FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
Title of invention:
A System and Method for Measuring, Analyzing and disseminating TV Audience Data
Applicant
TATA Consultancy Services
A company Incorporated in India under The Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
Nirmal Building, 9th Floor,
Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021,
Maharashtra, India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications. Particularly the invention relates to determining TV audience by measuring audience data. More particularly the invention relates to analyzing and disseminating TV audience data.
The present invention is an improvement in or a modification of the invention described and claimed in an earlier Indian Patent Application no. 2036/MUM/2009.
DEFINITIONS
As used in this specification the following words are generally intended to have a meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
HIP: A Home Infotainment Platform consists of embedded components that accepts video feed from any source {analog or digital) and provides an uplink for interactive video-based services through CDMA/ADSL broadband connection.
STB: A Set-Top Box (STB) or set-top unit (STU) is a device that connects a television and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen or other display device.
TCP/IP: The Internet Protocol suite is the set of communications protocols that implement the protocol stack on which the Internet and most commercial networks run. \t is sometimes called the 1CPI\P protocol suite, after the two most important protocols in it: the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the modern era Television (TV) is being used widely as telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving information via moving images and audio signals. Sign ificant percentage of population is considered to be a part of television viewership and production of programmes. Effective growth strategy has become one of the core concerns of the modern TV channels. To attain a wider viewership and recognition it is required to measure audience and study the statistical data analysis of the information related to audience.

To attain precision in audience data analysis and to disseminate the analysed data, there is a requirement to collect accurate audience data which is based on a higher population of viewers than it is done currently. In the prior art, there is no method or system for collecting viewership data for a large sample of viewers, and for doing real-time viewership analysis and audience behavior analysis for planning commercial strategy for advertisement broadcast by plurality of broadcasting service provider and channels.
The existing systems and methods are based on frequency monitoring and are considerably less accurate since frequency of transmission in cable TV networks are changed arbitrarily from time to time by local cable TV operators. Thus, there is a lack of systems and methods which provides results with increased accuracy.
The existing systems and methods are limited to small sample size. There is a lack of systems and methods which provide data of larger sample size.
To provide true and authenticated results, data security is a major concern. There is a lack of systems and methods which can address tampering issues by vested parties.
A system for obtaining information about TV broadcasts via a plurality of channels using TV channel logo detection is described in detail and claimed in an earlier Indian Patent Application no. 2036/MUM/2009 having common ownership.
To obtain audience information such as television (TV) broadcasting information, viewership analysis, audience behavior analysis for planning commercial strategy for advertisement broadcast and other related information there is a need to have a system and method to determine TV audience by measuring audience data in real time.
To overcome limitations of the frequency monitoring based systems and methods there is a need to have system and method which can provide results with increased accuracy.
To overcome the sample size issue of data, there is a need to have system and method which can provide data of larger sample size.
To provide true and authenticated results there is a need to have system and methods which can reduce the possibility of data tampering by vested parties.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, the primary objective is to provide a system and method to determine TV audience by measuring audience data in real time using TV channel logo detection.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method to monitor audience behavior.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method to disseminate processed audience data as interactive information.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method to archive interactive information.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method to serve queries on live sensor streams on audience characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Before the present methods, systems, and hardware enablement are described, it is to be understood that this invention in not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments of the present invention which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.
The present invention provides a system and method to determine TV audience by measuring audience data in real time using TV channel logo detection.
In one aspect of the invention is to determine TV audience. To determine audience precisely audience data is measured in real time. The invention utilizes TV channel logo detection process for audience data measurement.
In another aspect of the invention is to monitor audience behavior using audience data measurement.

In another aspect of the invention is to disseminate processed audience data generate interactive information such as interactive dashboards, mashups, heat maps, trend charts for the analysis of advertisement viewership and real time competitor analysis for the TV channels.
Additionally the invention provides a means for archiving the collected data. The archived information is searchable and can be accessed later.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, are better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary constructions of the invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and system disclosed in the drawings:
Figure 1 illustrates a deployment diagram of the TV audience measurement system
Figure 2 illustrates a deployment diagram of the Analytical Server and Web Server
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Some embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail.
The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or
items.
It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present invention, the preferred, systems and methods are now described.
The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.
Referring to Figure 1 is a deployment diagram of the TV audience measurement system. A HIP Box (101) is the basic sensor used in the invention. The HIP box (101) has the capability to detect the TV channel identification, the viewer is watching based on the displayed TV channel logo. This capability is based on multi-factorial pattern recognition approach and advanced image processing techniques. The multifactorial approach includes at least one factor which is computed for channel logo recognition selected

