CN1047902C - 观众测定装置 - Google Patents

观众测定装置 Download PDF

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CN1047902C
CN1047902C CN94190826A CN94190826A CN1047902C CN 1047902 C CN1047902 C CN 1047902C CN 94190826 A CN94190826 A CN 94190826A CN 94190826 A CN94190826 A CN 94190826A CN 1047902 C CN1047902 C CN 1047902C
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CN1116026A (zh
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威廉·L·托马斯
卢道政
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TNC US Holdings Inc
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Abstract

一种收集代表选调节目而非选调频道数据的观众测定系统，它包括：一家庭计量装置，记录辅助码或在未搜寻到辅助码时从节目析取节目台标；参考装置，监测广播节目、析取参考台标、记录与广播节目关联的辅助码、并在不存在辅助码时压缩并存储代表要监测的节目的数字复制品；数据收集装置，比较家庭及参考数据，从而判定(a)选择哪些要监测的节目供收看或收听，(b)哪些家庭收看或收听要监测的节目，(c)选择收看或收听要监测的节目的时间。

Description

观众测定装置
发明的技术领域
本发明涉及一种观众测定系统，更确切地说，涉及一种对观众观看的电视台节目或听众倾听的电台节目进行鉴别的观众测定系统。
发明背景
尽管本发明的描述是针对电视观众监测的，但是应当理解，本发明同样适用于电台听众监测。同时，本文中所使用的术语“节目”可以具有各种长度，如节目、商业广告、推销、公共服务通告之类的全部或部分。
现有技术中，广播听众测定的进行是用置于统计选择的一家一户中的设备来监测各统计选择户中接收机所选调的频道的。集中局收集这些统计选择户的数据，并与另行收集的参考数据进行比较。这些参考数据包括按各收视时间每一可接收频道可提供的节目编制的节目表，通常称为节目记录(参考数据也可以称为电台记录、有线电视记录等)。通过将选调的频道(即统计选择户中接收机所选调的频道)与该时刻这些频道中的节目进行比较，可以对一定数量的家庭所选择的节目的识别作出推断。
因为在过去的数十年中，被抽样家庭所接收的频道的平均数之显著增长，使得节目记录的编制越来越困难。这一增长大部分是由于节目制作和(或)广播源数量的增加以及对这些源的易达性提高的缘故。节目源易达性的提高大部分又是由于分配节目的有线电视和卫星电视系统的数量的增加的缘故。可被接收和选择的频道数量的增多以及易达性的提高增加了编制精确节目记录的难度和所需的费用。这样，就需要一种基于节目而不是基于频道的测定节目观众的系统，来消除该系统对很难编制并且编制花费较大的节目记录的依赖。
另外，在统计选择的家庭中安装常规的观众测定设备价格昂贵。花费的绝大部分与需要将选调的频道校准到相应的节目源有关(当进入家庭的信号之路径通过众多选调器，如电视选调器、有线电视变换器、VCR选调器等尤其是这样)。这一花费和另一显著部分是由于通常需要打开(即进入)被监测的接收机和(或)有关设备、从而观众测定设备的安装人员能够安全接近这些接收机的选调器和(或)有关设备的缘故。同时，统计选择的家庭可能不愿允许这种进入，因为担心这种进入会损坏东西或不雅观。
再有，对于观众测定系统产生的观看记录总是至少存在某些固有的混淆不清，这是因为，尽管该系统对统计选择户中的接收机所选调的频道以及这些接收机调在这些频道上的时间作出准确报告，但是对于这些频道以及这些时间内目前正在播送的节目是无法准确知道的。克服这种混淆不清所建仪采用的方法是用一个辅助码对每一播送的节目进行标注(例如，在要广播和(或)监视的每一电视节目的垂直消隐期间将一数字码写在所选图像行上)。随后，这一辅助码可以由抽样家庭中的计量设备来读取，并可以与存储在诸如集中局计算机等的编码节目名称库中的辅助码相比。该编码节目名称库含有一人工输入的表，该表中含有节目名称及与之相关的编码。这样，给抽样家庭中收视和(或)收听的所选节目一辅助编码，可以根据该库方便地确定该节目的节目名称。尽管以前曾有人建议过这种系统，但是这一系统一直未被成功地用作观众测定，这是因为这种系统需要在进行完整测定之前对所有可能的节目编码，并且因为该系统要求辅助编码完好无损地通过各种分配和广播处理，从而难以辨认。
辅助编码通常用来证实节目调整。即，典型的观众测定系统对统计选择户的接收机所选调的频道以及该接收机调在这些频道上的时间作出判定。选调的频道以及调在这些频道上的时间每隔一定时间被传送到一中央设施，在该中央设施处，所选调的频道及调在这些频道上的时间与前述节目记录比较。该节目记录是根据这些节目的节目源所提供的信息所编制的，旨在反映在该节目记录中所指示的时刻所要播送的节目的标识。读取这些节目辅助编码的系统用来证实节目记录的准确性，即，这些节目如节目记录中所指示的那样，在所要求的时间内被播送出去。
这一系统的一个例子如转让给本申请同一受让者的美国专利4,025,851。其中所揭示的系统监视的节目在一个或多个电视节目垂直消隐期间的图像行上写有一编码。该专利中所描述的系统通常称为调整自动监视(简称为AMOL)系统，在过去的十年中美国已广泛使用，该系统用来判定(i)播送节目的标识，(ii)播送这些节目的本地台，(iii)播送这些节目的时间。这种类型的系统使所得的节目记录之复杂性大为减小，并提高了这些节目记录的准确性，而这些节目记录是当代本国电视观众测定的基本要素。该AMOL系统不用于抽样家庭，其原因是编码丢失问题，这些问题可以在广播监测站处更成功的得以纠正，但在抽样家庭中是难以克服的。
用于无线电听众监测的系统见韦伯莱(Weinblatt)的美国专利4,718,106韦伯莱给出的听众测定系统中，每一参与者带一个测量装置，该测量装置包括一传声器和一响应于节目编排中带内编码的检测电路。韦伯莱讨论了这一方法中作为一个问题的背景噪声，并且指出这一噪声可以用一个低灵敏度的传声器来克服。美国专利4,807,031中所揭示的系统使用了一种低数据速率的健全图像亮度编码方法。美国专利4,945,412中所揭示的系统使用了40Hz亚音频单音对广播的音频部分进行编码。
在转让给本发明同一受让人的美国专利申请号为07/981,199的专利文献中，托马斯(Thomas)等人给出了一种多级编码系统，在该多级编码系统中，可以在各级节目分配的一个节目中插入一个编码。每一编码给出该多级编码系统的相应级中节目源的标识。这样，就可以通过该分配系统来跟踪节目。
依赖于编码广播的前述系统需要用分布系统中的至少一个节目源(例如广播电台)对所有节目进行编码。即使在所有广播电台都同意合作这样一种不可能事件中，编码设备的偶然差错也会在仅依赖于这些编码的系统所提供的数据中产生空隙。只要不对节目的重要数字进行编码，这些空隙就会产生测定数据的丢失，并且使所有节目共享测定无意义。这样，即使要识别的节目中没有编码，也需要收集节目识别数据。
