Data acquisition system and method for television and the market research

摘要

A remote data collection unit (21) is provided at each of a plurality of panelist locations. The remote unit is adapted to be coupled to one or more television receivers (22) or cable television converters (19). The data collection unit monitors and stores information as to what TV mode is in use, identification of the TV viewing audience and events such as channel changes and the like. The data collection unit (21) further includes means (34, 35) for optically scanning bar codes and the like and storing that information, which can be representative of product purchase information or panelist responses to market research surveys. Substitute programming information may be supplied to selected panelist locations, as by transmission over on otherwise unused channel in a cable system (18) along with control information. Information stored in data collection unit (21) is periodically collected, either by interrogation of the data collection unit (21) by a central computer (24), or by manual transfer of information to a portable data collector (101).