WO2001024422A1

WO2001024422A1 - Electronic device and recording system for measuring consumer behaviour to forecast media audience ratings

Info

Publication number: WO2001024422A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/002369
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emmanuel Sohier
Original assignee: Cabinet A. Sohier
Priority date: 1999-09-28
Filing date: 2000-08-24
Publication date: 2001-04-05
Also published as: FR2799069B3; IL148913A0; CA2386225A1; AU7016100A; EP1228591A1; FR2799069A1

Abstract

The invention concerns sensing means (13) functionally associated with the control member (11) of means receiving media programmes (12) so as to detect at all times the identity of the programme being listened to on the receiver means (12) and for continuously transmitting said information to computing means (15).

Description

ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR RECORDING AND MEASURING CONSUMER BEHAVIORS FOR FORECASTING A MEDIA AUDIENCE SCORE.

The present invention relates to a method for predicting the audience score of radio or audiovisual media programs such as in particular television broadcasts (broadcast by radio, cable or satellite), radio broadcasts, trailers for films or programs of TV. The present invention also relates to an electronic device, a means for receiving programs including this device and a system for recording and measuring consumer behavior for the implementation of this method.

There is a need to quantitatively predict the level of success or acceptance with a consumer audience of a new program intended for radio or audiovisual media as defined above.

To our knowledge, this need for quantitative forecasting is not satisfied because there are currently only qualitative methods for forecasting the acceptance of new programs. These methods are based on an opinion poll of a target sample of potential viewers or listeners, this sample being most often large (more than 200 people) and / or consulted for a relatively long period (at least less 2 hours), with the consequences:

- firstly a high cost of the method because directly linked to the size of the target sample and the duration of consultation, - then a long duration of implementation of the method due to the size of the sample whose opinion and the length of the analysis and analysis of the results are probed,

- finally the reliability of these methods is low and their result at most qualitative because they are based on the principle of an opinion poll after the end of the diffusion of the new program or after the presentation of a written summary of a new program and not on the principle of an experimental quantitative measurement of the behaviors of the televiewers / listeners during all the diffusion of a new program placed in real competition with programs of the same kind usually broadcast in the same time slot.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks and shortcomings of existing methods for predicting public acceptance of a new media program and, more particularly, to develop a method to replace public opinion polling after complete broadcasting. of this new program by a precise, continuous and instantaneous quantitative measurement (either remotely for wired listeners / viewers or in an appropriate test room for non-wired listeners / viewers) of the public's behavior towards this new program put in situation of real competition with one or more programs of the same kind usually broadcast in the same time slot. Thanks to this precise, continuous and instantaneous experimental measurement, the invention aims to make available to producers of television or radio programs, managers of radio or television channel programs and managers of the film industry. a tool capable of minimizing the economic risk when introducing a new audio / television program or a new cinematographic film, by developing a method capable of predicting quantitatively the audience score of trailers films and radio or television programs.

The present invention also aims at a method of predicting a media audience score capable of providing results of high accuracy while using a small sample, most often not exceeding about 200 people and preferably between 100 and 200 people, and / or for a reduced duration, preferably not exceeding about 1 hour. Another objective of the invention consists in proposing an electronic device for implementing the method, capable of calculating and presenting the results according to the standards in force in the profession of the media concerned, simple and inexpensive. According to a first aspect, the present invention therefore relates to a device for predicting the audience score of media programs comprising: at least one means of recording at least one media program to be tested, - Y means of broadcasting media programs, capable of broadcasting said recording means of the program to be tested as well as at least one media program of the same type as the program to be tested and whose audience score is known, the the total number of media programs to be tested and of known audience being equal to Y,

- a set of X means for receiving media programs of the aforementioned type, X being preferably at least equal to 4, with each program receiving means being associated a control member (1) allowing the listener / viewer placed before said program reception means to pass from a program to any of the other available programs,

a main controller connected, directly or not, to the X program reception means in order to be able to simultaneously broadcast the recording means of the program to be tested on these program reception means, and

- a system for recording and measuring the behavior of media consumers comprising X detection means (2) capable of detecting at any time the identity of the program listened to and / or watched by each consumer placed in front of each of the X reception means programs, at least one connection means (3) capable of continuously transmitting the corresponding information (identity of the program detected at any time) to an information storage means (4), a supervision means (5) interface with each detection means (2) and capable of interrogating the main controller and permanently scanning the information present on the connection means (3), and a calculation means (6) such as statistical software, for digitally process the information stored in the storage means (4) and to deliver at least one audience score value of at least one media program to be tested by reference to at least one other prog ramme of media of the same type whose audience score is known.

