 1 , wherein dynamically configuring the media research task includes reporting interaction information to at least one of the software agents upon determining that interaction occurred during a media presentation.

49. A method of measuring the electronic media usage associated with a device by a software agent comprising:

dynamically configuring a media research task performed by a media handler associated with the device to collect media research information, wherein dynamically configuring the media research task includes changing handling of the electronic media by the media handler to filter the media research information based on media research information of interest to generate filtered media research information, the media research information of interest identified by a host in response to a query by the media handler;

using a processor to obtain by the software agent the filtered media research information from the media handler via a defined interface that provides interoperability between the media handler and the software agent; and

providing the filtered media research information to an entity collecting media research information.

50. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein at least one of the obtaining of the filtered media research information by the software agent media handler or the providing of the filtered media research information is initially disabled until activated.

51. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information is associated with measuring interactions of an individual with the media handler.

52. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information is associated with measuring interactions of an individual with the electronic media.

53. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information includes metadata associated with the electronic media.

54. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information includes presentation information associated with the presentation of the electronic media.

55. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information includes contextual information associated with the electronic media.

56. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information includes an identifier of the media handler.

57. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information includes an identifier of the host of the media handler.

58. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information includes a timestamp related to presentation of the electronic media.

59. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the filtered media research information includes identifying information associated with the electronic media.

60. The method as recited in claim 59 , wherein the identifying information includes an identification tag.

61. The method as recited in claim 59 , wherein the identifying information includes an identification tag provided by the entity.

62. The method as recited in claim 59 , wherein the identifying information is based on an AMOL code.

63. The method as recited in claim 59 , wherein the identifying information is based on an ISCI code.

64. The method as recited in claim 59 , wherein at least some of the identifying information is encrypted.

65. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media handler is configurable by the software agent via the defined interface.

66. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with streaming audio content.

67. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with streaming video content.

68. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with recorded content.

69. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with television content.

70. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with radio content.

71. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media handler handles MPEG-encoded electronic media.

72. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media handler handles high-definition television content.

73. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media handler handles digital television content.

74. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the defined interface includes an API.

75. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the defined interface is associated with a communication protocol.

76. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with electronic media obtained from a network.

77. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with electronic media obtained from a local source.

78. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with electronic media obtained from a removable storage device.

79. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information is associated with electronic media obtained from an optical recording medium.

80. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the software agent is hosted in a people meter.

81. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the software agent is hosted in a device worn by an individual.

82. The method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the media research information comprises at least one of media usage information or media content.

83. A method as defined in claim 49 , further comprising collecting by the media handler the media research information regardless of the presence of the software agent.

84. A system to collect media information comprising:

a processor;

a media handler to perform a dynamically configurable media research task associated with handling of electronic media, wherein the media research task is dynamically configurable by changing the handling of the electronic media by the media handler to filter the media information based on media research information of interest to generate filtered media information, the media research information of interest identified by a host in response to a query by the media handler; and

a software agent to use the processor to communicate with the media handler via a defined interface that provides interoperability between the media handler and the software agent to enable the software agent to receive the filtered media information associated with the media research task from the media handler.

85. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein at least one of the media handler or the software agent is initially disabled until activated.

86. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes measuring interactions of an individual with the media handler.

87. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes measuring interactions of an individual with the electronic media.

88. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining metadata associated with the electronic media.

89. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining presentation information associated with presentation of the electronic media.

90. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining contextual information associated with the electronic media.

91. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining an identifier of the media handler.

92. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining an identifier of the host of the media handler.

93. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes producing a timestamp related to presentation of the electronic media.

94. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media research task includes obtaining identifying information associated with the electronic media.

95. The system as recited in claim 94 , wherein the identifying information includes an identification tag.

96. The system as recited in claim 94 , wherein the identifying information includes an identification tag provided by a media research entity.

97. The system as recited in claim 94 , wherein the identifying information is based on an AMOL code.

98. The system as recited in claim 94 , wherein the identifying information is based on an ISCI code.

99. The system as recited in claim 94 , wherein at least some of the identifying information is encrypted.

100. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the performance of the media research task by the media handler may be configured by the software agent via the defined interface.

101. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media includes streaming audio content.

102. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media includes streaming video content.

103. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media includes recorded content.

104. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media includes television content.

105. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media includes radio content.

106. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media handler handles MPEG-encoded electronic media.

107. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media handler handles high-definition television content.

108. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media handler handles digital television content.

109. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the defined interface includes an API.

110. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the defined interface is associated with a communication protocol.

111. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media is obtained from a network.

112. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media is obtained from a local source.

113. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media is obtained from a removable storage device.

114. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the electronic media is obtained from an optical recording medium.

115. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the software agent is hosted in a people meter.

116. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the software agent is hosted in a device worn by an individual.

117. The system as recited in claim 84 , wherein the media information comprises at least one of media usage information or media content.

118. A system as defined in claim 84 , wherein the media handler is to perform the media research task regardless of the presence of the software agent.