US 20080147461A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2008/0147461 A1
Lee et al.
(54)
(43) Pub. Date:
METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR
CONSUMER ACTIVITY
(76) Inventors:
Jun. 19, 2008
Publication Classi?cation
(51)
Morris Lee, Palm Harbor, FL (U S);
Arun Ramaswamy, Tampa, FL
(Us)
(52)
Int CL
G06Q 10/00
G06Q 30/00
(2006.01)
(200601)
Gols 1/00
(200601)
US. Cl. ................. .. 705/7; 705/14; 705/1; 342/453;
342/464
Correspondence Address:
(57)
HANLEY’ FLIGHT & ZIMMERMAN’ LLC
150 5- WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2100
CHICAGO, IL 60606
Methods and apparatus to monitor consumer activity are dis
closed herein. In a disclosed example method, a ?rst signal is
received via a portable device from a ?rst one of a plurality of
(21) APPL No;
ABSTRACT
stationary devices positioned throughout a monitored envi
ronment. A ?rst stationary device location of the ?rst station
11/957,227
ary device is determined based on the ?rst signal. Absolute
_
(22)
Flledi
location information indicative of a ?rst portable device loca
Dec- 14: 2007
tion of the portable device is determined based on the ?rst
Related US Application Data
is generated by the portable device. Relative location infor
(60) Provisional application No. 60/870,045, ?led on Dec.
tion and the navigational sensing information, Wherein the
14, 2006, provisional application No. 60/981,328,
relative location information is indicative of a second portable
?led on Oct. 19, 2007.
device location of the portable device.
stationary device location. Navigational sensing information
mation is determined based on the absolute location informa
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Patent Application Publication
US 2008/0147461 A1
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 1 0f 17
CENTRAL FACILITY
PRODUCT AND
ADVERTISEMENT
SERVER
NETWORK
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FIG. 1
Patent Application Publication
220
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 2 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
THERMOMETER
218“
DIGITAL AUDIO
RECORDER
—|-| VISUAL ALERT h
l-
_
_
_
_
_
INPUT
INTERFACE
NAVI GATIONAL
DATA SENSORS
___A___
—
MOTION I
I SENSOR(S) I
/- 224
__|
PROCESSOR
202 J
VISUAL
INTERFACE
\ 226
—|
MEMORY
—I
RF SENSOR
AUDIO
SENSOR(S)
/- 206
COMMUNICATION
INTERFACE
FIG. 2
\- 204
TIMING DEVICE
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 3 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
306
FIG.3
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 4 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
@
INSTALL SIGNAL EMITTERS THROUGHOUT MONITORED
ENVIRONMENT
NO
—<
I’
PROGRAM SIGNAL EMITTERS WITH UNIQUE ID?
/— 402
>/_
404
YES
"
|
PROGRAM SIGNAL EMITTERS WITH UNIQUE ID
|/_
406
k
r
V
ASK WHETHER PERSON AGREES TO PARTICIPATE IN MARKET /- 408
RESEARCH
I
NO / DOES PERSON CONSENT TO PARTICIPATING IN MARKET
\
410
RESEARCH?
YES
V
DOES PERSON CONSENT TO PROVIDING DEMOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION
I
NO
/— 412
414
DOES PERSON CONSENT TO PROVIDE DEMOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION?
YES
ENTER DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION INTO POINT OF SERVICE /- 416
SYSTEM
ENTER BASIC CHARACTERISTIC INFORMATION INTO POINT OF /—418
SERVICE SYSTEM
Ir
FIG. 4A
Patent Application Publication
YES
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 5 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
DOES PERSON ALREADY HAVE TAG COMPATIBLE WITH >f 422
LOCATION SYSTEM OF MONITORED ENVIRONMENT?
NO
|
v
SET CURRENT LCCAT|CN OF LCANER TAG
I’
424
l
/- 426
DOES PERSON'S PERSONAL TAG HAVE ALTERNATIVE
LOCATION DETECTION SYSTEM TO SET AN INITIAL LOCATION‘?