According to the invention, the means of broadcasting media programs can be of one and the same type, for example a video recorder, in which case the forecasting device further comprises means for recording the known audience programs of the same type as the program to be tested and the main controller is capable of simultaneously broadcasting these recording means to the program reception means. Alternatively, the means of broadcasting media programs can be of different types, for example video recorders and radio transmitters, the latter being assigned to broadcasting known audience programs of the same type as the program to be tested and not requiring therefore no means of recording.

The means of recording the program to be tested and, if necessary, the means of recording programs of known audience can be broadcast, if necessary via a medium such as a cassette, by any means suitable program broadcast capable of sending to the main controller, by standard RCA cables, a video signal and / or right and left sound signals. Each program recording means consists of one or more sequences; in the case of multiple sequences on a recording medium, these sequences are separated from each other by an audible signal (hereinafter referred to as "top"). This top is for example made up of a signal of frequency between 1600 and 2100 hertz approximately and / or of a duration ranging between 1 and 3 seconds approximately, recorded on one of the audio channels of a means of diffusion of the program pre-register. The main controller is capable of performing three functions:

- on the one hand, the detection of sequence change tops,

- on the other hand, the transmission of this information, by a connection means (7) such as a telephone type cable, to the information storage means (4), and

- finally the generation of a modulated UHF signal (video and its right channel) by the broadcasting means of the program recording means.

In the information storage means (4) a history file of all the events which have occurred, such as program changes, sequence changes on the same program, etc., is made up. The information storage means (4) also includes other files relating to the title and duration of the programs broadcast, etc. These files will be available later for the statistical analysis of the results of study by means of calculation (6). As those skilled in the art know, the storage means (4), the supervision means (5) and the calculation means (6) are generally combined in a single computer-type device and are functionally linked together. so that the calculation means (6) have all the necessary and sufficient information coming, via the connection means (3) and (7), from the storage (4) and supervision (5) means to calculate at least one audience score value of at least one media program to be tested.

According to another aspect, the present invention relates to an electronic device, usable for the implementation of the above-mentioned audience score forecasting device, comprising a detection means (13) functionally associated with the control member (11) d '' media program reception means (12) in order to detect at all times the identity of the program listened to / watched on the reception means (12) and capable of continuously transmitting this information (identity of the program detected at each instant) to a calculation means (15). By "functionally associated" within the meaning of the present invention is meant that the means (13) and the member (11) are not necessarily connected by a physical link but are capable of communicating with each other, directly or indirectly, by example by infrared radiation. This aspect of the present invention will now be explained in the particular context of the means (12) being a television receiver, without however the invention being limited to this type of reception of programs. The receiver (12) conventionally comprises a first infrared remote control decoder operatively associated with a remote control (11). In the electronic device according to the invention, the detection means (13) consists of a second infrared remote control decoder capable of detecting the changes in channels consulted on the receiver (12), that is to say program changes made by the viewer. On this second decoder, preferably placed at a sufficiently short distance from the first infrared remote control decoder to receive the same signal as the latter, an interface is grafted on the one hand with a connection means capable of transmitting the information - identity of the channel consulted at all times on the receiver (12) - continuously by means of calculation (15) and on the other hand a device making it possible to create an address code to identify the television receiver concerned by the program changes. For example, the second decoder, if necessary placed in a box, is placed outside the receiver (12) and in the immediate vicinity of the latter. Preferably the first decoder and the second infrared remote control decoder are of similar nature or model and in any case compatible.

The invention also relates to a means for receiving media programs provided with (equipped) with or comprising the electronic device described above. According to another aspect, the invention relates to a system for recording and measuring the behavior of media consumers comprising:

- X assemblies each comprising a control member (1 1) associated with a means for receiving media programs (12), X being preferably at least equal to 4, the member (1 1) making it possible to change the program on the receiving means (12), and

- X electronic devices of the aforementioned type functionally associated with the X control members (11) for digitally processing the information and delivering the values of the audience scores of the media programs available on the X reception means (12). In the storage means (14) a history file of all the events which have occurred, such as program changes, sequence changes on the same program, etc., is made up. The storage means (14) also includes other files relating to the title and duration of the programs broadcast, etc. These files will subsequently be available for the statistical analysis of the study results by means of calculation (15).

