People metering enhanced with light projection prompting for audience measurement

Abstract

Example meters disclosed herein include a user interface to accept user input in response to activation of a prompting indicator. Disclosed example meters also include a controller to control a light projector to project light onto a first projection area of a surface, the light projector activated in association with the activation of the prompting indicator. In some examples, the controller is also to control the light projector to project light onto a second projection area of the surface in response to expiration of a time period without receipt of any user input responsive the activation of the prompting indicator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for accepting user input in response to activation of a prompting indicator; and   means for controlling a light projector, the means for controlling to:
 control the light projector to project light onto a first projection area of a surface based on a first pulse pattern, the light projector to be activated in association with the activation of the prompting indicator; and 
 control the light projector to project light onto a second projection area of the surface based on a second pulse pattern different from the first pulse pattern in response to expiration of a time period without receipt of any user input responsive to the activation of the prompting indicator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is external to the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the surface corresponds to a display surface of a media device, and further including means for positioning the apparatus on top of the media device, the means for positioning to be adjustable to position the light projector to project the light onto the display surface of the media device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further including the light projector. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a speaker, and the prompting indicator includes an audible indicator to be emitted by the speaker. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including means for tracking the expiration of the time period. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for controlling is to deactivate the light projector in response to at least one of receipt of the user input or the expiration of the time period. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for emitting a prompt for user input; and   mean for controlling emission of the prompt, the means for controlling to:
 determine whether the apparatus is to transition to a first prompting mode, or whether the apparatus is to transition to a second prompting mode different from the first prompting mode, the apparatus to be able to operate in one of a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes including a quiet mode, the first prompting mode and the second prompting mode; 
 in response to a transition of the apparatus to the second prompting mode: (i) activate the prompt and activate a light projector to project light onto a first projection area of a surface, and (ii) control the light projector to project light onto a second projection area of the surface in response to expiration of a first time period without receipt of the user input during the second prompting mode; and 
 activate the prompt, but not activate the light projector, in response to a transition of the apparatus to the first prompting mode. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the means for controlling is to deactivate the prompt and deactivate the light projector when the apparatus is to transition to the quiet mode. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the means for controlling is to:
 cause the apparatus to transition to the first prompting mode in response to a first condition;   cause the apparatus to transition to the second prompting mode in response to a second condition; and   cause the apparatus to transition to the quiet mode when a response to the prompt for user input is received.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first condition corresponds to receipt of a first trigger signal from a device separate from the apparatus, and the second condition corresponds to receipt of a second trigger signal from the device separate from the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further includes timing means, the first condition corresponds to receipt of a first trigger signal from a device separate from the apparatus, and the second condition corresponds to expiration of a second time period after the apparatus transitions to the first prompting mode, the second time period tracked by the timing means. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first time period is tracked by the timing means. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the means for controlling is to:
 activate the means for emitting the prompt according to a first prompting configuration when the apparatus is to transition to the first prompting mode; and   activate the means for emitting the prompt according to a second prompting configuration different from the first prompting configuration when the apparatus is to transition to the second prompting mode.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for emitting prompts for user input;   means for projecting light onto a surface;   timing means; and   means for controlling emission of the prompts, the means for controlling to:
 determine whether a meter is to enter a first prompting mode, the meter being able to operate in at least one of a quiet mode, the first prompting mode, or a second prompting mode different from the first prompting mode; 
 activate the means for projecting light according to a first pulsing pattern having a first pulsing frequency in response to determining the meter is to enter the first prompting mode; 
 determine, based on the timing means, whether a first time period has elapsed while the means for projecting light has been activated, the meter to enter the quiet mode in response to detection of a user input while the meter is operating in at least one of the first prompting mode or the second prompting mode, and the meter to enter the first prompting mode when no user input is detected after the meter has operated in the second prompting mode for a second time period; 
 control the means for projecting light according to a second pulsing pattern having a second pulsing frequency different than the first pulsing frequency in response to the first time period having elapsed while the means for projecting light has been activated; and 
 deactivate the means for projecting light in response to determining the meter is to exit the first prompting mode. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for emitting prompts is to emit a first type of prompt during the first prompting mode, the means for emitting prompts is to emit a second type of prompt during the second prompting mode, the means for emitting prompts is to perform no prompting during the quiet mode, and the means for controlling is to activate the means for projecting light while the meter is operating in the first prompting mode, and not activate the means for projecting light while the meter is operating in the second prompting mode or the quiet mode. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the surface corresponds to an external surface of a display screen of a media device, and the means for projecting light, when activated, is to project at least one of a white spot, a colored spot or a text message on the external surface of the display screen of the media device. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for controlling is further to control the means for projecting light to at least one of change a color or change a projection area in response to the first time period having elapsed. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second pulsing frequency is higher than the first pulsing frequency. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the means for controlling is further to deactivate the means for projecting light in response to a third time period having expired.