NO
‘
YES
/_ 428
MANUALLY SET CURRENT
LOCATION OF PERSONS
PERSONAL TAG
‘
,- 430
ALLOW PERSON'S
PERSONAL TAG TO SET ITS
CURRENT LoCAT|oN
‘
OBTAIN TAG IDENTIFICATION OF TAG
I’
I
sTCRE TAG IDENTIFICATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH
/—
432
434
DEMOGRAPHIC CR BASIC CHARACTER|sT|C INFORMATION
I
NO
—< COMMUNICATE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION TO TAG? >/_
436
YES
v
I
COMMUNICATE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION TO TAG
r
V
(B?
FIG. 4B
V
438
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 6 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
ISSUE TAG TO PERSON
Y-
44
0
I
INFORM PERSON OF INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO RETURN
LOANER TAGS AT CHECKOUT COUNTER
/— 442
I
COMMUNICATE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND LOANER
IDENTIFICATION TO SERVER
I
| |
COLLECT SHOPPER MONITORING INFORMATION
|
RECEIVE TAG FROM PATRON
I
I
/- 444
| Y
Y
I UPLOAD SHOPPER MONITORING INFORMATION TO SERVER V
446
448
450
I
STORE SHOPPER MONITORING INFORMATION IN ASSOCIATION /- 452
WITH DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION AND TAG IDENTIFICATION
i>
FIG. 4C
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 7 0f 17
@
US 2008/0147461 A1
/- 502
SET TIMER TO INTERVAL FOR COLLECTING SHOPPER
MONITORING INFORMATION
—<
NO
TIMER EXPIRED?
V
f
YES
‘
|
/- 506
RESET TIMER
|
SIGNAL EMISSIONS AvAILABLE TO DETERMINE
\ NO
ABSOLUTE LOCATION?
YES
/
¥ 508
\
COLLECT SIGNAL EMISSIONS TO DETERMINE ABSOLUTE
LOCATION
I,
\- 510
STORE COLLECTED SIGNAL EMISSION REPRESENTATION AND/
OR CHARACTERISTICS IN ASSOCIATION WITH TIMESTAMP
¥ 512
‘I
,- 518
COLLECT DEAD RECKONING INFORMATION
|
I,
/- 520
| STORE RELATIVE LOCATION INFORMATION AND TIMESTAMP |
v
/- 522
MEASURE AND STORE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
|
‘I
/- 524
MEASURE AND STORE AMBIENT NOISE
|
>
526
"
/—
CONTINUE MONITORING?
NO
V
I
END
FIG. 5
I
YES
>_
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 8 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
@
/- 602
SET FIRST TIMER TO INTERVAL FOR GENERATING RELATIVE
LOCATION INFORMATION USING DEAD RECKONING PROCESS
I,
C
/- 604
SET SECOND TIMER TO INTERVAL FOR ACQUIRING SIGNAL
EMISSIONS FROM SIGNAL EMITTERS
7
—<
NO
FIRST TIMER
V EXPIRED?
$
YES
‘
|
<
/- 607
RESET FIRST TIMER
I’
DETERMINE ABSOLUTE LOCATION?
YES
|
NO
>—
¥ 608
\
—| |
DETERMINE ABSOLUTE LOCATION
||
\- 609
‘
|
/- 610
GENERATE RELATIVE LOCATION INFORMATION
|
I,
/- 612
I STORE RELATIVE LOCATION INFORMATION AND TIMESTAMP I
V
Q9
FIG. 6A
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 9 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
/- 614
NO
—<
SECOND TIMER EXPIRED?
>
YES
I,
/- 616
|
RESET SECOND TIMER
,1,
|
/- 618
|
COLLECT SIGNAL EMISSIoNS FROM SIGNAL EMITTERS
|
|
,1,
TIMESTAMP RECEIVED SIGNAL INFORMATION
¢
/- 620
|
/- 622
|
SToRE RECEIVED SIGNAL INFORMATION AND TIMESTAMP
,1,
/- 624
|
|
|
MEASURE AND STORE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
,1,
MEASURE AND STORE AMBIENT NOISE
/- 626
|
v
/- 628
—<
DETERMINE ABSOLUTE LOCATION?
