DEVICE FOR OBSERVATION OF BEHAVIOUR OF THE TV AUDIENCE

Said device is used for observation of behaviour of the TV audience according to observation points that are distributed in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. Advantages of the device over other similar devices as existing so far: by means of this particular device it is possible to measure both video units and TV units; visitors can be registered; programs are measured in a more satisfactory manner; serious efforts have been made to ensure increased reliability. Said device includes two microcontroller units, MCU1 and MCU2, each being respectively connected to permanent memory EPPROM and to random access memory (RAM) with MCU1 being connected to analogue-to-digital converter (A/D converter), as well as to serial interface RS232 and MODEM, whereby in addition the said device includes also a presence sensor (PS) and remote control receiver (IR), while MCU2 is connected to display by means of interface. MCU1 consists of electrically erasable memory EEPROM and a serial peripheral interface SPI, and it is connected through a control logic MCU LOGIC to EPROM and RAM memories, to real time clock RTC and to A/D converter which is connected to input ATTENUATOR BUFFER1 and ATTENUATOR BUFFER2 by means of analogue multiplexer AMUX whereby MCU1 is connected to the remote control receiver IR, to the presence sensor PS and through input-output logic IO LOGIC to the digital inputs IN1...IN16 and to the outputs OUT1...OUT8, and also MCU1 is connected to MCU2 through a serial peripheral interface SPI, while MCU2 is connected to EPROM and INDICATION by means of indication logic Ind LOGIC, with the real time clock RTC and the random access memory RAM being connected to a storage battery while power to the whole device is provided from the mains supply. Ce dispositif est utilisé pour l'observation de l'audience télévisée en fonction de points d'observation spécifiés en termes de caractéristiques socio-démographiques. Ce dispositif présente certains avantages par rapport aux appareils existants, notamment parce qu'il permet d'effectuer des estimations sur des postes vidéo comme sur des postes de télévision, d'enregistrer la présence de visiteurs et d'évaluer les programmes de manière bien plus satisfaisante. De notables efforts ont d'ailleurs été entrepris pour garantir une excellente fiabilité. Le dispositif selon l'invention comporte deux microcontrôleurs, MCU1 et MCU2, connectés chacun, respectivement, à une mémoire permanente morte reprogrammable (REPROM) et à une