Abstract: An example apparatus disclosed herein includes means for collecting demographic data of a user, including a phone number for a mobile device, via a website associated with an information gathering entity, the demographic data collected via the website from a personal computer, separate from the mobile device, used to access the website. The disclosed example apparatus also includes means for sending a message to the mobile device, the sent message, when responded to, resulting in downloading of a metering software module to the mobile device. The disclosed example apparatus further includes means for receiving, from the mobile device and at a system associated with the information gathering entity, information indicative of events associated with use of the mobile device, and means for associating the received information with the demographic data.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example display activity detectors disclosed herein are to extract regions from respective ones of captured video frames, the regions corresponding to a depiction of a display of a monitored media device Disclosed example display activity detectors are also to compute a distance metric that is to represent an amount a first one of the regions of a first one of the captured video frames differs from a corresponding second one of the regions of a second one of the captured video frames. Disclosed example display activity detectors are further to compare the distance metric to a threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed selectively generating and storing hashed reference signatures. An example method disclosed herein determining whether watermark coverage of a first media segment satisfies a dropout constraint, the first media segment corresponding to a first monitoring time interval of a media source feed and, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment does not satisfy the dropout constraint hashing first media signatures associated with the first media segment to generate corresponding first hashed signatures and generating first reference data for the first media segment, the first reference data including the first hashed signatures and the first media signatures. The example method further includes, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment satisfies the dropout constraint, generating second reference data for the first media segment, the second reference data including the first media signatures.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to optimize reference signature matching using watermark matching. An example disclosed herein includes selecting first unhashed reference signatures to evaluate for a second time segment of monitoring data based on watermark coverage of a first time segment of the monitoring data, the monitoring data obtained from a meter monitoring media presented by a media device and comparing the first unhashed reference signatures with first unhashed monitored signatures from the second time segment of the monitoring data.

Abstract: An example apparatus disclosed herein includes means for collecting demographic data of a user, including a phone number for a mobile device, via a website associated with an information gathering entity, the demographic data collected via the website from a personal computer, separate from the mobile device, used to access the website. The disclosed example apparatus also includes means for sending a message to the mobile device, the sent message, when responded to, resulting in downloading of a metering software module to the mobile device. The disclosed example apparatus further includes means for receiving, from the mobile device and at a system associated with the information gathering entity, information indicative of events associated with use of the mobile device, and means for associating the received information with the demographic data.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to optimize reference signature matching using watermark matching. An example disclosed herein includes selecting first unhashed reference signatures to evaluate for a second time segment of monitoring data based on watermark coverage of a first time segment of the monitoring data, the monitoring data obtained from a meter monitoring media presented by a media device and comparing the first unhashed reference signatures with first unhashed monitored signatures from the second time segment of the monitoring data.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed selectively generating and storing hashed reference signatures. An example method disclosed herein determining whether watermark coverage of a first media segment satisfies a dropout constraint, the first media segment corresponding to a first monitoring time interval of a media source feed and, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment does not satisfy the dropout constraint hashing first media signatures associated with the first media segment to generate corresponding first hashed signatures and generating first reference data for the first media segment, the first reference data including the first hashed signatures and the first media signatures. The example method further includes, when the watermark coverage of the first media segment satisfies the dropout constraint, generating second reference data for the first media segment, the second reference data including the first media signatures.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example display activity detectors disclosed herein are to extract regions from respective ones of captured video frames, the regions corresponding to a depiction of a display of a monitored media device Disclosed example display activity detectors are also to compute a distance metric that is to represent an amount a first one of the regions of a first one of the captured video frames differs from a corresponding second one of the regions of a second one of the captured video frames. Disclosed example display activity detectors are further to compare the distance metric to a threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example display activity detectors disclosed herein are to extract regions from respective ones of captured video frames, the regions corresponding to a depiction of a display of a monitored media device Disclosed example display activity detectors are also to compute a distance metric that is to represent an amount a first one of the regions of a first one of the captured video frames differs from a corresponding second one of the regions of a second one of the captured video frames. Disclosed example display activity detectors are further to compare the distance metric to a threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example display activity detectors disclosed herein are to extract regions from respective ones of captured video frames, the regions corresponding to a depiction of a display of a monitored media device Disclosed example display activity detectors are also to compute a distance metric that is to represent an amount a first one of the regions of a first one of the captured video frames differs from a corresponding second one of the regions of a second one of the captured video frames. Disclosed example display activity detectors are further to compare the distance metric to a threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example metering apparatus disclosed herein include a current detector to measure an electrical current drawn by a monitored media device from a power source, and an audio sensor. Disclosed example metering apparatus also include a processor to compare the electrical current to a first threshold and to compare a level associated with audio sensed by the audio sensor to a second threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example metering apparatus disclosed herein include a current detector to measure an electrical current drawn by a monitored media device from a power source, and an audio sensor. Disclosed example metering apparatus also include a processor to compare the electrical current to a first threshold and to compare a level associated with audio sensed by the audio sensor to a second threshold to determine whether the monitored media device is ON or OFF.