建议的几种广播测定系统出于识别节目的目的不检测嵌入的编码，但监测节目的内容。这些系统一般接收测定点处监测的节目，从这些节目中析取广播台标，并将这些台标与先前从这些节目的参考复制品(如节目分配磁带)或从要监测的先前广播中析取的相应参考台标进行比较。例如，在转让给本专利同一受让人的美国专利4,697,209中，公开了一种节目监测系统，其中的广播台标是在与某节目内容(例如被监测节目视频部分中的画面变化)有关的抽样家庭中收集的。这些广播台标随后与选调到所选市场中已有广播源的参考设备所收集的参考台标相比较。广播台标和相应参考台标之间满意的比较指示正被观看的节目，而不只是频道。
转让给本发明同一受让人的美国专利4,677,466中所揭示的节目监测系统将被选节目(例如商业广告)的广播分段。该监测系统将供随后通常观看的未被认可、有凝问的商业广告(例如，时间短且一般前、后有一消隐帧的节目，其长度通常与商业广告相当)制成录像磁带，从而可以用人工方法制作未被认可和有疑向的商业广告的标识。为了在录像磁带上人工识别这些未被认可和有疑问的商业广告，必须将这些录像传送给操作人员。随着这些未经认可和有疑问的商业广告用人工方法识别，赋予这些商业广告一恰当的节目标识(ID)。
然而，依赖于台标的析取以识别节目的系统也具有众所周知的缺点。这些系统价格昂贵，其使用受限于计算机硬件的成本。另外，这些系统依赖于从已知节目源收集参考台标的参考测定点。当一个参考设备出现故障时，用于那一节目源的所有参考台标数据会被丢失。如果丢失的数据占选调动作的重要部分，那么通常称为“共享”而广泛采用的统计量就不可靠了。
传送(例如在一电话线上)节目的数字压缩图像和(或)声音复制品而不是节目磁带同样也是众所周知的。例如，在转让给本申请同一受让人的美国专利4,888,638中，节目压缩后在电话线上传送到各家庭。经压缩的节目被存储在各家庭中的设备中，并且随后当满足某些预先选定的条件(例如响应于压缩节目中所包含的节目标识)时，被显示在电视接收机上，替换固定时间内的节目。介绍有关压缩图像和(或)声音复制品的更新一些的资料见斯特罗伯(Strubbe)的美国专利5,223,923。斯特罗伯的系统使得某一电视观众能够根据该观众所给出的节目资料复件，选择供将来观看或记录的节目，而该节目材料是从存储在该观众家中数据库中的压缩复制品中产生的。
发明概述
与现有技术的测定系统不同，本发明的系统收集代表被选节目而不是被选频道的数据，并且通常包括(i)抽样家庭中的一个固定和(或)可携带的家庭计量装置，该计量装置在接收某一广播的时间内运行，并记录要监测的节目中可能有的辅助码，如果没有辅助码，则从节目中析取节目台标，(ii)一参考装置，该参考装置监测要监测的广播节目，从中析取参考台标，存储这些参考台标，记录与要监测的这些广播节目相关连的任何辅助码，而且如果不存在辅助码的话，就压缩并存储代表要监测广播节目的数字复制品，(iii)一数字收集装置，该装置从多个这样的家庭计量装置以及一个或多个参考装置中收集数据，并比较这些家庭计量数据及参考数据，从而判定(a)选择哪些要监测的广播节目，供收看和(或)收听，(b)哪些被测家庭收看和(或)收听要监测的广播节目，(c)何时选择要监测的广播节目，供收看和(或)收听，(iv)集中局装置，自动判定所监测各编码节目的节目名称，并再生各所监测压缩广播节目的复件，使该工作者能够观看该复件，并给每一相应节目一个节目名称。
本发明的观众测定系统采用辅助码来识别正被选择的编码广播节目，供收看和(或)收听，并收集随后能被用来识别非编码广播节目的节目数据或信号(例如台标)。本发明的观众测定系统能非侵入式地安装在某一统计选择的家庭中，从而实际上不必打开家庭的娱乐设备。
因此，本发明的一个发明点在于，观众测定系统识别信号源广播的并且家庭接收机所选调的节目。该观众测定系统包括一基准接收机，用来接收某一基准站的节目广播。一节目台标析取器与家庭接收机耦合，析取并存储广播节目的节目台标。一参考台标析取器与基准接收机耦连，析取并存储广播节目的参考台标。该参考台标与上述节目台标相比较，产生相应于该节目的节目识别收看和(或)收听记录。一家庭编码读取器与该家庭接收机耦连，读取该家庭中接收节目的辅助码，并将该家庭中接收的节目辅助码存储在第一存储器内。一参考编码读取器与基准接收机耦连，读取基准站中接收节目的辅助码，并将该站中接收节目的辅助码存储在第二存储器内。从第一存储器和第二存储器取出这些辅助码。从第一存储器取得的辅助码与存储在编码节目名称库中的数据进行比较，从而产生一相应于该节目的节目识别收看和(或)收听记录。从第二存储器取得的辅助码与存储在编码节目名称库中的数据进行比较，从而产生一个与该节目对应的节目识别广播记录。
本发明的第二个发明点在于，观众测定系统识别信号源广播，并且家庭接收机选调的节目。该观众测定系统包括一基准接收机，用来接收一基准站处的节目广播。一家庭编码读取器与该家庭接收机耦连，读取该家庭中接收节目的辅助码，并将该家庭中接收节目的辅助码存储在第一存储器内。辅助码与存储在一编码节目名称库中的数据进行比较，从而识别该家庭中接收的节目。一节目台标析取器与该家庭接收机耦连，并从该节目析取节目台标。一参考台标析取器与该基准接收机耦连，并析取广播节目的参考台标。上述节目台标与该参考台标比较，从而识别该家庭中接收的节目。
本发明的第三个发明点在于，观众测定装置从广播信号源收集代表节目信号的数据。这些节目信号是通过与一预定观众相关联的家庭接收机来接收的。该节目信号的第一部分带有一辅助码，而该节目信号的第二部分不带有辅助码。该观众测定装置包括一与家庭接收机相关联的传感器，用来感受与家庭接收机接收的节目信号第一或第二部分所对应的第一和第二信号分量。一信号处理机有一输出，并对第一和第二信号分量进行处理。一编码读取器与信号处理机的输出相连，读取节目信号第一部分携带的辅助码，并将该辅助码存储在一选调数据存储器中。一节目台标发生器与该信号处理机输出相连，从节目信号的节目部分产生一节目台标，并将该节目台标存储在选调数据存储器内。存储在选调数据存储器内的辅助码和节目台标被传递到集中局计算机。
本发明第四个发明点在于，观众测定系统对来自广播信号源的节目广播的观众进行测定，该广播信号源的一些节目由家庭接收机接收，并由某一预定观众选来收看或收听。这些节目中的一个第一节目单元带有一个辅助码，这些节目中的第二节目不带有辅助码。观察测定系统包括一家庭的节目台标析取器，用来从至少一个节目中析取节目台标。基准站中的参考台标析取器从至少一个节目中析取一参考台标。将这一节目台标与该参考台标比较。基准站的复制品发生产生并在存储器中存储第二节目单元的压缩复制品。从该压缩复制品再生第二节目单元的复件，从而操作人员可以识别与第二节目单元关联的广播节目。
本发明的第五个发明点在于，从与某一观众关联的接收机接收的多个广播节目中识别几个节目的方法包括下述步骤：(a)在某一接收机处，检测与一个节目对应的信号；(b)如果信号中有一个辅助识别码，则读取并存储该辅助识别码以及读取该辅助识别码的时间段，作为第一存储器内的标出时间的编码数据；(c)如果该信号中不存在辅助识别码，则从该信号析取一节目台标，并存储该节目台标以及析取该节目台标的时间，作为第一存储器内的标出时间的节目台标数据；(d)将第一存储器内的数据传递到集中局；(e)在一本地监测站检测该信号；(f)在该本地监测站从节目信号中析取一参考台标，并存储该参考台标以及析取该参考台标的时间，作为第二存储器中标出时间的参考台标数据；(g)在带有标出时间的参考台标数据的第二存储器中，存储(1)在本地监测站处从节目信号读取的辅助识别码，或者(2)该信号的压缩数字复制品；(h)将第二存储器中的数据传递到集中局；(i)在集中局，将标出时间的编码与第一数据库比较，从而识别多个节目的第一部分，第一数据库含有广播节目名称表以及与之相关联的辅助码；(j)在集中局，将与标出时间的参考台标数据存在一起的辅助码与第一数据库以及该标出时间的节目台标数据比较，从而识别多个节目的第二部分；(k)产生并人工识别压缩数字复制品的复件，从而在第二数据库中产生一个记录，该第二库中有一表，该表包含广播节目名称以及与之相关的台标；(l)将第二数据库与标出时间的节目台标数据比较，从而识别多个节目的第三部分；(m)重复步骤(j)、(k)和(l)，直至所有标出时间的节目台标均被识别，或被确定为无法识别。