As before, the calculation means (15) is preferably a statistical processing software of known type installed on a computer, capable of calculating the listening / viewing times of the programs identified on the X media reception means (12 ) and, from these durations, to deliver the instantaneous values and the average values, over a determined period of time, of the audience scores of all the programs made available (generally by a main controller connected to the X reception means of media) on the X reception means (12). These values can be delivered in various forms, in particular lists at different time intervals, continuous or discontinuous graphs, etc.

According to a variant of the invention, the calculations can be carried out in real time by the means (15), that is to say while listening to the programs, and in this case, contrary to the calculation in deferred time, the information storage means (14) is no longer functionally isolated from the calculation means (15) but integrated into the latter, the information necessary for the calculations being transmitted directly and instantly by the detection means (13) by means of calculation (15). The X reception means (12) are capable of receiving programs broadcast by a main controller via cabling (10). For example, the main controller comprises a control box comprising Y tuners for receiving the audio or audiovisual signal from each of the Y program broadcasting means and a multiplexer for addressing these signals in a single coaxial cable (10) serving the X reception means (12), said cable (10) being connected to each reception means (12) in connection with a program change processor. The transmission of information - such as the statement of choices made on each receiving means (12) - to the storage means (14) or, if necessary, directly to the calculation means (15) is preferably carried out by a telephone type cable (17). The control member (11) is preferably a modified infrared remote control on which the non-essential functions (for example the command to stop the programs completely, the adjustment of the contrast between high and low sounds, the stop commands on image, fast forward and back, etc.) have been disabled for security. Only the functions essential to the smooth running of the method (program search) and to the comfort of the viewer (adjustment of image contrast and sound volume) are kept on the remote control.

The UHF signal generated by the main controller is sent to a conventional distributor capable of amplifying this signal on X channels and of sending it by conventional cable (s) (10) (for example of the 75 ohm type) to the antenna input of each reception means (12). The calculation means (15) manages a connection means (17), such as a bus allowing on the one hand to interrogate the main controller to know if a sequence change signal has occurred on one of the channels and on the other hand to interrogate each of the X detection means (13) which analyze the channel changes requested by the organs control (11) and transmit this information via the connecting means (17). The calculation means (15) installed in the supervision computer scans the different information received by the main controller by the link means and progressively records the events in a file to prepare the statistical processing work, by software. appropriate, of this information by sorting the only information useful for calculating the audience score of the media program to be tested.

The audience score forecasting device, the electronic device and the recording and measurement system according to the invention are applicable both for audience forecasting of a new media program and for simultaneous audience forecasting several, preferably 2, new media programs by reference to one or more, preferably 2 to 4, media programs of known audience. For optimal accuracy of audience scores for new program (s) to be tested while containing X within a reasonable limit, it is preferable that the sum of the number of new programs to be tested and the number of audience programs known does not exceed 6. Indeed, beyond a total number of 6 programs, the audience score of certain programs is likely to become too low to be statistically significant.

To optimize the implementation of the invention, it is preferable (except in the case of remote measurement for cable viewers) that the number X of media reception means be from 4 to 40 approximately, preferably from 6 to 20 to limit the number of sessions using the system, while using a sample of approximately 100 to 200 people. For the flexibility of the method, it is possible to split the sample size into two or more sub-assemblies (for example corresponding to a market segment) of smaller size, if necessary gathered in places different.

By “recording means” within the meaning of the present invention is meant on the one hand pre-recorded tapes, sound only in the radio, sound and video programs in the case of television programs or film trailers or television programs, and on the other hand live recording tapes. These recording tapes are preferably housed on cassettes, audio or video as the case may be, and are broadcast to the media reception means by any appropriate "program broadcasting means", such as tape recorder, radio transmitter, video recorder, cable, satellite, etc.

By "media program" within the meaning of the invention is meant in particular radio and television programs, trailers for films or television programs, etc. By "media program of the same type" is meant programs of the same category as the aforementioned programs, that is to say that for example is excluded from associating, in the forecasting device according to the invention, a program radio with one or more television programs. By "media reception means" in the sense of the invention means a radio receiver, an audio program headset, a television or computer screen or monitor, a projection screen, etc.

