Methods and apparatus to collect media exposure information
View Patent ↗Methods and apparatus to collect media exposure information are described. An example apparatus includes an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations and a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.
1. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:
an identifier card including a plurality of printed machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations; and
a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the printed codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the printed codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the printed codes was read.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metering device stores a member identifier corresponding to the user.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metering device further comprises a timing device to generate the timestamp associated with the media exposure information.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metering device further comprises a communication port to export the media exposure information.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein metering device is to transfer the media exposure information to a central facility.
6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metering device is portable.
7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metering device comprises a key fob attachable to a key ring.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the identifier card is attached to a key ring.
9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the metering device is stationary and located proximate a media presentation system.
10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 , further comprising a personal identifier card having machine readable codes identifying potential audience members.
11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the identifier card further comprises an end code to be scanned when a media exposure session ends.
12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the scanner is a bar code scanner.
13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the machine readable codes are bar codes.
14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the memory stores a list of media stations.
15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the metering device further comprises a display device to display the media stations of the list.
16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 , further comprising an input to select a media station from the list to indicate exposure to the selected media station.
17. A method of collecting media exposure information, comprising:
generating an identifier card including a plurality of printed codes, each of the printed codes corresponding to a respective media station;
receiving a first reading of a first one of the printed codes; and
storing the first reading and a timestamp to gather media exposure information regarding exposure to a first one of the media stations.
18. A method as defined in claim 17 , further comprising receiving a second reading from the scanner associated with a second one of the printed codes.
19. A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein the first reading indicates a start of a media exposure session and the second reading indicates an end of the media exposure session.
20. A method as defined in claim 18 , further comprising timestamping the second reading.
21. A method as defined in claim 17 , further comprising assigning a member identifier corresponding to a user of to a metering device that stores the first reading and the timestamp.
22. A method as defined in claim 21 , wherein the metering device is attachable to a key ring.
23. A method as defined in claim 17 , further comprising transferring the first reading and timestamping to a central facility.
24. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:
an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations; and
a metering device comprising a key fob attachable to a key ring, the metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.
25. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:
an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations, wherein the identifier card is attachable to a key ring; and
a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.
26. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:
an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations and an end code to be scanned when a media exposure session ends; and
a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.
27. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:
an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations; and
a metering device including a bar code scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read.
28. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:
an identifier card including a plurality of bar codes corresponding to one or more media stations; and
a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the bar codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the bar codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the bar codes was read.
29. An apparatus to collect media exposure information, comprising:
an identifier card including a plurality of machine readable codes corresponding to one or more media stations;
a metering device including a scanner to read a first one of the codes and a memory to record media exposure information identifying exposure of a user to a media station associated with the first one of the codes, the media information being stored in association with a timestamp corresponding to a time at which the first one of the codes was read, wherein the memory stores a list of media stations; and
an input to select a media station from the list to indicate exposure to the selected media station.
30. A method of collecting media exposure information, comprising:
generating an identifier card including a plurality of codes, each of the codes corresponding to a respective media station;
receiving a first reading of a first one of the codes;
storing the first reading and a timestamp to gather media exposure information regarding exposure to a first one of the media stations; and
receiving a second reading from the scanner associated with a second one of the codes.
31. A method of collecting media exposure information, comprising:
generating an identifier card including a plurality of codes, each of the codes corresponding to a respective media station;
receiving a first reading of a first one of the codes; and
storing the first reading and a timestamp on a metering device to gather media exposure information regarding exposure to a first one of the media stations, wherein the metering device is attachable to a key ring.