本发明的第六个发明点在于，观众测定系统包括一接收机装置，该接收机装置靠近一接收广播节目信号的抽样接收机。该接收机装置包括第一时钟、第一通信装置、从广播节目信号的编码部分读取辅助码的编码阅读器、根据广播节目信号的非编码部分产生节目台标的节目台标发生器、以及用来存储第一数据的第一存储装置，第一数据中标时包括涉及接收机装置的编码阅读器所读辅助码的标时编码数据以及涉及节目台标发生器所产生节目台标的标时台标数据。基准装置包括从被监测节目源接收广播节目信号的基准接收机、参考时钟、从广播节目信号的编码部分读取辅助码的编码阅读器、根据广播节目信号产生参考台标的参考台标发生器、产生广播节目信号非编码部分之压缩复制品的压缩复制品发生器、以及存储第二数据的第二存储装置，该第二数据包含基准装置之编码阅读器阅读的辅助码、参考台标、以及基准装置之编码阅读器读取辅助码和产生参考台标的时间。第二存储装置还存储包含压缩复制品以及产生该压缩复制品的时间的第三数据。比较装置包括与第一通信装置耦连的第二通信装置，以及也用来存储第四数据的第三存储装置，第四数据与带有预定辅助码的预定节目单元相关。比较装置接收第一存储装置和第二存储装置的第一、第二和第三数据，并顺序进行比较，其中(i)标时编码数据与第四数据适配，从而形成第一分组节目识别收看和/或收听记录，(ii)将节目台标与具有节目标识的参考台标比较，从而产生第二分组节目识别收看和(或)收听记录，并产生未识别选调节目台标中间组，(iii)将一些中间组与第三数据的参考台标比较，来识别找到的每一适配的压缩复制品，从而可以从中再生与识别压缩复制品对应的广播信号，再生的广播信号便于操作人员将节目名称与未识别节目台标相配一起，并因此产生一第三组节目识别收看和(或)收听记录，以及最后一组未识别节目台标。
本发明第七个发明点在于，用来从家庭接收机接收的广播信号中识别一个节目或一个电台的观众测定系统包括一用来在基准站接收节目信号广播的基准接收机。与家庭接收机耦连的家庭编码阅读器在存在辅助码的情况下，根据家庭中接收的节目信号，读取该辅助码。将该辅助码与存储在某一数据库中的数据比较，来识别家庭中接收的节目或电台。如果节目信号中不存在辅助码，则与家庭接收机耦连的节目台标析取器从该节目信号析取节目台标。与基准接收装置耦连的参考台标析取器从播发到基准站的节目信号中析取参考台标。如果取得了节目台标，则将该节目台标与参考台标比较，来识别家庭中接收的节目或电台。
附图简要说明
在结合附图对本发明作了详细描述以后，本发明的上述及其他特征及优点将变得更加明显。这些附图中：
图1是本发明电视观众测定系统的家庭计量装置示意图；
图2是本发明电视观众测定系统的方框图；
图3是图2所示电视观众测定系统的家庭计量装置进行的工作流程图；
图4是图2所示电视观众测定系统的家庭计量装置所存储的选调记录之图表举例；
图5是图2所示电视观众测定系统的基准装置进行的工作流程图；
图6是图2所示电视观众测定系统的基准装置所存储的参考记录之图表举例；
图7是图2所示电视观众测定系统的集中局所进行的节目识别流程图。
最佳实施例的详细描述
测定系统总述
如图1和图2所示，电视观众测定系统10测定统计选择家庭12的收看特点。电视观众测定系统10包括位于统计选择家庭12的家庭计量装置14。家庭计量装置14可以包括一后文称为人数计数器的观众构成判定装置16。该人数计数器16使观察能够借助于一遥控装置18和多个按键开关20指示其存在。另外，观众还可佩戴个人标记器22，定时将识别信息发给人数计数器16。家庭中的每一收看者可以有一个标记器22，所发识别信息专用于识别该收看者。另外，响应于遥控装置18、按键开关20和(或)标记器22，人数计数器16可以包括一红外摄像机和一计算机图像处理系统(未图示)，以便以被动方式对收看者作出识别，而无需待识别收看者的主动参与。美国专利4,858,000、5,031,228以及美国专利申请号为07/992,383(申请日为1992年12月15日)的专利文献中公开了一种这种系统。因此，人数计数器对每一收看观众作出识别。要求(但非必须)人数计数器靠近要计数的电视机。这样一种电视机24见图1所示。
尽管许多观众测定被限制在统计选择的家庭12内在电视机24处对收看动作作出判定，但是很明显还要求对统计选择家庭12以外的收看和选调作出测量。为些，给出一种例携式计量装置26。例如，当收看者离开家庭时，该便携度计量装置26可以由统计选择的家庭12的收看者携带或佩带，因而可被称作为一个个人人数计数器。该便携式计量装置能够计量便携式计量装置26附近电视机选调的节目或电台。该便携式计量装置26带可以与便携式电视机28一起使用。
如图2所示，电视观众测定系统10通常包括家庭计量装置14，该装置安装在多个统计选择的家庭的每一个家庭内，如统计选择的家庭12内，接收来自一个或多个节目信号源30的信号。该电视观众测定系统10还包括一安装在本地监测站34内的基准装置32。该基准装置32将在后文中详述，它包括(i)用于本地监测站34接收的每一节目源或每一组节目源的装置，以及(ii)本地监测站34接收的所有节目源所共有的装置。本地监测站34应该在地理上足够靠近若干接收相同节目信号源30所发信号的统计选择的家庭。
电视观众测定系统10还包括一集中局装置36，该装置安装在集中局38处，收集来自家庭计量装置14、基准装置32以及用箭头40表示的外部节目记录源的数据。集中局装置36处理从家庭计量装置14、参准装置32和(或)外部节目记录源的数据，给出观众测定报告。
尽管图2把节目信号源30画作广播发射天线，所发射的节目信号由统计选择家庭12中的天线42以及本地监测站34内的天线44来接收，但是应该理解的是，节目信号可以通过多种设施来分配，例如通过同轴电缆、光缆、卫星、租用录像磁带、光盘等。另外，尽管图2绘出的是电视节目信号通过多个统计选择家庭12中电视接收机24来分配，但是通过后文的讨论将变得清楚起来的是，本发明同样可以应用于无线电信号或其他视频和(或)音频信号源，如盒或磁带等。
电视观众测定系统10的家庭计量装置14最好包括一数据存储器，以及通过公用电话交换网48与集中局装置36的通信处理机50进行通信的通信处理机46。公用电话交换网48还有助于集中局装置36的通信处理机50与参考装置32的监测站数据存储器和通信处理机52之间的通信。
家庭计量装置14还包括用于每一被监测电视机24的选调测量设备54。每一选调测量设备54包括一个或多个传感器56、信号预处理电路18、家庭编码阅读机60以及家庭台标析取器62。任何一种传感器均可用作传感器56。例如，传感器56可以特别与被计量电视机24的视频电路相连。然而，传感器56的较佳形式是一种非侵入式传感器，如传声器。传声器可以直接安装在被计量电视机24的附近，来拾取从扬声器内发出的声音，这是一种非侵入安装方式。因为这种安装方式是非侵入的，所以被计量的电视机24不必被打开而与传感器56电气连接在一起。从而可以避免因此而产生的反对。
