Methods and systems to monitor a media device via a usb port

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed to monitor a media device via a universal serial bus (“USB”) port. An example method includes obtaining a voltage output by a UBS port of the media device and determining if the voltage exceeds a threshold. If the voltage exceeds the threshold, the example method includes determining the media device is in an on state. If the voltage does not exceed the threshold, the example method includes determining the media device is in an off state.

1 . A method to monitor a media device comprising:
 obtaining a voltage output by a universal serial bus port of the media device;   determining if the voltage exceeds a threshold;   if the voltage exceeds the threshold, determining the media device is in an on state; and   if the voltage does not exceed the threshold, determining the media device is in an off state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating operating state data indicative of whether the media device is determined to be in the on state or the off state; and   timestamping the operating state data.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting the timestamped operating state data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining if the voltage exceeds the threshold includes rectifying the voltage. 
     
     
         5 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system to monitor a media device comprising:
 an input to obtain a voltage output by a universal serial bus port of the media device; and   a voltage comparator to determine the media device is in an on state if the voltage exceeds a threshold and to determine the media device is in an off state if the voltage does not exceed the threshold.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a database to store operating state data indicative of whether the media device is in the on state or the off state; and   a timestamper to timestamp the operating state data.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a transmitter to transmit the timestamped operating state data. 
     
     
         16 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A tangible computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to at least:
 compare a voltage output by a universal serial bus port of the media device to a threshold;   if the voltage exceeds the threshold, determine the media device is in an on state; and   if the voltage does not exceed the threshold, determine the media device is in an off state.   
     
     
         25 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , further comprising instructions that cause the computing device to:
 generate operating state data indicative of whether the media device is determined to be in the on state or the off state; and   timestamp the operating state data.   
     
     
         26 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 25 , further comprising instructions that cause the computing device to transmit the timestamped operating state data. 
     
     
         27 . The tangible computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein determining if the voltage exceeds the threshold includes rectifying the voltage. 
     
     
         28 .- 35 . (canceled)