According to yet another aspect, the present invention also relates to a method for forecasting a media audience score capable of using the electronic device and / or the forecasting device and / or the recording and measurement system described. previously. This method consists in putting a sample of viewers / listeners representative of a desired target in free listening condition, for a period T, of a set of media programs of the same type consisting on the one hand of at least one program to be tested and at least one program for which the audience score is known, before a set of X means for receiving media programs of this type linked to a main controller broadcasting at least one means for recording at minus one program to be tested, the free listening condition being ensured by X control members of the X program reception means and allowing at any time to change the program on the X program reception means, the identity of the program listened to / watched being at all times detected by X detection means functionally associated with the X control members, then continuously retransmitting this information to a calculation means capable of tr digitally to deliver the audience score values of the programs available on the X program reception means. Contrary to the methods of forecasting the success of commercials films (whose viewing time generally does not exceed one minute) on the one hand and the qualitative methods based on an opinion poll (whose duration frequently reaches around 2 hours), the duration T of free listening of the forecasting method according to the invention is preferably between 2 and 60 minutes approximately.

Preferably, in order to calibrate the measurement results thus carried out, the forecasting method according to the invention is first implemented on a set of programs for which the audience scores are known, the results obtained are compared with those observed by audimetry for the same programs on a sample of larger size (for example a national sample) at one or more time interval (s) reasonably close (s), and a first correction coefficient is calculated from this comparison to correct the results of the method secondly applied to a set of programs comprising at least one program to be tested.

Preferably also, the results obtained by applying the method according to the invention are corrected by a second correction coefficient in order to transform the audience scores delivered by the calculation means into forecast audience market shares to take account of the known audience of programs not available, during the test, on X means of program reception. Indeed, to ensure the reliability of the method according to the invention, it is generally sufficient to put listeners in a situation of free listening to a set of programs representing at least 80% (preferably at least 90%) of shares of relevant media market, this set being designated by the term dominant program offer as opposed to the marginal program offer designating the other programs collectively representing at most 20% (preferably at most 10%) of the market share of media concerned. The application of the second correction coefficient makes it possible to restore by a simple calculation, rather than by a direct measurement, the influence of the programs of marginal supply without compromising the accuracy of the forecast. By "viewers / listeners representative of a desired target" within the meaning of the invention means people used to consuming this type of media in the time slot concerned. Indeed, it is important, for the reliability of the forecasting method according to the invention and for the accuracy of the results which result from its implementation, that the sample placed in free listening condition is as homogeneous as possible vis-à-vis -vis habits of consumption of emissions diffused in a fixed time slot, that is to say that natural conditions of consumption of the concerned media are reproduced faithfully. The representative character of the sample submitted to the method will therefore be checked beforehand by a brief interview with each candidate and candidates not used to consuming this type of media in the time slot concerned must be systematically excluded. Likewise, the selected candidates will undertake to remain in open listening condition throughout the duration T of the implementation of the method, any premature departure being likely to distort the results. For their convenience, representative viewers / listeners can be fitted with sound recording headsets, in order to minimize the soundproofing equipment in the room, generally divided into individual cells, in which the X program reception means are arranged. By design, the protocol according to the invention minimizes the economic risk of the producers of programs during the introduction of a new program because, in addition to the natural conditions of consumption, it faithfully reproduces the situation of competition in programs desired and the programming context of each producer while simulating the communication effect of the new program to be tested.

The present invention will now be illustrated by reference to the following exemplary embodiments and to the appended figures. EXAMPLE 1 FIG. 1 schematically represents a first embodiment in which a control room (not shown in the figure) simultaneously broadcasts the audio and video tapes of three television programs respectively prerecorded on 3 video recorders (101), (102) and (103 ) - one of which includes a program to be tested - to 8 television screens (10), (11) to (17) (including three only are shown in the figure) arranged in parallel in 8 soundproof booths (0), (1) to (7). A control box (20), (21) to (27) is connected to each television screen by means of which each listener / viewer placed in front of a television screen (if necessary equipped with a sound recording headset) can change of the three programs (101), (102) and (103) proposed. The control boxes (20), _^ (21) to (27) are in turn connected to a supervision station (50) comprising a calculation means in which the information delivered by said boxes is digitally processed and in which are calculated the audience score values of the three programs (101), (102) and (103). Each control box includes, on its rear side, 16 inputs connected in pairs (a cable for the image, a cable for the sound) to each of the 3 video recorders. It also includes an equal number (16) of outputs to transmit the same signal to the next cabin to avoid the multiplication of cables from each VCR. On the front of each control unit, when the listener presses a program selection button, the latter lights up and signals the identity of the program selected to the supervisory station (50) and addresses this program to the corresponding television screen. The control unit also sends a signal to the supervision station (50) when, on the same television channel, a change of program is signaled on the sound track. Being tested, the monitoring station (50) receives a signal from the control housing (21) and, guided by a timekeeping registers for example the fact that at the ^25th minute of the session the listener placed in the cabin (1) has passed from the program (101) to the program (103), and so on. All of this information is gathered in a double entry table comprising in columns the time divided in minutes and in rows the booths (0) to (7). Moreover, during a pre-test before installation of viewers / listeners, the supervisory position (50) records a sound signal that, for example, to ¹² minute program (101) conducted a change of program. This information is gathered in a double entry table comprising in columns the time divided in minutes and in rows the programs (101) to (103). Statistical processing, by a means of calculation appropriate to those skilled in the art, of the information contained in these two double tables entry provides audience ratings for each of the programs (101) through (103). Assuming that in real competition there is a fourth television program (104) whose average audience is 10% of all 4 programs, the audience scores measured for programs (101) to ( 103) will first be corrected by a correction coefficient of 0.9 before being converted into forecast audience market shares. EXAMPLE 2