因为用作传感器56的传声器还会拾取该区域内的其他声音，所以还安装了一个第二传声器90，第二传声器90拾取相对较多的背景噪声以及相对较少的来自被计量电视机24扬声器的声音。第二传声器90的输出被信号预处理电路58用来至少部分消除背景噪声，其简便方法即人们所熟知的，使传声器56和90的信号幅度匹配，然后从传声器56和90中的一个所产生的信号中减去传声器56和90中另一个产生的信号。另一种方法是，信号预处理电路58可以采用其他音频信号处理方法，以减少背景噪声。例如，信号预处理电路58可以采用输入滤波器，这些输入滤波器(例如)可以仅让300Hz—3000Hz频带内的音频信号通过，以消除交通噪声，并去除家用电器设备的响应特性引入的假信号。其他能够用作传感器56的非入侵式传感器例子包括与被计量电视机音频电路相关联的感应式音频拾取装置、位于被计量电视机24屏幕附近来收集电视图像的电视摄像机、或靠近被计量电视机24屏幕来测量作为时间函数的屏幕亮度总体变化的光学传感器、或上述装置之组合。
传感器56用来获取至少部分节目信号，这些节目信号与某些家庭选择在电视机24上收看的节目或电台对应。如果需要，传感器56获取的部分节目信号可以由预处理电路58进行预处理。信号预处理电路58将经预处理的节目信号提供给(i)家庭编码阅读器60，该阅读器试图从与统计选择的家庭12内一个或更多个收看者所选择的节目或电台相对应的节目信号中，选定并读取辅助码，(ii)家庭台标析取器62，该析取器只要家庭编码阅读器60找不到辅助码，就从一个或更多个收看者选择的节目信号产生节目台标。
家庭编码阅读器60的类型可以与哈塞尔伍德(Haselwood)等人的美国专利4,025,851中所揭示的相似，此处引述供参考，或与托马斯(Thomas)等人的美国专利申请07/981,199中所公开的相似。正如美国专利4,025,851中所揭示的那样，一辅助码被插入到节目图像一个或多个垂直消隐期的图像行上，并由该揭示的装置读取。尽管比起音频编码来说，视频编码更广泛地被用作跟踪电视广播的手段，但是视频编码不能按照非侵入式传感器检测来处理。因此，如果传感器56是一个传声器，则辅助码必须置于音频部分，并且可以由类似于美国专利4,025,851中揭示的视频编码阅读装置的装置来读取，或者由类似于美国专利4,718,106中揭示的音频编码阅读装置的装置来阅读。然后对本领域的技术人员来说很清楚的是，如果采用哈塞尔伍德等人在美国专利4,025,851，中或托马斯等人在美国专利申请07/981,199中所给出的视频编码，则可以收到同样的益处。
辅助码可以具有任何一种形式，只需与之关联的节目和(或)电台是由该辅助码唯一识别的。同样，正如托马斯等人在美国专利申请07/981,199中所给出的那样，辅助码可以包含多个分段，每一段包含唯一的源信息，从而每一段中的信息代表相关节目多个分配级中的一个。
因为一个辅助码可以携带用来识别广播发射的所有必要的信息，并且因为编码阅读器是人们所熟知的，所以采用编码节目发射的观众测定系统很经济，备受欢迎。再有，用于读取辅助码的编码阅读器可以配备一些恰当的检验算法等，从而精确读取辅助码(如托马斯等人在美国专利申请07/981,199中描述的多级码)的差错数可做得任意低。
正如前文中所提出的那样，仅依赖于辅助码的系统的问题是，并不是所有的节目或电台均配备合适的辅助码。这样，最好还包括一个台标析取器，来从节目信号中析取台标。当收看的节目中不包含辅助码时，可以采用这些台标。因此，除了家庭编码阅读器60以外，还可以在家庭计量装置14中包括家庭台标析取器62，从而可以从不能读取编码的被接收节目信号中得到这些台标。这些台标对于析取这些台标的节目信号来说是唯一的，因而可用来识别正被收看的节目或电台。家庭台标析取器62可以是基维(Kiewit)等人在美国专利4,697,209中所描述的那种类型，其揭示的内容在此引述供参考。
数据存储器和通信处理器46有选择地存储已由家庭编码读取器60所读取的辅助码和(或)家庭台标析取器62析取的台标。应该指出的是，如果部分可识别编码由家庭编码读取器60读取，则数据存储器和通信处理器46也可以存储编码分段(例如，多级编码的一个字段)，供电视观众测定系统10使用。
如果与家庭计量装置14类似并且还可以具有一个或多个传感器56的便携式计量装置26是用于给定统计选择的家庭12之内或之外，则其产生的数据被暂时存储在随机存取存储器64内，从而其可以通过便携式计量装置26中的接口电路66(如第一调制解调器)以及与数据存储器和处理器46相关的相应接口电路68(如第二调制解调器)，不时地传送到数据存储和通信处理器46内。正如本领域中所熟知的那样，数据可以通过直接电气连接、射频传输、脉冲式红外信令等而在接口电路66和68之间传输。便携式计量装置26还可以包括信号处理电路58、编码读取器60以及台标析取器62。
电视观众测定系统10的标号装置32也可以与基维等人的美国专利4,697,209中揭示的相应装置类似。按照美国专利4,697,209,可以将基准装置32的相应选调器70选调到统计选择的家庭12中的电视机能够接收的每一个可能的频道(即节目源)。基准装置32还可以包括用于每一被接收频道的参考台标析取器72。参考台标析取器72的工作方式与家庭台标析取器62相似，从而析取能够与家庭计量装置14的家庭台标析取器62析取的节目台标进行比较的参考台标。由参考台标析取器72析取的参考台标以及指示相应节目源和台标析取时间的数据可被存储在本地监测站34处的参考台标库74或集中局38处的主集中局参考台标库76内。参考台标可以按照美国专利4,677,466给出其节目标识。美国专利4,677,466揭示的内容在此引述，供参考。
本发明的基准装置32还包括用于每一被接收频道的节目重现装置78。节目重现装置78产生被监测节目的复制品，并将该复制品存储在一存储器80内，从而随后可以由集中局装置36的集中局计算机82取出。这样，操作人员可以收看多媒体终端84上的节目，从而识别本监测站34处接收的非编码节目。多媒体终端84可以包括一图像显示器和一扬声器。尽管如美国专利4,677,466中给出的VCR系统一样，节目重现装置78和存储器80可以是一种VCR系统，节目重现装置78最好是一种信号压缩装置，该信号压缩装置产生被监测节目的数字复制品，并将该数字复制品存储在存储器80内，存储器80可以是一种计算机存储器。因此，存储在存储器80内的数字复制品可以通过公用电话交换网48以电学方式来传输，而无需将磁带记录从本地监测站34寄送到集中局38，从而被压缩的数据可被用来再生非编码节目至少一部分的复件。操作人员可以在多媒体终端84上收看该复件，从而识别非编码节目。
可以采用多种本领域技术人员所熟知的压缩方法来产生被监测节目或电台的数字复制器。例如，可以按照W.R.Zettler等人在标题为“Application of Compactly Supported Wavelets to ImageCompression”(“密集子波在图像压缩中的应用”)的报告中所描述的方法来压缩视频信号。可以按照J.P.Stautner在“声频工程学会第93届大会(93rd Convention of Andio Engineering Sociaty(1992年10月1日—4日))”上的论文中所描述的方法来压缩声频信号。然而，也可以采用其他合适的压缩技术。
基准装置32还可以包括一个用于每一被接收频道的参考码读取器86。该读取器86读取由统计选择家庭12处的家庭编码读取器60读取的同一辅助码。参考码读取器86读取的编码随后与存储在集中局38处编码节目名称库88内的编码和节目数据比较，其目的是为了识别给定时刻给定广播源的节目广播。另一种方法是，编码节目名称库88可以放在本地监测站34内。
