Methods and systems for compliance confirmation and incentives

Abstract

Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for monitoring use by a user of a portable research device in accordance with at least one predetermined use criterion are disclosed. The disclosed examples include passively gathering data for assessing an identity of a user of the portable research device, processing the passively gathered data to produce assessment data indicating a possibility that the user is not a predetermined correct user of the portable research device, based on the assessment data, displaying a message to the user requesting a response from which the user's identity may be determined, and processing a response to the message to produce data indicating whether the user is the predetermined correct user.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A computing system comprising a processor and a memory, the computing system configured to perform a set of acts comprising:
 obtaining monitoring data from a portable monitoring device of a panelist, the monitoring data indicative of movement of the portable monitoring device during a monitoring period, the portable monitoring device comprising: a microphone configured to record audio to which the panelist is exposed, a processor, a sensor, a communication interface, and a display, the monitoring data produced as a result of sensing performed by the sensor, the computing system located remotely from the portable monitoring device;   analyzing the monitoring data in accordance with a compliance rule;   based on the analyzing, determining reward data for the monitoring period, wherein the data reward comprises a number of points usable to make purchases; and   causing communication of a reward notification to the portable monitoring device, the reward notification specifying the number of points.   
     
     
         3 . The computing system of  claim 2 , wherein the set of acts further comprises crediting the number of points to an account of the panelist. 
     
     
         4 . The computing system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is configured to determine whether the panelist is carrying the portable monitoring device. 
     
     
         5 . The computing system of  claim 2 , wherein the portable monitoring device is configured to detect an ancillary code in the audio. 
     
     
         6 . The computing system of  claim 2 , wherein the portable monitoring device is configured to generating a signature using the audio. 
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 2 , wherein the portable monitoring device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 2 , wherein the portable monitoring device further comprises a short range location signal receiver for use in detecting a location of the portable monitoring device. 
     
     
         9 . A monitoring system comprising:
 a portable monitoring device comprising: a microphone configured to record audio to which a panelist is exposed, a processor, a sensor, a communication interface, and a display; and   a computing system located remotely from the portable monitoring device, the computing system configured to perform a set of acts comprising:
 obtaining monitoring data from the portable monitoring device, the monitoring data indicative of movement of the portable monitoring device during a monitoring period, the monitoring data produced as a result of sensing performed by the sensor, 
 analyzing the monitoring data in accordance with a compliance rule, 
 based on the analyzing, determining reward data for the monitoring period, wherein the reward data comprises a number of points usable to make purchases, and 
 causing communication of a reward notification to the portable monitoring device, the reward notification specifying the number of points. 
   
     
     
         10 . The monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the set of acts further comprises crediting the number of points to an account of the panelist. 
     
     
         11 . The monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor is configured to determine whether the panelist is carrying the portable monitoring device. 
     
     
         12 . The monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the portable monitoring device is configured to detect an ancillary code in the audio. 
     
     
         13 . The monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the portable monitoring device is configured to generating a signature using the audio. 
     
     
         14 . The monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the portable monitoring device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         15 . The monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein the portable monitoring device further comprises a short range location signal receiver for use in detecting a location of the portable monitoring device. 
     
     
         16 . A monitoring system comprising:
 a portable monitoring device comprising: a microphone configured to record audio to which the panelist is exposed, a processor, a communication interface, and a display; and   a computing system located remotely from the portable monitoring device, the computing system configured to perform a set of acts comprising:
 obtaining monitoring data from the portable monitoring device, the monitoring data indicative of when the portable monitoring device is recharging during a monitoring period, 
 analyzing the monitoring data in accordance with a compliance rule, 
 based on the analyzing, determining that the portable monitoring device is not in compliance with criteria for recharging of the portable monitoring device during the monitoring period, and 
 storing compliance data indicating that the portable monitoring device is not in compliance with the criteria for recharging of the portable monitoring device during the monitoring period. 
   
     
     
         17 . The monitoring system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable monitoring device is configured to detect an ancillary code in the audio. 
     
     
         18 . The monitoring system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable monitoring device is configured to generating a signature using the audio. 
     
     
         19 . The monitoring system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable monitoring device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         20 . The monitoring system of  claim 16 , wherein the portable monitoring device further comprises a short range location signal receiver for use in detecting a location of the portable monitoring device.