FIG. 2 schematically represents a second embodiment of an audience score forecasting device according to the invention. Four VCRs (100), (101), (102) and (103) generate a modulated UHF signal (video and its right channel), a UHF channel being assigned to each VCR to simultaneously broadcast the audio and video tapes of 4 programs of pre-recorded television, one of which includes a new program to be tested. The UHF signal is sent, via the main controller (8), to a distributor (9) which amplifies on 8 channels the signals coming from the different channels and sends them by 8 video cables of 75 ohms (30), (31) to (37) at the antenna input of 8 television receivers (10), (11) to (17) placed in 8 soundproof booths (0), (1) to (7) (only three are shown in the figure). Each television receiver, conventionally comprising a first infrared remote control decoder, is associated with a remote control (not shown in the figure) on which non-essential functions (complete program stop command, adjustment of contrast between sounds treble and bass, freeze frame, fast forward and reverse controls) have been disabled for safety. In addition, second infrared remote control decoders (20), (21) to (27) (of which only three are shown in the figure) make it possible to know at any time the program sequence, among the 4 programs offered, viewed by each listener / viewer placed in a soundproof booth in front of a television screen and fitted with headphones. At least one of the programs offered from the video recorders (100) to (103) consists of several sequences separated from each other by a top consisting of a signal of 1850 Hz of 2 seconds recorded on the left audio channel. The main controller (8), to manage these sound signals, is interface with the computer (50) by means of a bus (48) to which it transmits the sequence change information on a channel.

Each second infrared remote control decoder detects the changes in programs viewed by the viewer and is interfaced as indicated below with a computer (50) combining information storage means, supervision means and calculation means, which records these different changes. The second infrared remote control decoder, if necessary placed in a housing, is placed at a sufficiently short distance from the first infrared remote control decoder to receive the same signal as the latter (for example it is fixed by adhesive on the television). For the two infrared remote control decoders, SAA3049A integrated circuits from the company PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS are used here. On each second infrared remote control decoder (20) to (27) is grafted on the one hand an interface with a bus (40) to retrieve the channel change information and on the other hand a device (not shown in figure) used to create an address code to identify the television receiver concerned by channel changes. We will preferably choose as

2 buses (40) a standardized, bi-directional and sequential bus such as the I C bus from the company PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS. Thanks to the sequential processing of information by this type of bus, it is not necessary to provide a bus directly connecting each second decoder to the main controller (8) but it suffices that the bus (40) connects all the second decoders and connects the second decoder

(20) to the main controller (8). The computer calculation means (50) generates, by continuous recording, a history file of the events occurring in each soundproof cabin (change of channel or sequence on a channel) from which the audience score values are calculated. programs (101) to (104) after application, if necessary, of correction coefficients as in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3 FIG. 3 schematically represents the main controller (8) present in the device for predicting the audience score of example 2. For simplification, only one of the 8 identical channels managing the audio and video signals coming from the video recorders has shown in Figure 3. By simplification, this diagram will be described in terms of functional sub-assemblies constituting the main controller, the person skilled in the art being able to locate in FIG. 3 the detailed material elements (diodes, capacitors, etc.) constituting each sub -together. The main controller first comprises 8 channels (60) to (67) identical to channel (60), the left audio channel of which passes through a bell filter constituted by an operational amplifier LF347 and centered on 1850 hertz by adjusting the potentiometer of 1 kiloohm. It is amplified by a factor of 100 by the second stage then rectified and integrated before being amplified in current by the third stage and sent to an LS7404 inverter. The signal thus obtained will be equal to 1 for a frequency between 1600 and 2100 Hz for an amplitude input signal of 200mV.

