Satellite positioning system enabled traffic determination

Abstract

The present invention is directed to utilizing monitoring devices ( 200 ) for determining the demographics of individuals passing a particular geographic location. The monitoring devices ( 200 ) are distributed to a number of study respondents. The monitoring devices ( 200 ) track the movements of the respondents whose demographics are known. While various technologies may be used to track the movements of the respondents, at least some of the location tracking of the monitoring devices ( 200 ) utilize a satellite ( 105 ) location system such as the global positioning system (“GPS”). Geo data (movement data) collected by the monitoring devices is analyzed by a post-processing server ( 400 ) that determines the demographics of the study respondents that pass a chosen geographic location.

1 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . A computer-implemented method for measuring the presence and demographics of persons at predetermined geographic locations, the method comprising:
 receiving geo data representing locations at associated times of a plurality of monitoring devices respectively carried by or otherwise associated with persons with known demographics, at least a portion of the geo data derived from a satellite positioning system (“SPS”); and   processing the geo data to measure the presence and demographics of persons at the predetermined geographical locations by:
 for one or more predetermined locations:
 comparing monitoring device locations represented by the geo data to the predetermined location to identify location matches; and 
 for each location match:
 identifying the monitoring device associated with the monitoring device location and a time during which the location match occurs; 
 identifying the person carrying or otherwise associated with the monitoring device; and 
 categorizing the location match based on at least one demographic of the person that is identified. 
 
 
   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising periodically receiving geo data including one or more geo data points comprising geographical location data and location time data from a monitoring device. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein the geographical location data comprises a longitude and latitude measured by the monitoring device. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein geo data is generated by processing signals received by one or more satellites at the monitoring device to determine a longitude and latitude of the monitoring device, and storing, for each of one or more geo data points, a longitude, latitude, and a time at which the geographical location data is determined. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , wherein the geo data that is received from the monitoring device includes an identity of the monitoring device. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein one or more location matches are determined by processing the geo data associated with the monitoring devices to derive paths of travel for the monitoring devices and identifying instances under which a path of travel of one or more monitoring devices falls within a threshold distance of a predetermined geographic location. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising:
 aggregating location match data for multiple predetermined geographic locations, the location match data including at least one demographic of the person that is identified in each location match; and   assessing location usage from among the multiple predetermined geographic locations for at least one of business and media planning based on the aggregated location match data.   
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein at least a portion of the geo data is derived from a radio frequency (RF) positioning system. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the known demographics of the persons include at least one of sociographic, psychographic, and behavioral categorizations for at least a portion of the persons. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the geo data includes velocity data, further comprising, for a given location match, determining a rate of movement of the monitoring device. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 74 , wherein for each geo data point there is an associated date. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein processing the geo data includes grooming the data to enhance its accuracy. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein grooming the geo data comprises:
 analyzing the geo data to determine if any of the geo data is erroneous and/or anomalous;   removing any erroneous and/or anomalous data from the geo data prior to matching the locations of said plurality of monitoring devices and said plurality of predetermined geographic locations; and   storing said erroneous and/or anomalous data.   
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein grooming the geo data comprises merging partial geo data locations with data representing known locations. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein grooming the geo data comprises determining additional geo data locations from data representing known locations. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein grooming the geo data comprises augmenting the geo data with external data to enhance accuracy. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the external data is Geographic Information System (“GIS”) data. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the external data is known location data. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein grooming the geo data comprises computing confidence levels for the geo data. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising identifying a location match by determining if the location of a monitoring device is within a threshold distance of a predetermined geographic location. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein the threshold distance is adaptive as a function of one or more factors. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein the one or more factors include one or more factors relating to visibility of the predetermined geographic location. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein the one or more factors include one or more factors relating to audibility of the predetermined geographic location. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein the one or more factors include one or more factors relating to the movement of a monitoring device past the predetermined geographic location. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the geo data associated with a given monitoring device includes a plurality of geo data points, each relating to a respective location of the monitoring device, and wherein processing the geo data includes calculating lines extending between geo data points. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the lines that are calculated include straight lines. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the lines that are calculated include curved lines. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 97 , further comprising identifying a location match by determining if a line crosses within a threshold distance from a predetermined geographic location. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising calculating, for each of one or more location matches, a dwell time during which a monitoring device is located within a threshold distance of a predetermined geographic location. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the dwell time calculation is further characterized according to the demographics of the person associated with the monitoring device. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising describing a location match by determining a movement speed of a monitoring device when the monitoring device is within a threshold distance of a predetermined geographic location. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 103 , wherein the speed determination is further characterized according to the demographics of the person associated with the monitoring device. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising determining a reach value for one or more predetermined geographic locations, based on instances of location matches involving unique persons associated with monitoring devices over a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising determining a frequency value for one or more predetermined geographic locations, based on repeat instances of location matches involving unique persons associated with monitoring devices over a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising determining reach and frequency values for one or more predetermined geographic locations; and
 calculating Gross Rating Points (“GRPs”) for the predetermined geographic locations.   
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 107 , wherein the determinations of reach, frequency, and GRPs in location matches is further correlated with the demographics of the persons associated with the monitoring devices. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising conducting recall analyses of one or more predetermined geographic locations, including:
 identifying a subset of one or more persons associated with a monitoring device according to their location matches with one or more predetermined geographic locations;   surveying those persons to assess how and the degree to which they remember seeing or hearing those predetermined geographic locations; and   processing the survey data to characterize the impact of those predetermined geographic locations on the recall of persons within a threshold distance of them.   
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein said recall analyses are further correlated with the demographics of the persons whose recall of predetermined geographic locations is being assessed. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising conducting purchase behavior analyses, including:
 identifying a subset of one or more persons associated with a monitoring device according to their location matches with one or more predetermined geographic locations;   processing a dataset of those persons' purchase behavior at one or more of the predetermined geographic locations;   processing a dataset of those persons' purchase behavior before and/or after a location match with one or more of the predetermined geographic locations; and   tabulating purchase behavior analyses for one or more of the predetermined geographic locations.   
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 111 , wherein said purchase behavior analyses are further characterized in accordance with the demographics of the persons whose purchase behavior is being analyzed.