NO
|
>
YES
"
| |
YES
—<
/— 630
DETERMINE ABSoLUTE LOCATION
‘
CONTINUE MONITORING?
NO
END
(9
FIG. 6B
>
\- 632
V
(
||
)
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 10 0f 17
I
START
US 2008/0147461 A1
I
"
I RECEIVE SHOPPER MONITORING INFORMATION FROM TAG V
I
W704
}/—706
EXTRACT RECORDED CHIRPS AND TIMESTAMPS
I
EXTRACT UNIQUE ID'S FROM CHIRPS
I
DETERMINE ABSOLUTE LOCATION INFORMATION
I
702
I r708
DETERMINE RELATIVE LOCATION INFORMATION
I
r710
USE UNIQUE ID’S OR LOCATION INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY
PRODUCT OR ADVERTISEMENT EXPOSURE
I
AWARD EXPOSURE CREDIT TO IDENTIFIED PRODUCT(S),
ADVERTISEMENT(S), OR OTHER PRODUCT-RELATED
INFORMATION
I
EXTRACT AND PROCESS AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
INFORMATION
I
EXTRACT AND PROCESS AMBIENT NOISE INFORMATION
I
FOR EACH AMBIENT NOISE MEASUREMENT, DETERMINE
QUANTITY OF PEOPLE
I
ASSOCIATE QUANTITY OF PEOPLE AS BEING PRESENT AT
LOCATION OF TAG WHEN AMBIENT NOISE MEASUREMENT
WAS COLLECTED
I
AWARD EXPOSURE CREDIT TO PRODUCT(S), ADVERTISEMENT(S),
OR OTHER PRODUCT-RELATED INFORMATION PROXIMATE TO
LOCATION OF AMBIENT NOISE MEASUREMENT FOR HAVING BEEN
EXPOSED TO QUANTITY OF PEOPLE CORRESPONDING TO THE
AMBIENT NOISE MEASUREMENT
I
YES
722
/_
% RECEIVE MORE SHOPPER MONITORING INFORMATION? >/_
NO
V
I
END
I
FIG. 7
724
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 11 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
DETERMINE
ABSOLUTE LOCATION
'
V
/— 804
|
RETRIEvE SET OF CHIRP DATA
|
J,
/- 806
|
MEASURE STRENGTH OF EACH CHIRP
J,
COMPARE STRENGTHS TO ONE ANOTHER
T
|
/- 808
|
/- 810
|
SELECT STRONGEST CHIRP
J,
|
/- 812
|
EXTRACT UNIQUE ID FROM SELECTED CHIRP
|
V
/— s14
|
OBTAIN ABSOLUTE LOCATION INFORMATION FROM DATA
STRUCTURE BASED ON UNIQUE ID
|
1,
STORE ABSOLUTE LOCATION INFORMATION
/— 816
|
V
/- 818
YES
%
PROCESS ANOTHER SET OF CHIRP DATA?
NO
v
(
END
FIG. 8
)
>
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 12 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
DETERMINE
ABSOLUTE LOCATION
|
|
|
|
MEASURE STRENGTH OF EACH RECEIVED CHIRP
|
I,
COMPARE STRENGTH TO ONE ANOTHER
I,
SELECT THREE STRONGEST CHIRPS
I,
OBTAIN UNIQUE ID’S OF SELECTED CHIRP
I,
/- 904
|
/- 906
|
/- 90s
|
/- 910
OBTAIN LOCATION INFORMATION FROM DATA STRUCTURE
FOR EACH UNIQUE ID
I,
/-912
DETERMINE ABSOLUTE LOCATION USING TRIANGULATION
TECHNIQUES BASED ON RETRIEVED LOCATION INFORMATION
|
YES
—<
I,
STORE ABSOLUTE LOCATION INFORMATION
I,
PROCESS OTHER RECEIVED CHIRPS?