本地监测站34处的编码接收通常比统计选择家庭12处的编码接收可靠，这是因为，在本地监测站34处可以采取某些步骤来改善接收，从而可以从一弱信号来读取编码，但在统计选择家庭12和未必能采用相同的步骤改善接收而不妨碍正被监测的收视。在这种情况下，当编码不能在统计选择的家庭12处读取时，该编码却能在本地监测站34处读取，并可以与统计选择家庭12处以及本地监测站34处析取的台标一起使用，从而更有效地识别被收看的节目。这样，因为台标析取器72析取的参考台标可以与家庭台标析取器62析取的节目台标进行比较(即分析相关性)，并且因为台标析取器72析取的台标能够与特定编码节目联系在一起，所以无需操作人员为了识别那些由参考台标析取器72从中析取台标的节目而用人工方法收看编码节目，就能识别这些特定的编码节目。因此，为了识别并验证那些非编码节目，只需收看已经由参考台标析取器72先前析取了参考台标的非编码节目。
在公用交换电话网48上从所有统计选择家庭12和从所有本地监测站34收集数据的集中局38，图2中只出现在一个单一地点处。尽管在根据不同城市的不同广播编制单一全国电视观众定量方面，该数据收集地集中单一地点会有一些优点，但是应该清楚的是，每一正被监测的市场区域内，本地监测站34和集中局38可以放在一处，或者，本地监测站34和集中局38可以部分放在一起，部分分开。如果一部分系统是分散在几个不同地方时，则通常的做法是在一个集中局将来自每一站(局)的部分处理数据组合起来，并从该中心地发布值得通知的数据。家庭内测定
由家庭台标析取器62进行的台标析取可以由图3所示的程序92来实施。该程序92可以由数据存储器和通信处理器46中的处理器来实施。在程序92的开始处，方框94确定是否需要选调数据。正像美国专利4,697,209中所讨论的那样，当电视机处于开机状态或者电视接收机当前选调的频道发生变化时。可以设置一个逻辑标志。正如美国专利4,697,209中所指出的那样，如果电视机24的计量是采用其视频信号的话，可以采用视频失同步来设定指示频道变化的标志。另一方面，如果电视机24的计量是采用其音频信号(例如在采用非侵入式音频传感器的场合)的话，可以采用音频的突然变化来设置指示频道变化的标志。另一种方法是，可以通过监测电视机24的水平回扫15KHz“声音”或者平均/像电平来判定电视机24通/断状态的变化。设定该标态时，方框94确定此时是记录数据的时间。应该注意的是，如果在某一预定时间间隔内没有这一标志事件出现，并且如果电视机24处于开机状态，则无论如何都应设置该标态，以确保在给定的时间间隔内析取预定最小数量的台标。
如果方框94判定未设置标志，则程序92结束，并在某一预定时间以后，再重新进入该程序92。这一运行避免了对处于关断状态的电视机和/或收音机的不必要监测。如果方框94判定标志被设置了，则方框96重新设置该标志，并且方框97读取传感器56接收的信号中的辅助码，如果该信号中存在这种码的话。随后，方框98判定是否有必要析取台标。例如，如果传感器56接收的信号中存在一辅助码，则可以根据该辅助码很容易地判定电视机24(或者是一架收音机)所选调的节目或电台，而不必另外析取台标。然而，如果不存在辅助码，则不能如此简单地判定电视机24选调的节目或电台，所以必须根据传感器56接收的信号析取台标，从而可以由此识别节目或电台。另一方面，方框98可以使得不管节目信号中是否存在辅助码，都可以由传感器56接收的节目信号析取台标。
如果方框98判定需要析取台标，则倘若需要的话，方框99可以进一步处理来自信号预处理电路58的信号，而进一步滤去消除信号预处理电路58提供的信号中的噪声。随后，方框100分析这一信号，从而可以由方框102选择几种计时方法中的一种方法，以使台标析取方框104能够起动台标的析取。方框106通过时钟的使用(如图2中统计选择家庭12处的时钟108)，可以使方框97读取的辅助码标出时间，或者使方框104析取的台标标出时间。方框106还存储标时辅助码/或台标。
可以由方框102选择并被方框104用来起动台标析取的一种计时方法包括使用来自时钟108的时钟信号。按照该方法，台标是由家庭台标析取器62响应于来自时钟108的时钟信号而析取的。这种包含使用时钟时间的方法在实时观众测定(即出于经济利益而忽略家庭中记录节目时间移动收看以及租借磁带时间独立收看的测定)中是最恰当的。
这一时钟信号方法通常要求统计选择家庭12中的时钟108以及电视观众测定系统10的本发监测站34处的时钟110之间的同步远小于最小通报收看间隔(小到1秒，大到5分钟)，并且统计选择家庭12处的家庭台标析取器62以及本地监测站34处参考台标析取器72析取的台标可以时间移动，此时移值约为期望同步误差的三至四倍，从而二者有效匹配。过去十多年来商业上的一种通常做法是，提供观众测定系统内的时钟之间同步，使同步后的日子里，任何时候的准确性都保持在一秒左右。出于热力学的考虑，该一秒漂移误差的期望值受到限制。众所周知，可以通过控制各时钟108、110和112的温度来使该1秒的偏差控制在每天0.1秒左右。另外，众所周知，可以使音频台标做得相关瞬时失配1秒左右，绝对计时有时是一种有用的方法。
可由时钟102选择并被时钟104用来起动台标析取的另一种计时方法依赖于从中析取台标的节目信号的状态。例如，如同美国专利4,677,466中所揭示的那样，可以在一个画面变化后，从一部分稳定的节目信号中析取台标。
主框104可以采用多种已知台标析取方法中的任何一种方法(例如美国专利4,697,209和4,677,416中给出的视频和/或音频台标析取方法中的任何一种方法)来析取台标。如果要求的话，析取的台标可以是一个具有几个字节(通常为2个字节)中一个字节的数。如果测定比较简单(例如上述只实时收看的情况)，则建立的系统可以仅采用一基本台标(例如，是最高有效台标字节，或者在具有两个以上字节的台标的情况下是最高有效台标字节分组)。在其他情况下，如收看机会的数值较大，并且二基本台标偶然相同的机会太大，则可以收集大多数或全部台标字节，并且这些字节可被用作扩充台标。另外，在碰到非实时收看(例如，收看租用录像带或存在点播收视服务)的任何一种情况下，可以收集更全面的台标。
从电视观众测定系统10的家庭计量装置14得到的数据通常包含一组如图4所示的以时间为顺序的选调记录120，其中，选调记录标志区122、类型区124(例如，响应于不同的状态描述到析取台标的特征化，如画面变化、绝对时序、频道变化、电视机通/断变化等)、编码区126和含有相应辅助码或相应节目台标的节目台标区128、以及含有时间的时间数据区130，在所述时间内(i)检测相应的辅助码，或者(ii)析取相应的节目台标，或者(iii)设置相应的标志。图4中的特例可以通过将电视接收机选调在时间H：M：O并且在H：M＋3：03之前收看某一编码节目为产生，在H：M＋3：03时刻，一新节目出现在那一频道上并且收看者(在H：M＋3：05时刻)又选调到另一频道，该另一频道上的节目不带有与之有关的可识别辅助码。
时钟110的一部分包括在本监测站34内，用来瞬时地将本地监测站34处收集的数据与统计选择家庭12处收集的数据联系起来。例如，台标析取的时间与每一析取的台标相关，从而可以计算顺序析取的台标之间的时间间隔。正如基维等人的美国专利4,697,209中指出的那样，顺序析取的台标之间的时间间隔在非实时节目(例如图2中为随后收看而记录在统计选择定庭12中VCR132上的那些节目)中特别重要，因为与时间移动收看事件相关的当前时钟时间，在正被收看的节目的识别中价值较小。这样，正像前文中已经指出的那样，不仅台标之间的时间间隔在确认二台标之间的相关性不是偶然的(因为二者是大约同一时刻析取的)时候是有用的，而且该时间间隔作为识别非实时收看中的搜索参数也是有用的。参考数据的收集