Abstract: An example apparatus disclosed herein includes means for collecting demographic data of a user, including a phone number for a mobile device, via a website associated with an information gathering entity, the demographic data collected via the website from a personal computer, separate from the mobile device, used to access the website. The disclosed example apparatus also includes means for sending a message to the mobile device, the sent message, when responded to, resulting in downloading of a metering software module to the mobile device. The disclosed example apparatus further includes means for receiving, from the mobile device and at a system associated with the information gathering entity, information indicative of events associated with use of the mobile device, and means for associating the received information with the demographic data.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example metering apparatus disclosed herein include first means for sensing an audio signal output from a media device. Disclosed example metering apparatus also include second means for performing audio code detection to detect audio codes in the audio signal, and third means for determining an audio gain level applied to the audio signal. Disclosed example metering apparatus further include fourth means for determining whether the media device is ON or OFF based on the audio gain level applied to the audio signal and whether a valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.

Abstract: An example portable device disclosed herein includes means for halting execution of media metering software in response to determining the portable device is being used for a native purpose, the media metering software having been downloaded to the portable device. The example portable device also includes means, responsive to determining that the portable device is not being used for a native purpose, for executing the media metering software to monitor a media signal output by a media presentation device. The example portable device further includes means for determining whether an amount of available power is sufficient to continue execution of the media metering software, and means, responsive to determining that the amount of available power is insufficient, for causing execution of the media metering software to sleep for a first interval of time.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example metering apparatus disclosed herein include first means for sensing an audio signal output from a media device. Disclosed example metering apparatus also include second means for performing audio code detection to detect audio codes in the audio signal, and third means for determining an audio gain level applied to the audio signal. Disclosed example metering apparatus further include fourth means for determining whether the media device is ON or OFF based on the audio gain level applied to the audio signal and whether a valid audio code is detected in the audio signal.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include measuring, with a first sensor, a first temperature value associated with the media device. Example methods disclosed herein also include measuring, with a second sensor, a second temperature value corresponding to an ambient temperature in an environment including the media device. Example methods disclosed herein further include comparing the first temperature value to the second temperature value to make a first determination indicating whether the media device is ON or OFF.

Abstract: An example portable device disclosed herein includes means for halting execution of media metering software in response to determining the portable device is being used for a native purpose, the media metering software having been downloaded to the portable device. The example portable device also includes means, responsive to determining that the portable device is not being used for a native purpose, for executing the media metering software to monitor a media signal output by a media presentation device. The example portable device further includes means for determining whether an amount of available power is sufficient to continue execution of the media metering software, and means, responsive to determining that the amount of available power is insufficient, for causing execution of the media metering software to sleep for a first interval of time.

Abstract: Portable multi-purpose audience measurement systems, apparatus and methods are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include executing media metering software downloaded onto a portable device. Such example methods also include halting execution of the media metering software in response to determining that the portable device is being used for a native purpose. Such example methods further include, in response to determining that the portable device is not being used for a native purpose, continuing execution of the media metering software to monitor a media signal output by a media presentation device separate from the portable device.

Abstract: Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include measuring, with a first sensor, a first temperature value associated with the media device. Example methods disclosed herein also include measuring, with a second sensor, a second temperature value corresponding to an ambient temperature in an environment including the media device. Example methods disclosed herein further include comparing the first temperature value to the second temperature value to make a first determination indicating whether the media device is ON or OFF.