Methods and apparatus to monitor media exposure in vehicles

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to monitor media exposure in vehicles are disclosed. An example implementation includes collecting audience measurement data with a media monitoring device fixed in a vehicle and transmitting the audience measurement data from the media monitoring device to a shuttle located within the vehicle, the shuttle being incapable of collecting audience measurement data independent of the media monitoring device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of monitoring media exposure in an automobile, the method comprising:
 collecting audience measurement data with a media monitoring device fixed in an automobile, the audience measurement data based on audio received within the automobile by the media monitoring device;   storing the audience measurement data in a memory of the media monitoring device;   detecting the presence of a shuttle located within the automobile, the shuttle being incapable of collecting audience measurement data independent of the media monitoring device;   transmitting the audience measurement data from the media monitoring device to the shuttle;   moving the shuttle from the automobile and into proximity of an audience measurement data aggregator;   transmitting the audience measurement data from the shuttle to the audience measurement data aggregator; and   transmitting the audience measurement data from the audience measurement data aggregator to an audience measurement data collection server.   
     
     
       2. The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the media monitoring device collects audio via at least one of a microphone or a line input connection. 
     
     
       3. The method as described in  claim 2 , wherein the media monitoring device provides audio to an audio system of the automobile. 
     
     
       4. The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the media monitoring device is communicatively coupled with a computer system of the automobile. 
     
     
       5. The method as described in  claim 4 , wherein the audience measurement data includes local computer data from the computer system of the automobile. 
     
     
       6. The method as described in  claim 1 , wherein the shuttle includes a wireless transmitter and a memory. 
     
     
       7. The method as described in  claim 1 , further comprising deleting the audience measurement data from the memory of the media monitoring device after the audience measurement data is transmitted to the shuttle. 
     
     
       8. The method as described in  claim 1 , further comprising determining if a communication link is available to the shuttle. 
     
     
       9. A system to monitor media exposure in an automobile, the system comprising:
 a media monitoring device fixed in an automobile to:
 collect audience measurement data based on audio presented within the automobile; 
 store the audience measurement data in a memory of the media monitoring device; 
 transmit the audience measurement data; 
   an audience measurement data shuttle to receive the audience measurement data, the shuttle being incapable of collecting audience measurement data independent of the media monitoring device; and   an audience measurement data aggregator to receive the audience measurement data when transmitted by the shuttle, to store the audience measurement data in a tangible memory, and to transmit the audience measurement data to a media monitoring collection server.   
     
     
       10. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the media monitoring device is to receive power from a power system of the automobile. 
     
     
       11. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the media monitoring device is to receive the audio via at least one of a microphone or a line input connector. 
     
     
       12. The system as described in  claim 11 , wherein the media monitoring device is to transmit audio to an audio system of the automobile. 
     
     
       13. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the media monitoring device is to add first data to the audience measurement data, the first data being derived from a computer system of the automobile. 
     
     
       14. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the shuttle is a key fob. 
     
     
       15. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the transmission between the media monitor and the shuttle is implemented according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.15.4 standard. 
     
     
       16. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the transmission between the shuttle and the aggregator is implemented according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.15.4 standard. 
     
     
       17. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the aggregator is to receive the audience measurement data from multiple shuttles. 
     
     
       18. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the media monitoring device is communicatively coupled with a computer system of the automobile via an On Board Diagnostics (OBD-II) connector. 
     
     
       19. The system as described in  claim 9 , wherein the media monitoring device adds first data to the audience measurement data, the first data being derived from a physical selector switch located on the media monitoring device. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus for monitoring media exposure in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing with a male 12 volt power connector at a first end of the housing to engage within a 12 volt power outlet of the vehicle;   at least one of a microphone or a line input within the housing;   a printed circuit (PC) board mounted within the housing;   a processor mounted on the PC board, the processor to collect audience measurement data;   a memory within the housing; and   a wireless communicator within the housing structured to detect the presence of a shuttle located within the automobile, the shuttle being incapable of collecting audience measurement data independent of the media monitoring device;   the wireless communicator structured to, when the shuttle is detected, transmit the audience measurement data from the media monitoring device to the shuttle.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus as described in claim 20, further including a physical selector switch within the housing. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as described in claim 20, further including a power indicator within the housing. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as described in claim 20, wherein the wireless communicator is a radio transmitter. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus as described in claim 20, further including a button within the housing. 
     
     
       25. An apparatus for monitoring media exposure in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a male power connector at a first end of the housing to engage within a power outlet of the vehicle;   at least one of a microphone or a line input within the housing;   a processor within the housing;   a memory within the housing; and   a wireless communicator within the housing structured to detect the presence of a shuttle located within the automobile, the shuttle being incapable of collecting audience measurement data independent of the media monitoring device;   the wireless communicator structured to, when the shuttle is detected, transmit the audience measurement data from the media monitoring device to the shuttle.   
     
     
       26. The apparatus as described in claim 25, wherein the power outlet is for one of the following voltages: 5 volts, 12 volts, 20 volts and 120 volts. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus as described in claim 25, further including a physical selector switch within the housing. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus as described in claim 25, further including a power indicator within the housing. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus as described in claim 25, wherein the wireless communicator is a radio transmitter. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus as described in claim 25, further including a printed circuit board within the housing. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus as described in claim 25, further including a button within the housing.