由参考装置32的参考台标析取器72进行的台标析取是由图5所示的程序133来实施的。该程序133可以由监测站数据存储器和通信处理器52中的处理器来实施。程序133一开始，可以按照要求由方框134对来自相应选调器70的节目信号进行预处理。正像上文中所讨论过的那样，来自选调器70的节目信号与其说是统计选择家庭12中处理的节目信号，不如说是一种“清选”式的信号。然后，方框136以与方框100(图3)相类似的方式对该处理了的信号进行分析，方框137以与方框102(图3)相似的方式，判定用来析取台标的恰当计时方法。
随后，根据方框137选择的计时方法，方框138析取基本参考台标(即最高有效台标字节或台标字节分组)。方框140判定是否需要扩充参考台标(所有台标字节)，这是因为(例如)基本参考台标对于某一特定应用场合来说规模是如此之小以至会产生错误的结果。如果需要扩充参考台标，则方框142析取该扩充参考台标。一旦析取了该扩充参考台标，或者如果不需要扩充参考台标，则方框144把一时间标记打到参考台标上。该时间标记的根据是基准装置32的时钟110所指示的时间。
随后，方框146判定某一辅助码是否与选调器70选择的频道上所播送的节目相关。如果检测到一个辅助码，则方框148根据该检测到的辅助码以及编码节目库88中存储的编码节目信息，对选调的节目的节目标识作出判定。即，如果编码节目库88位于本地监测站34处，则基准装置32判定该节目标识；然而，如果编码节目库88位于集中局88处，则集中局计算机82判定该节目标识。如果辅助码不是由时钟146检测的，则方框150压缩至少一部分节目信号。方框152存储方框148和150所提供的恰当参考记录。
两种类型的参考记录例子见图6所示。至少在某些方面，这些参考记录是与图4中的选择记录相似的。第一组参考记录154包括一个通过选调器70的节目检测到辅助码时的时间间隔。第一组参考记录154的这些参考记录中的区域包括一时间数据区156、一类型区158、一编码区160、一析取的参考台标区162以及一重现数据区64。然而，辅助码是相对于第一组参考记录154的参考记录而被检测的，没有必要填写重现数据区164，因而该区域是空白的。
第二组参考记录166包括一个通过选调器70的节目未检测到辅助码的时间间隔。第二组参考记录166中的区域包括一时间数据区168、一类型区170、一编码区172、一析取台标区174以及一重现数据区176。然而，因为辅助码不是相对于第二组参考记录166的参考记录而被检测的，所以编码区172中不存在数据；因此，需要填写重现数据区176。所以，在这些时间段内，节目重现装置78压缩通过相应选调器70的节目信号，并将该节目信号的合成数字复制品存储到存储器80内。
基准装置32中不采用统计选择家庭12中所使用的那种类型的标志事件检测。在统计选择的家庭12中，必须仅在电视机处于开机状态时，收集数据。然而，本地监测站34中收集的参考数据在以后的某一时刻，必须被用来识别多个这样的统计选择家庭的收看，并且必须包括在任一统计选择家庭中可能已发生的标志事件期间的所有情况。
集中局运行
集中局装置36收集来自多个本地监测站34以及多个统计选择家庭12的数据。正象下文讨论中将会清楚起来的那样，集中局的功能可以如图所示在一个地方来实现。然而，对于一个小型而且简单的系统来说，集中局功能和本地监测站功能可以合并在一处。另一种情况是，对于一个大系统(例如，一个包括本地测定和全国测定的系统)来说，可以有一个集中局体系，其中，某些功能(例如实时收看的识别)是在本地的每一本地集中局完成的，而另一些功能(如租借录像带的收看识别)则可以在一个主集中局内完成。
集中局装置36的主要功能是识别实时收看。对于这一处理过程，集中局装置36从多个本地监测站34获取所有的参考记录154/166，以及从统计选择家庭12处获取所有的选调记录120。按图7所示的程序来处理这些记录。
方框180判定从统计选择家庭12中得到的选调记录120是否在编码区126内包括有辅助码。对于包括有辅助码的那些选调记录120，从节目编码库88获得相关的节目标识，方框182存储合成的相应节目收看记录。这些记录指示在指示的时间所观看的那些节目。然而，这一处理被用来识别实时收看和非实时收看，如某一编码广播节目家中录制的再现。方框184将选调记录120的剩余部分(即不含有辅助码的那些选调记录120)与从本地监测站34得到并存储在主集中局参考台标库76内的参考记录154/166比较。这一比较可以按照美国专利4,697,209中给出的方法进行。
正如前文指出的那样，存储在主集中局参考台标库76内的某些参考记录(例如参考记录154)包括析取台标区162内的台标以及编码区160内的相关辅助码。其他参考记录(即参考记录154)，包括台标和编码，其中，辅助码是通过先前在本地监测站34处，由参考台标析取器72产生的参考台标和存储在参考台标库74内的参考台标之间进行的比较而得到的。即，参考台标库74包含以前析取的参考台标。这些先前析取的参考台标具有与之相关的节目标识(即，操作人员先前收看与这些先前析取的参考台标对应的节目复制品并人工将节目标识赋给先前析取的参考台标)。参考台标析取器72析取参考台标时，将这些参考台标与存储在参考台标库74内的先前析取的参考台标进行比较。如果刚刚析取的参考台标与先前析取的参考台标匹配，则可以将与先前析取的参考台标有关的节目标识赋给刚刚析取的参考台标。标出时间的家庭选调记录120和相应的标出时间、标有编码的参考记录154之间的匹配给出由方框182存储的节目识别收看记录。
其他来自统计选择家庭12的实时选调记录可以与不带有辅助码的参考记录166匹配。在这些情况下，再现数据区176内的压缩复制品被用来重新创作足够的相应节目(即再生电视节目，并将该电视节目显示在多媒体终端84上)，这里所述的相应节目使集中局中的操作人员可以收看或收听该节目，从而人工识别该节目。
在前述讨论中应该认识到的是，可以仅仅通过对从本地监测站得到的参考记录与从位于与本地监测站处于同一本地市场的统计选择家庭所获得的选调记录进行匹配，使各个匹配处理更为有效。同样应该被认识的是，可以将各种已知的分类和“组合(clustering)”方法应用到从不同本地监测站得到的参考记录上，即，如果在第一个本地监测站析取的非编码参考台标能够与从不同本地监测站析取的编码参考台标匹配，则可以免去人工识别步骤。另一种情况是，如果一节目复制品被用来识别一个非编码节目广播，则该识别可以被自动用到那一(或其他)本地监测站处同一节目的其他播送上。这样，组合就使主集中局参考台标库的规模为最小，并减少了人工节目识别所需的劳动。这些分类及组合方法特别见美国专利4,677,466中所给出的那样。
如果至少根据部分辅助码，方框184不能使选调记录与参考记录匹配，那么方框186就将这些选调记录中包含的节目台标与参考记录中包含的节目台标匹配(这些节目台标存储在主集中局参考台标库76内并且是早些时候产生的)，或者与参考记录的参考台标匹配(这些参考台标存储在主集中局参考台标库76内并且是时间独立台标，即特征反映作为出租录像还提供的电影的台标)。各种已知的匹配方法(例如美国专利4,697,209中给出的时间台标方法)可被用来实施这些匹配。对不是由方框186识别的选调记录用“其他”来标记(即，作为未识别的节目收看记录)，并由方框182存储。
尽管上文描述了本发明的几个较佳实施例以及许多改进和变换方式，但在不偏离本发明范围的情况下，还可以有其他的改进和变换形式。例如，本发明可被用来识别某一观众正在收看或收听的节目或电台。所以，正像本文中所使用的那样，术语“节目”除了用来表示一段具有不同长度的所有或部分节目、商业广告、推销、公共服务通告等等意思以外，还可以用来表示由某一观众正在收看或收听的电台。同时，使听众能够指示其存在与否的人数计数器16上的人工操作装置20被描述成多个按钮式开关20，但是应该理解的是，这些人工操作的装置可以是拉杆式或者旋钮式等式样的。再有，尽管图1给出的是家庭计量装置14位于电视机24附近，但是应该理解的是，传感器56可以位于电视机24附近，而家庭计量装置14可以远离电机24。