NO
V
I
END
FIG. 9
I
/- 914
|
/- 916
>
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 13 0f 17
1006
1004
‘
A
1008
1002
FIG. 10A
FIG. 10B
US 2008/0147461 A1
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 14 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
(-1104
125-879
125-880
125-881 125-882
K 104
POINT OF SERVICE
SYSTEM
III
125-883 125-884
E] III
( 125-885 125-886
)
1102
1106
:
S
1108
111
FIG. 11
111
\
1202
1206
1208
\
1210
\
USER
INTERFACE
DATA
INTERFACE
DEMOGRAPHIC
IN FORMATION
DATABASE
COMMUNICATION
INTERFACE
IDENTIFICATION
SCANNER
INTERFACE
FIG. 12
1204
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 15 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
104
(-
1306
((- 1302
E] I—I K, TAG CHECK-IN SYSTEM
1304
|
DOCKING SYSTEM
|-/
FIG. 13
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FIG. 14A
FIG. 15
1602
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1402
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FIG. 14B
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 16 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
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ENTRANCE
FIG. 18
Patent Application Publication
Jun. 19, 2008 Sheet 17 0f 17
US 2008/0147461 A1
,— 1910
/_
1912
PROCESSOR
1]
/_
/_
/— 1918
1922
\\
1914
1926
I/O
DEVICE
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CONTROLLER
/—1932
MEMORY
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1930
DEVICE
INTERFACE
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\— 1928
SYSTEM
MEMORY
\— 1924
MASS STORAGE
MEMORY
\— 1925
124
FIG. 19
I
_\ NETWORK
US 2008/0147461 A1
METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR
CONSUMER ACTIVITY
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent claims the bene?t of US. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/870,045, ?led Dec. 14, 2006, and
US. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/981,328, ?led
Oct. 19, 2007, both of which are hereby incorporated herein
by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to media
monitoring and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus
to monitor consumer activity.
Jun. 19, 2008
[0007] FIG. 3 is an example location determination system
that may be used to implement the location determination
system of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIGS. 4A-4C depict a ?ow diagram illustrating an
example method that may be used to con?gure the example
location determination system of FIGS. 1 and 3 and use the
location determination system to generate location informa
tion indicative of the locations traversed by persons in the
monitored environment of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a ?ow diagram representative of machine
readable instructions that can be executed to implement the
tags of FIGS. 1 and 2 to generate shopper monitoring infor
mation as persons move through the example indoor environ
ment of FIG. 1.
[0010]
FIGS. 6A and 6B depict a ?ow diagram representa
tive of machine readable instructions that can be executed to
BACKGROUND
[0003] Retail establishments and product manufacturers
are often interested in the shopping activities, behaviors, and/
or habits of people in a retail environment. Consumer activity
related to shopping canbe used to correlate product sales with
particular shopping behavior and/or to improve placements of
products, advertisements, and/ or other product-related infor
mation in a retail environment. Known techniques for moni
toring consumer activities in retail establishments include
conducting surveys, counting patrons, and/or conducting
visual inspections of shoppers or patrons in the retail estab
lishments. However, such known techniques have drawbacks
that can skew or adversely impact any derived analytic data.
For example, consumer surveys rely on consumers being
accurate in their responses to survey questions. However,
consumers often inadvertently miss or forget information that
implement the tags of FIGS. 1 and 2 to generate shopper
monitoring information as persons move through the example
indoor environment of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a ?ow diagram representative of machine
readable instructions that can be executed to process shopper
monitoring information collected by tags in the monitored
environment of FIG. 1.
[0012]
FIG. 8 is a ?ow diagram representative of machine
readable instructions that can be executed to determine abso
lute locations of persons in the monitored environment of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a ?ow diagram representative of machine
readable instructions that can be executed to determine abso
lute locations of a person in the monitored environment of
FIG. 1.
[0014]
FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating com
parisons of paths generated using a dead reckoning process
may be relevant to particular survey questions and provide
and actual paths traversed by a person carrying a tag having a
responses that are not completely accurate or representative
dead reckoning system.
of their activities or behaviors in connection with patroniZing
retail establishments.