from the group of factors consisting of Leveinsthein distance, Bhattacharya distance, Crossing count and run length similarity, Fluser and Suk image moments, Structural content, Image Fidelity and Aspect Ratio. The HIP Box (101) receives AV input signals from a variety of sources such as DTH, Cable, analog and tuner boxes and passes an AV out signal to the TV set (102). The HIP box (101) further transmits the detected TV channel logo and other information to an Analytics and Data Stream Management Server (105) using secure channels.
in one embodiment of the invention, the HIP box (101) receives AV input signals from a variety of sources such as DTH, Cable, analog and tuner boxes. The HIP box (101) detect the TV channel logo of the TV channel being viewed on the TV set by matching the current screen image of logo with stored logo templates. When a viewer change the channel the HIP box (101) compares the received channel logo information with the logo information stored in the template database and further provides the compared results. The HIP box (101) derives the information about the channel being viewed such as TV channel logo identification, current time stamp, IP address of HIP Box (101) or optionally a location identifier, subscriber's identification etc. Further the HIP Box (101) creates message packets of the information derived such as TV channel logo identification, current time stamp, IP address of HIP Box (101) or optionally a location identifier, subscriber's identification etc and transmits the packets message to the Analytics and Data Stream management Server (105) using secure channels.
The Analytics and Data Stream Management Server (105) receive the transmitted audience data from the HIP box (101) in real time. The Analytics and Data Stream Management Server (105) is employed to analyze the received audience data from the HIP box (101) in real time. The Analytics and Data Stream Management Server (105) collects the data from all connected HIP Boxes via communication network preferably by means of internet.
The Analytics and Data Stream Management Server (105) further comprises of an Analytics Server (202) and a Web Server (204) as shown in the Figure 2. The Web Server (204) serves various Web Clients (104) with the analytics and reports as created by the Analytics Server (202).
The Analytics and Data Stream Management Server (105) is further connected to a Data Base management System (106). The Data Base management System (106) is utilized to store and provide access to archived information.
Figure 2 illustrates a deployment diagram of the Analytics Server and Web Server.
In an embodiment of the invention the Analytics and Data Stream Management Server (105) further comprises of an Analytical Server (202) and a Web Server (204). The Web Server (204) serves various

Web Clients (104) with the analytics and reports as created by the Analytics Server (202) using the Internet (103).
The Analytics Server (202) captures, filters, aggregates and stores the message packets transmitted form the HIP box (101) via the Internet (103). It has the capability of supporting queries, drill downs, OLAP and statistical analysis. It can also perform Mashups of this data using geographical location information obtained using the IP addresses or optionally the location identifiers sent by the HIP box (101). The Analytical Server (202) utilizes the audience data received form the HIP Box (101), and further process it to generate interactive information. The processing of audience data received form the HIP Box (101) is in stream and rea\ time. The interactive information is selected from the group comprising of dashboards, mashups, heat maps, and trend charts for the analysis of advertisement viewership and real time competitor analysis. The Analytics Server (202) can also combine the message stream data with Electronic Program Guide obtained via the Internet (103).
The Analytics Server (202) transmits the interactive information to the Web Server (204). The Web Server (204) further serves various web based clients (104) with the interactive information as created by the Analytics Server (202) via the internet (103). The Web Server (204) disseminate the interactive information, which is selected from the group comprising of dashboards, mashups, heat maps, and trend charts for the analysis of advertisement viewership and real time competitor analysis. The interactive information is received by web based clients (104) who are authorized to receive the interactive information.
The preceding description has been presented with reference to various embodiments of the invention. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, spirit and scope of this invention.

WE CLAIM
1. A system according to any claim of our patent application 2036MUM2009 additionally characterized to determine TV audience by measuring audience data in real time using TV channel logo detection, and further disseminating processed audience data, wherein the said system is implemented by:
a. HIP box, detecting a TV channel logo being viewed when the TV channel is changed by
the viewer using pattern recognition and image processing techniques and further
transmitting the detected TV channel logo identification, current time stamp , subscriber's
identification and IP address of HIP box or optionally a location identifier to an analytics
and data stream management server using secure channels;
b. analytics and data stream management server, that receive the transmitted TV channel
logo identification, current time stamp , subscriber's identification and IP address or
opti'onaffy a focation identifier from HIp box using secure channels;
c. analytics server, analyzing the received audience data from HIP box "In stream" and
further processing the audience data to generate interactive information; and
d. web server disseminating interactive information from the analytic server to web based
clients.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interactive information is selected from the group comprising of dashboards, mashups, heat maps, and trend charts for the analysis of advertisement viewership and real time competitor analysis.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the analytics and data stream management server is further enabled to obtain geographic location of the viewer using the transmitted internet protocol address of the viewer.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a searchable data base management system which is adapted to archive interactive information.
5. A system according to any claim of our patent application 2036MUM2009 additionally characterized to determine TV audience by measuring audience data in real time using TV channel logo detection, and further disseminating processed audience data, wherein the said system is comprised of:

a. means for detecting a TV channel logo being viewed when the TV channel is changed by
the viewer and transmitting the detected TV channel logo identification;
b. means for receiving the transmitted TV channel logo identification;
c. means for analyzing the received audience data and processing the audience data to
generate interactive information; and
d. means for disseminating interactive information.
6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein interactive the information is selected from the group comprising of dashboards, mashups, heat maps, and trend charts for the analysis of advertisement viewership and real time competitor analysis.
7. A method according to any claim of our patent application 2036MUM2009 additionally characterized to determine TV audience by measuring audience data in real time using TV channel logo detection, and further disseminating processed audience data, wherein the said method comprising processor implemented steps of:
a. detecting a TV channel logo being viewed when the TV channel is changed by the viewer
using pattern recognition and image processing techniques and further transmitting the
detected TV channel logo identification, current time stamp , subscriber's identification
and IP address of HIP box or optionally a location identifier to an analytics and data
stream management server using secure channels;
b. receiving the transmitted TV channel logo identification, current time stamp , subscriber's
identification and IP address or optionally a location identifier from HIP box using secure
channels;
c. analyzing the received audience data from HIP box "In stream" and further processing
the audience data to generate interactive information; and
d. disseminating interactive information from the analytic server to web based clients.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the interactive information is selected from the group comprising of dashboards, mashups, heat maps, and trend charts for the analysis of advertisement viewership and real time competitor analysis.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprises of obtaining geographic location of the viewer using the transmitted IP address of the viewer or optionally the location identifier using the analytics.and data stream management server.
10. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprises of archiving interactive information using searchable data base management system,