下面是本发明的权利要求。

Claims (36)

1.  一种用来对某一信号源广播的、并且某一家庭中的家庭接收机所选调的节目进行识别的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述的观众测定系统包含：
基准接收装置，用来接收某一基准站处的节目广播；
与家庭接收机耦连的节目台标析取装置，用来从所述节目析取节目台标；
与所述基准接收装置耦连的参考台标析取装置，用来从所述节目析取参考台标；
台标比较装置，用来将所述节目台标与所述参考台标进行比较，从而产生相应于所述节目的节目识别收看和/或收听记录；
与所述家庭接收机耦合的家庭编码读取装置，用来读取家庭中接收的节目的辅助码；
与所述基准接收装置耦连的参考编码读取装置，用来读取基准站中接收的节目的辅助码；
编码比较装置，用来将家庭中接收的辅助码与某一编码节目名称库中存储的数据进行比较，从而产生相应于所述节目的节目识别收看和/或收所记录；并用来将所述基准站中接收的所述辅助码与所述编码节目名称库中存储的数据比较，从而产生相应于所述节目的节目识别广播记录。
2.  如权利要求1所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述的观众测定系统还包含一人员识别装置，用来识别所监测观众中的各个人员。
3.  如权利要求2所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述人员测量装置包含用来被动识别所监测观众中各个人员的装置。
4.  如权利要求3所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述被动识别各个人的装置包含一个个人人员计数器。
5.  如权利要求1所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述观众测定系统还包含：
与所述基准接收装置耦连的复制品发生装置，用来产生所述基准接收装置接收的至少一部分节目的压缩复制品；
用来根据所述压缩复制品、产生所述基准接收装置接收的至少一部分节目的复件的装置，从而操作人员可以识别所述基准接收装置接收的节目。
6.  如权利要求5所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述压缩复制品包含数字压缩视频数据，所述产生节目复件的装置包含一图像显示器。
7.  如权利要求5所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述压缩复制品包括数字压缩音频数据，所述产生节目复件的装置包含一扬声器。
8.  如权利要求1所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述观众测定装置还包含：
一与所述节目台标析取装置耦连的第一时钟；
一与所述参考台标析取装置耦连的第二时钟；
其中，所述第一时钟和第二时钟至少每天一次被同步成一公共时钟源，所述第一时钟与第二时钟因而是同步的，所述同步有一漂移误差，所述漂移误差有一期望值，当所述节目台标与所述参考台标之间进行比较时，所述台标比较装置使所述节目台标和所述参考台标相互时间偏移。
9.  如权利要求8所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述台标比较装置使所述节目台标和所述参考台标相互时间偏移。
10.  如权利要求1所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述观众测定系统包含多对参考台标析取装置和参考编码读取装置，其中，多对中的每一对位于多个基准站中的一个基准站处，多对中的每一对编码比较装置进行信息交换。
11.  一种用来对某一信号源广播的、并且某一家庭中的家庭接收机所选调的节目进行识别的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述的观众测定系统包含：
基准接收装置，用来接收某一基准站处的节目广播；
与所述家庭接收机耦连的家庭编码读取装置，用来读取家庭中接收的节目的辅助码；
编码比较装置，用来将所述辅助码与编码节目名称库中存储的所述数据比较，从而识别家庭中接收的节目；
与所述家庭接收机耦连的节目台标析取装置，用来从所述节目析取节目台标；
与所述基准接收装置耦连的参考台标析取装置，用来从所述节目析取参考台标；
台标比较装置，用来将所述节目台标与所述参考台标比较，从而识别家庭中接收的节目。
12.  如权利要求11所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述辅助码包含多个在唯一指定的信号段中选择编码的唯一源信息数据，各唯一编码源信息数据代表多级信号分配级中所选的一级。
13.  如权利要求11所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述辅助码编在所述节目的视频部分。
14.  如权利要求13所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述家庭编码读取装置非电气连接到所述家庭接收机上。
15.  如权利要求13所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述家庭编码读取装置包含一光敏器件。
16.  如权利要求11所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述辅助码编在所述节目的音频部分。
17.  如权利要求16所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述家庭编码读取装置结构上不与家庭接收机连接在一起。
18.  如权利要求17所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述家庭编码读取装置包含一声敏器件。
19.  一种观众测定装置，用来从广播信号源收集代表节目信号的数据，其特征在于，所述节目信号由与某一特定观众相关的家庭接收机接收，节目信号的第一部分带有一辅助码，节目信号的第二部分不带有辅助码，所述观众测定装置包含：
与所述家庭接收机关联的传感装置，用来传感与所述家庭接收机接收的第一部分节目信号或第二部分节目信号对应的第一信号分量和第二信号分量；
信号处理装置，用来处理第一信号分量和第二信号分量，所述信号处理装置具有一个输出端；
与所述信号处理装置的所述输出端相连的编码读取装置，用来读取节目信号第一部分携带的辅助码，并将所述辅助码存储到选调数据存储器内；
与所述信号处理装置的所述输出端相连的节目台标发生装置，用来根据所述节目信号的第二部分产生节目台标，并将所述节目台标存储到所述选调数据存储器内；
通信装置，用来将辅助码和存储在所述选调数据存储器内的节目台标通信传递到一集中局计算机。
20.  如权利要求19所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述家庭接收机是一种便携式接收机，所述观众测定装置还包含可与所述通信装置连接的装置，所述连接装置具有与所述选调数据存储器相连的接口，用来接收从所述选调数据存储器送来的数据，并在所述数据被传送到所述集中局计算机之前，存储所述数据。