[0004] Known techniques used to count patrons in retail
establishments can also have drawbacks. For example, patron
counts can be used to determine the number of people present
[0015]
FIG. 11 illustrates barcode labels that can be used to
identify tags carried by shoppers in the monitored environ
ment of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 12 is a detailed block diagram of an example
point of service system of FIGS. 1 and 11.
in a retail establishment or in areas of a retail establishment at
[0017]
any one time, but cannot be used to accurately access the
ing system that can be used to receive tags returned by shop
pers at the end of their shopping trips.
[0018] FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate an example docking
station to communicatively couple tags with a system used to
activities or behaviors of those people while patroniZing the
retail establishment. Also, known techniques used by
research personnel to visually inspect retail establishments to
FIG. 13 illustrates a tag check-in system and a dock
record or log consumer or patron activities in those retail
establishments can produce inaccurate results due to the sub
receive shopper monitoring information collected by the tags.
jective nature of human beings in the roles of research per
can be placed on the docking station of FIGS. 14A and 14B.
sonnel. For example, one research person performing a visual
inspection of a scenario may log events associated with that
[0020] FIG. 17 depicts another example implementation of
the example docking station of FIGS. 14A, 14B, 15, and 16.
scenario quite differently from how another research person
might log the events when observing the exact same scenario.
ment of FIG. 1 having an actual path of travel and a calculated
Further, data generated or logged by research personnel is
prone to human error, which can adversely affect or skew any
derived analytic data.
[0019]
[0021]
FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate how toroid-shaped tags
FIG. 18 depicts a portion of the monitored environ
path of travel overlaid thereon.
[0022] FIG. 19 is a block diagram ofan example processor
system that may be used to implement some or all of the
example methods and apparatus described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates an example indoor environment
having a location determination system including a plurality
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Although the following discloses example methods,
of stationary location devices installed throughout the
example indoor environment to enable determining locations
apparatus, and systems including, among other components,
of tags as the tags are moved within the indoor environment.
methods, apparatus, and systems are merely illustrative and
[0006] FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the example
tags of FIG. 1.
should not be considered as limiting. For example, it is con
templated that any or all of these hardware and software
software executed on hardware, it should be noted that such
US 2008/0147461 A1
components could be embodied exclusively in hardware,
exclusively in software, or in any combination of hardware
and software. Accordingly, while the following describes
example methods, apparatus, and systems, the examples pro
vided are not the only way to implement such methods, appa
ratus, and systems.
[0024] The example methods and apparatus described
herein may be used to monitor consumer activity to determine
consumer exposure to media sources, media presentations,
products, advertisements, etc. as consumers walk through a
monitored environment. For example, the example methods
and apparatus described herein may be implemented in con
nection with a retail establishment to generate location infor
mation indicative of the locations traveled by consumers as
the consumers shopped in the retail establishment. The loca
tion information can then be used to identify and credit media
sources, media presentations, products, advertisements, etc.
to which the consumers were exposed as they walked through
the retail establishment. Retail establishments and product
manufacturers are often interested in the shopping behavior
or shopping habits of people when those people walk through
a retail environment. Shoppers’ exposure to media sources,
Jun. 19, 2008
of commercial establishments including wholesale establish
ments, restaurants, entertainment establishments, etc.
