Methods and apparatus for detecting space-shifted media associated with a digital recording/playback device

1. A system for monitoring exposure to media at a first presentation site having (1) a media presentation device, (2) a recording/playback device in communication with a home network, and (3) a second device at a monitored location different from the first presentation site, the second device in communication with the home network and capable of transmitting media to the first presentation site, the system comprising

a first metering device at the first presentation site;

a second metering device; and

a space-shift detector to detect when media has been space-shifted to the first presentation site from the second device at the monitored location, the space-shift detector to:

detect first data being written to a first storage of the recording/playback device based on information received from the first metering device at the first presentation site;

in response to detecting the first data being written, request, from the second metering device, second data being read from a second storage of the second device; and

determine that the media is being space-shifted to the recording/playback device from the second device when the first data that is being written to the first storage matches the second data that is being read from the second storage.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second metering device is located at a second presentation site associated with the second device.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second device and the second metering device are at a second presentation site, and the second presentation site comprises a second media presentation device.

4. A system as defined in claim 3 , further comprising a data collection unit to receive metering data from the first metering device at the first presentation site.

5. A method for detecting space-shifted media, the method comprising:

detecting, based on information received from a first metering device, that first data associated with media is being written to a first storage of a first recording/playback device on a home network at a monitored location;

in response to the detecting, requesting, from a second metering device, second data being read from a second storage of a second device on the home network; and

determining that the media has been space-shifted to the first recording/playback device from the second device when the first data that is being written to the first storage matches the second data being read from the second storage.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 , further comprising indicating that the media is space-shifted if the second data is associated with the media.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 , wherein indicating that the media is space-shifted comprises storing an identifier at the first metering device.

8. A method as defined in claim 6 , wherein indicating that the media is space-shifted comprises transmitting an identifier to a data collection device.

9. A method as defined in claim 5 , wherein determining if the second data is being read from the second storage of the second device comprises monitoring access to the second storage at the second device.

10. A method as defined in claim 5 , further comprising:

requesting third data from a third device; and

determining the third data from the third device indicates that the media has been space-shifted to the first recording/playback device if the third data is associated with the media.

11. A space-shift detector comprising:

an information monitor/analyzer to detect that first data associated with media is being written to a first storage of a first recording/playback device on a home network at a monitored location, the information monitor/analyzer to receive information on the first data from a first metering device via a communication module and, in response to detecting the first data being written, request, from a second metering device, second data being read from a second storage of a second device on the home network; and

a software meter to determine that the media has been space-shifted to the first recording/playback device from the second device when the first data that is being written to the first storage matches the second data being read from the second storage.

12. A space-shift detector as defined in claim 11 , further comprising a network analyzer to monitor communications on the home network.

13. A space-shift detector as defined in claim 12 , wherein the software meter is further to receive results of the network analyzer and to determine if the media has been space-shifted by determining if the media was transmitted on the home network.

14. A space-shift detector as defined in claim 11 , wherein the information monitor/analyzer is further to monitor access to data in at least one of the first and second storages.

15. A space-shift detector as defined in claim 11 , further comprising a time stamper to at least one of associate a timestamp with the media or modify a timestamp associated with the media.

16. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disc comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

detect, based on information received from a first metering device, that first data associated with media is being written to a first storage of a first recording/playback device on a home network at a monitored location;

in response to the detecting, request, from a second metering device, second data being read from a second storage of a second device on the home network; and

determine that the media has been space-shifted to the first recording/playback device from the second device when the first data that is being written to the first storage matches the second data being read from the second storage.

17. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to indicate that the media is space-shifted if the second data is associated with the media.

18. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to store an identifier at the first metering device.

19. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 16 , wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to determine if the second data is being read from the second storage of the second device by monitoring access to the second storage.

20. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disc as defined in claim 19 , wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to determine that the first recording/playback device is writing the first data after the second device has read the second data from the second storage.