21.  如权利要求19所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，它还包含用来识别所述预定观众的观众识别装置。
22.  如权利要求21所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述观众识别装置包含一可由所述预定观众人工操作的装置。
23.  如权利要求21所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述观众识别装置包含一被动人员计数器。
24.  如权利要求19所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述辅助码编在所述节目信号的音频部分。
25.  如权利要求24所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述编码读取装置结构上不与所述家庭接收机相连。
26.  如权利要求25所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述编码读取装置包含一声敏器件。
27.  如权利要求25所述的观众测定装置，其特征在于，所述编码读取装置包含一光敏器件。
28.  一种观众测定系统，用来测定某一广播信号源所广播节目的观众，其特征在于，一些节目由某一家庭中的家庭接收机接收，并由某一预定观众选择收看和/或收听，所述节目的第一节目单元携带辅助码，所述节目的第二节目单元不携带辅助编码，所述观众测定系统包含：
所述家庭中的节目台标析取装置，用来从所述节目的至少一个节目中析取节目台标；
基准站中的参考台标析取装置，用来从所述节目的至少一个节目中析取参考台标；
与所述节目台标析取装置以及参考台标析取装置相连的比较装置，用来将所述节目台标与所述参考台标进行比较；
所述基准站中的复制品产生装置，用来产生所述第二节目单元的压缩复制品，并将该复制品存储在一存储器内；
与所述复制品产生装置耦连的再生装置，用来根据所述压缩复制品再生第二节目单元的复件，从而操作人员能够识别与所述第二节目单元相关的广播节目。
29.  如权利要求28所述的参考台标收集装置，其特征在于，所述压缩复制品包含一数字压缩视频信号，所述再生装置包含一图像显示器。
30.  如权利要求28所述的参考台标收集装置，其特征在于，所述压缩复制品包含一数字压缩音频信号，所述再生装置包含一扬声器。
31.  一种识别多个广播节目中一些广播节目的方法，所述广播节目由与某一广播观众相关联的接收机接收，其特征在于，所述方法包含下述步骤：
(a)在所述接收机处，接收与所述节目中一个节目对应的信号；
(b)如果所述信号中存在辅助识别码，则读取并在第一存储器内存储所述辅助识别码以及读取所述辅助识别码的时间间隔，作为标出时间的编码数据；
(c)如果所述信号中不存在辅助识别码，则从所述信号中析取节目台标，并在所述第一存储器中存储所述节目台标以及析取所述节目台标的时间，作为标出时间的节目台标数据；
(d)将所述第一存储器中的数据传递到一集中局；
(e)在一本地监测站检测所述信号；
(f)在所述本地监测站处析取从所述信号得到的参考台标，并在第二存储器内存储所述参考台标以及析取所述参考台标的时间，作为标出时间的参考台标；
(g)在带有标出时间的参考台标数据的第二存储器中，存储(1)在所述本地监测站处从所述信号读取的辅助识别码，或者(2)所述信号的压缩数字复制品；
(h)将所述第二存储器中的数据传递到所述集中局；
(i)在所述集中局中，将所述标出时间的编码数据与第一数据库比较，从而识别众多节目中的第一部分，所述第一数据库含有一广播节目名称表以及与之相关的辅助码；
(j)在所述集中局中，将与所述标出时间的参考台标数据一起存储的所述辅助码与所述第一数据库及标出时间的节目台标数据进行比较，从而识别众多节目中的第二部分；
(k)产生并人工识别所述压缩数字复制品的节目复件，从而在第二数据库中产生一个记录，所述第二数据库含有一广播节目名称表以及与之相关的台标；
(l)将所述第二数据库与所述标出时间的节目台标数据进行比较，从而识别众多节目中的第三部分；
(m)重复步骤(j)、(k)和(l)，直至所有标出时间的节目台标数据或者被识别出来，或者被判定为无法识别。
32.  如权利要求31所述的方法，其特征在于，所述观众的标识与所述标出时间的编码数据以及标出时间的节目台标数据相关。
33.  一种观众测定系统，其特征在于，它包含：
一靠近接收广播节目信号抽样接收机的接收装置，所述接收装置包括一第一时钟；一第一通信装置；编码读取装置，用来从所述广播节目信号的编码部分读取辅助码；节目台标产生装置，用来根据所述广播节目信号的无编码部分产生节目台标；一第一存储装置，用来存储第一数据，所述第一数据包括与接收装置的编码读取装置所读取的辅助码有关的标出时间的编码数据，以及与节目台标产生装置产生的所述节目台标有关的标出时间的台标数据；
基准装置，包括一接收来自被监测节目源的所述广播节目信号的基准接收机；一参考时钟；编码读取装置，用来从所述广播节目信号的所述编码部分读取辅助码；一参考台标产生装置，用来根据所述广播节目信号产生参考台标；一压缩复制品产生装置，用来产生所述广播节目信号的无编码部分的压缩复制品；第二存储装置，用来存储第二数据，所述第二数据包含由基准装置编码读取装置读取的辅助码、所述参考台标、由所述基准装置的所述编码读取装置读取辅助码以及产生参考台标的时间；存储第三数据的第二存储装置，所述第三数据包含所述压缩复制品，以及产生压缩复制品的时间；
比较装置，包括与所述第一通信装置耦连的第二通信位置，以及第三存储装置，用来将某一预定节目单元与某一预定辅助码相关联的第四数据；所述比较装置接收所述第一和第二存储装置的所述第一、第二和第三数据，并顺序作比较，其中，(i)标出时间的编码数据与所述第四数据进行匹配，从而形成节目识别收看记录的第一分组，(ii)将所述节目台标与所述参考台标进行比较，从而产生节目识别收看记录的第二分组，并且产生包含未识别的选调节目台标的中间组，(iii)未识别节目台标中间组中的一些台标与所述第三数据的所述参考台标比较，以识别找到的每一匹配的压缩复制品，从而可以从中再生与所述识别压缩复制品对应的所述广播信号，所述再生的广播信号便于操作人员用来使节目名称与所述未识别的节目台标相关联，从而产生节目识别收看记录的第三分组，并剩下最后一组未识别的节目台标。
34.  一种观众测定系统，用来从某一家庭接收机在某一家庭中接收的节目信号，识别某一节目或电台，其特征在于，所述观众测定系统包含：
基准接收装置，用来在基准站接收所述节目信号的广播；
与所述家庭接收机耦连的家庭编码读取装置，用来在存在辅助码时，从所述家庭接收的所述节目信号中读取所述辅助码；
编码比较装置，用来将所述辅助码与存储在数据库中的数据进行比较，以识别所述家庭中接收的所述节目或电台；
与所述家庭接收机耦连的节目台标析取装置，用来在所述节目信号中不存在辅助码时，从所述节目信号析取节目台标；
与所述基准接收装置耦连的参考台标析取装置，用来从播送到所述基准站的所述节目信号中，析取参考台标；
台标比较装置，用来在析取了节目台标的情况下，将所述节目台标与所述参考台标比较，以识别所述家庭中接收的所述节目或电台。
35.  如权利要求34所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述家庭编码读取装置非电气地与所述家庭接收机相连。
36.  如权利要求35所述的观众测定系统，其特征在于，所述家庭编码读取装置包含一声敏器件。
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