In addition, each channel such as (60) consists of a UHF modulator such as (70) shown in FIG. 3, mixing the right audio channel and the video signal and generating a UHF signal whose frequency occupied by the channel is adjustable . The eight modulators (70) to (77) are arranged in series, which makes it possible to generate at the end of the chain a signal comprising 8 television channels corresponding to the programs pre-recorded on the video cassettes. The frequency of each channel must be adjusted so as not to overlap with the other frequencies and corresponds to the programming order of the channels of the television receivers. An adjustable 1 kiloohm adjusts the input video signal and prevents saturation. The modulator (70) used here is available, for example. with the company Conrad Electronic GmbH (Hirschau, Germany) under the commercial reference 192791. The main controller also includes a "modular jack" socket (80) for bus input (48), connected to the computer (50) by an interface (not shown in the figure) such as the Atlas kit sold by Conrad Electronic GmbH on a Centronics port.

The SCL (81) and SDA (82) lines are protected by two resistors in series of 330 ohms and are connected to two identical circuits (83) and (84) marketed by PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS (Eindhoven, Netherlands) under the name PCF 8574. These are CMOS silicon circuits providing remote I / O expansion for microcontroller via a bus

2 bidirectional two line (IC). They consist of a port (address) almost 2 bidirectional 8-bit and an I C bus interface. One of the receiving circuits is used to send the configuration of the tops received from the R / S flip-flops and the other sending circuit is used to send to the flip-flops, under the control of the computer (50), the order of reset to the initial state once the signal

2 taken into account. Finally the bus I C is redirected at output (86) to the second infrared remote control decoders (20) to (27) via a

2 circuit (85) for extension of the I C bus. Indeed the capacitance limit of 400 pF

2 of the I C bus limits the effective communication distances to a few meters only. The circuit (85) used here is available for example from the company PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS (Eindhoven, Netherlands) under the trade name 82B715. It is a bipolar integrated circuit which, while

2 retaining all the operating modes and characteristics of the I C system, allows the practical separation distance between the components to be extended on the

2 I C buses using a buffer for the data (SDA) and clock (SCL) lines.

Finally the main controller (8) has a power supply (87) generating the

+ 12V, - 12V and + 5V necessary for mounting. The 5V power supply is common to

2 2 all the boxes connected to the I C bus and propagates thanks to the I C bus.

EXAMPLE 4 FIG. 4 represents the diagram of assembly of each second infrared remote control decoder of the device of example 2. For simplification, this diagram will be described in terms of functional subsets constituting said decoder, the man of the art being able to identify in Figure 4 the detailed material elements constituting each sub-assembly. A signal from a television remote control (preferably conforming to the RC5 standard) is received by a detector-amplifier (90) - here an SB 1620 model available from the company SONY - which attacks the negative edge of the operational preamplifier ( 91). This has a quartz clock (92) 4 MHz (pins 12-13 in the figure), a reset circuit (93) on ignition (pin 14) and delivers on the pins 1 to 6 the code of the command issued by the remote control. Pin 18 toggles, O 01/24422

17 alternately passing from 1 to 0 at each command issued, which makes it possible to know when the same command has been used several times. The operational preamplifier (91) is linked to the decoder (20) proper, which is provided with a housing (94) of three switches

2 used to configure the address of the decoder (20) on the I C bus.

The second infrared remote control decoder (20) - here an integrated circuit SAA3049A from the company PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS whose main function is to check and convert the encoded data received into locked binary output data - then sends the relevant information to the controller main (8) via the circuit (95), available for example from the company PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS (Eindhoven, Netherlands) under the trade name 82B715 and similar to the circuit (85) of Example 3. EXAMPLE 5 FIG. 5 schematically represents a third embodiment of an audience score forecasting device according to the invention. A single video recorder (100) generates a modulated UHF signal (video and its right channel), a UHF channel assigned to it to broadcast the sound and video of a pre-recorded television program consisting of a new program to be tested. The UHF signal is sent, via the main controller (8), to a distributor (9) which amplifies on 8 channels the signal coming from the UHF channel and sends it by 8 video cables of 75 ohms (30), (31) to (37) at the antenna input of 8 television receivers (10), (11) to (17) placed in 8 soundproof booths (0), (1) to (7). The symbol placed there in the center of each television screen means that the corresponding receiver, for example having a local antenna, is moreover capable of receiving, during the duration of the test, television programs of known audience offered in time real over the air. The constitution and the functioning of the system are identical to those of Example 2, except of course that only the new program offered by the video recorder (100) consists of sequences separated by a sound top.