[0027] In the illustrated example, the tag 104 may be car
ried by a person 106 so that location information generated by
the tag 104 will be indicative of the locations traversed by the
person 106 as the person 106 moved through the monitored
environment 100. Additionally or alternatively, tags 108 sub
stantially similar or identical to the tag 104 may be mounted
to shopping carts 110 or shopping baskets (not shown). In this
manner, a person that uses a shopping cart 110 or a shopping
basket while moving through the monitored environment 1 00
(e.g., while shopping), need not carry a separate tag. Tags
(e.g., the tag 104 or the shopping carts 110 including the tags
108) may be handed out (e.g., loaned) to patrons of a retail
establishment (e.g., the example indoor environment 100)
when the patron(s) enter the retail establishment and consent
to participating in a market research program. The patrons
can then turn in their tags 104 and/ or 108 prior to leaving the
retail establishment. Alternatively or additionally, the loca
tion determination system of FIG. 1 may be con?gured to
work with tags carried by persons outside the example indoor
environment 100 and that work with other location systems
media presentations, products, advertisements, and/or other
(e.g., tower-transceiver based location systems, global posi
product-related information can often in?uence shopping
behavior. The example methods and apparatus described
tioning systems (GPS) based location systems, etc.). In some
example implementations, each of the tags 104 and 108 may
be implemented using a small housing having a form-factor
herein can be used to collect shopper exposure information
which can then be correlated with shopping behavior and/or
product sales to improve product placement, advertisement
placement, marketing campaigns, etc. in retail environments.
[0025] As discussedbelow, the example methods and appa
ratus described herein may also be used to increase the accu
racy associated with determining location information
indicative of the locations of consumers when the consumers
move through a monitored environment such as, for example,
a retail establishment. In particular, a dead reckoning device
or module in a portable tag (e.g., a carryable or wearable tag)
can be used in connection with location signal emitting
anchor units (e. g., stationary location devices, signal emitters,
etc.) located throughout a monitored environment to generate
relatively more accurate location information and path of
travel information than using the dead reckoning module
alone or the location signal emitting anchor units alone.
[0026] Turning to FIG. 1, an example indoor environment
100 (e. g., a monitored environment) includes a location deter
mination system including a plurality of stationary location
devices 102 (e. g., signal emitters or signal receivers) installed
throughout the example indoor environment 100 to enable
determining a location of a tag 104 as the tag 104 is moved
through the indoor environment 100. The location determi
nation system of FIG. 1 is con?gured to track the location of
the tag 104 in different types of environments. In some
example implementations, the location determination system
of FIG. 1 can also be con?gured to determine particular
products, advertisements, and/or information to which people
were exposed as they moved through the example indoor
environment 100. In the illustrated example, the location
determination system of FIG. 1 is implemented in a commer
cial establishment or environment to generate information
indicative of locations within the commercial establishment
visited by patrons of the commercial establishment. In the
illustrated example, although the indoor environment 100 is a
similar to a credit card. In other example implementations,
each of the tags 104 and 108 may be implemented using a
portable meter, which may be relatively larger and/or have
relatively more functionality. As described below in connec
tion with FIGS. 14A, 14B, 15, and 16, each of the tags 104
and/or 108 can be implemented using a toroid-shaped hous
ing, a toroid-shaped form-factor or a toroid-shaped body.
[0028] In the illustrated example, to collect demographic or
other personal information, personal preference information,
or descriptive information corresponding to patrons (e.g., the
person 106), a point of service system 111 is located near an
entrance of the indoor environment 100. The point of service
system 111 may be implemented using a processor system
(e.g., the processor system 1910 of FIG. 19) and may be
implemented as a portable device (e.g., a personal digital
assistant (PDA), a handheld computer, a laptop, a tablet com
puter, etc.) or a stationary system (e.g., a kiosk or a desktop
terminal). In the illustrated example, the point of service
system 111 is con?gured to store demographic and/or other
information entered by a market research person (not shown)
that issues or hands out the tags 104 and/ or 108 to patrons. For
example, after the person 106 consents to participating in a
market research program, the market research person can ask
the person 106 whether the person is willing to answer some
questions to gather personal information about the person
including, for example, demographic and/or other informa
tion. If the person 106 consents to provide the personal infor
mation, the market research person can enter the demo
graphic/personal information into the point of service system
111. In some example implementations, if the person 106
does not consent to provide the personal information, the
market research person may instead enter other basic charac
teri stic information that is descriptive and/ or readily apparent
information about the person such as, for example, whether
retail environment, the example methods, apparatus, and sys
the person is shopping alone or with another person, whether
the person is male or female, and/ or other information readily
tems described herein may be implemented in any other types
ascertainable using visual observance.