Claims

1. Electronic device comprising a detection means (13) functionally associated with the control member (1 1) of a means for receiving media programs (12) in order to detect at all times the identity of the program listened to on the receiving means (12) and capable of continuously transmitting this information to a computing means (15).

2. Electronic device according to claim 1, the reception means (12) comprising a first infrared remote control decoder operatively associated with a control member (11), characterized in that the detection means (13) is consisting of a second infrared remote control decoder placed at a sufficiently short distance from the first infrared remote control decoder to receive the same signal as the latter and onto which an interface with a connection means is grafted on the one hand capable of transmitting the information continuously to the calculation means (15) and on the other hand a device making it possible to create an address code to identify the means for receiving media programs concerned by the program changes.

3. Means for receiving media programs comprising an electronic device according to one of claims 1 and 2.

4. System for recording and measuring media consumer behavior, comprising:

- X assemblies each comprising a control member (1 1) associated with a means for receiving media programs (12), and making it possible to change the program on the receiving means (12), and

- X electronic devices in accordance with one of claims 1 and 2 and functionally associated with the X control members (1 1) for digitally processing the information and delivering the values of the audience scores of the media programs available on the X means reception (12).

5. Recording and measurement system according to claim 4, the X reception means (12) being capable of receiving programs broadcast by means of wiring (10), characterized in that the wiring (10) consists of a single coaxial cable serving the average X receiving media (12), said cable being connected to a module (16) grafted on each media receiving means (12) in connection with a program change processor.

6. Recording and measurement system according to one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the transmission of information to the calculation means (15) is carried out by a telephone type cable (17).

7. Media program audience score forecasting device comprising:

- at least one means of recording at least one media program to be tested,

- Y means of broadcasting media programs, capable of broadcasting said recording means of the program to be tested as well as at least one media program of the same type as the program to be tested and whose audience score is known, the the total number of media programs to be tested and of known audience being equal to Y,

- a set of X media program reception means, with each program reception means being associated a control member (1) allowing the listener / viewer placed in front of said program reception means to pass from a program to any of the other available programs,

a main controller connected to the X program reception means in order to simultaneously broadcast the recording means of the program to be tested on these program reception means, and

- a system for recording and measuring the behavior of media consumers comprising X detection means (2) capable of detecting at any time the identity of the program listened to and / or watched by each consumer placed in front of one of the X means for receiving programs, at least one connection means (3) capable of continuously transmitting this information to an information storage means (4), a supervision means (5) interface with each detection means

(2) and capable of interrogating the main controller and continuously scanning the information received by the main controller by the link means (3), and a calculation means (6) for processing digitally the information stored in the storage means (4) and for delivering at least one audience score value of at least one media program to be tested by reference to at least one other media program of the same type including the score d audience is known.

8. Media program audience score forecasting device according to claim 7, characterized in that a program recording means consists of several sequences separated from each other by a top and in that the controller principal assumes the function of detecting tops and transmitting this information to the storage means (4).

9. Media program audience score forecasting device according to claim 8, characterized in that the top consists of a frequency signal between 1600 and 2100 hertz and duration between 1 and 3 seconds.

10. A method of forecasting a media audience score consisting in putting a sample of viewers / listeners representative of a desired target under the condition of free listening, for a duration T, of a set of media programs of same type consisting on the one hand of at least one program to be tested and at least one program of which the audience score is known, before a set of X means of reception of media programs of this type, connected to a main controller simultaneously broadcasting the recording means of these programs, the free listening condition being ensured by X control members of X media reception means and allowing at any time to change the program on the program reception means media, the identity of the program being listened to at each instant being detected by X detection means functionally associated with the X control members, then in continuously transmitting the corresponding information ndantes to a computing means capable of processing them numerically to deliver the audience score values of the programs available on the X media program reception means.

11. Method for predicting a media audience score according to claim 10, characterized in that T is between 2 and 60 minutes.