WO1997040747A1 - System and method for collecting and processing biometric information - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a system for collecting and processing biometric information emitted by human subjects in response to a communication message. It comprises: for each human subject (60), a portable acquisition and transmission device (63) comprising; means for measuring biometric information emitted in response to a communication message, in particular the neuromuscular excitability of the subject; means for processing and transmitting the acquired information items to a local collecting device and an interactively managed local collecting device (64) capable of communicating with a central processing site (66), and in this central site (66) means of receiving the information items collected by each local collecting device (63) and centralised means for processing and analysing the information items. The system is particularly useful to evaluate the impact of messages (films, advertisements, ...) on the public, to carry out audience measurements, for medical supervision, and for financial analysis.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING AND PROCESSING BIOMETRIC INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a system for collecting and processing information sent by 0 subjects in response to a message. It also relates to methods implemented in this system. It also relates to an interactive management system for television information based on the collection and processing system as well as to methods implemented in this system.

An information collection and processing system is a set of devices connected to each other or capable of communicating with each other, some of which are designed to collect information and some others which are designed to process this information. An interactive information management system is called a particular mode of implementing the information collection and processing system according to the invention applied for television applications comprising an interactive dimension.

Systems for collecting and processing subject responses to a commumcation message (for example advertising or political) are already known, based on questionnaires and intended for 0 surveys. These systems include recording devices, such as tape recorders or telephone sets to record oral responses, or computer terminals to record written responses. They understand also devices for processing and analyzing the information collected.

However, these systems have drawbacks. They make it possible to obtain only responses subsequent to the reception of the message, which possibly require an effort of memory on the part of the subject. In addition, they only collect information that has been the subject of reflection on the part of the subject, who expresses it by language (oral or written). The lack of instantaneity and spontaneity in the subject's response risks distorting the results of the subsequent analysis of this response.

Audience measurement systems (audience ratings) are also known, making it possible to know the number of people who have followed a television or radio program at a given time. A device associated with the television set of a household automatically records the operating hours of the set, and the channels selected during this operation. The device is equipped with at least two push buttons that each member of the household actuates to signal the start and the end of each of his presences in front of the television set. The information is transmitted via the telephone network and undergoes statistical processing.

However, these systems require voluntary action by the subjects to activate the device, which can distort the results of the investigation. In addition, they do not make it possible to obtain qualitative information relating to the appreciation of the public on the programs broadcast.

Systems are also known, such as applaudimeters, making it possible to obtain a more spontaneous response on the part of the subject, to a message which he has received. They include devices for measuring the applause of an audience and devices for processing the sound signal to convert it into quantifiable parameters. But here too, the system only makes it possible to obtain a response after the reception of the message, and this response, if it is not always considered, remains voluntary, and may still influence the results of the analysis. . Said analysis remains limited: it only provides a global parameter making it possible to compare two or more messages by comparing sound manifestations (applause) from the same audience.

To remedy the drawbacks mentioned, it is desirable to have a system that can collect information sent involuntarily, even unconsciously, by the subject in response to a message he receives.

Information of a physical, biological or physiological nature falls into this category of information.

There are known devices for measuring biological information intended for the observation and analysis of physiological behavior.

For example, US Pat. No. 4,063,410 describes a wristwatch capable of detecting the frequency of the pulse; US Pat. No. 4,819,860 describes an apparatus for controlling parameters such as the pulse rate or the temperature of a subject. They find their applications in particular in medical remote monitoring.

Patents US-4,625,733 and US-4,681,118 describe devices for the telematic measurement of parameters such as heartbeats, which are processed to be viewed in the form of electrocardiograms. Their applications are mainly sports: swimming, hurdling, skiing, ...

GB 2 221 759 also discloses a method for physiological evaluation of the response of a human subject to advertising messages, using recordings of electroencephalograms. It is a question of measuring in real time the variations of cerebral activity of this human subject. This process requires specific medical equipment which makes it difficult to implement for audience measurements which must be carried out at the same time at the home of a large number of panelists.

Thereafter, information of a physical, biological or physiological nature intended to undergo statistical processing will be described as biometric.

The aim of the invention is to propose a system for collecting and processing biometric information transmitted by human subjects in response to a communication message, a system for which the subject's response is minimally disturbed by the conditions of acquisition and collection of said information, in order to avoid distorting the results of the analysis of this response. One way to do this is to place the processing device at a distance from the subjects and the devices for acquiring and collecting information.

The concept of biometric information processing implies that a large number of subjects receive the communication message, preferably simultaneously.

These subjects can be very distant from each other. They can be isolated or gathered locally in groups of subjects. Means of transmission of the information collected at the level of each subject facilitate their processing in a single central site.

According to the invention, the system comprises: - for each human subject, a personal acquisition and transmission device comprising:

- means for measuring said biometric information sent in response to the communication message, - means for processing and transmitting the information acquired to a local collection device,

- a local collection device that can communicate with a central processing site, and - at this central site, means for receiving the information collected by each local collection device, and central means for biometric processing and analysis of these information. A specific application of the system according to the invention consists in extracting from the analysis of the subjects' responses to the perceived communication messages parameters that quantify the effects of these messages on the target audience. According to a characteristic of the system of the invention, the central reception, processing and analysis means are arranged to provide an evaluation of the intensity of the emotional shock of the message perceived by each human subject equipped with a personal device. acquisition.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the system further comprises, at the level of human subjects, interactive means for questioning these human subjects and for receiving their responses, and means for transmitting these responses to the central site of processing, to provide an assessment of the consistency of the message.

The invention also relates to a method implemented by the system for the evaluation of a communication message, comprising the following steps:

- for each human subject, a message is sent to the subject via a visual and / or audio medium, (for example a television set or a radio broadcast station, ...) - the response is measured biometric from subject to message using personal acquisition devices,

- transmitting said response to the central processing site, in particular by means of local collection devices.

According to a first variant, said method comprises an additional step during which an evaluation is made of the intensity of the emotional shock of the message perceived by each human subject equipped with a personal acquisition device.

According to a second variant, the method according to the invention can also include the following three additional and successive steps:

- for each human subject, questions are sent to the subject via a visual and / or audio medium,

- the subject responds interactively to said interrogation elements,

- said response is transmitted to the central processing site,

According to a third variant, the method comprises an additional step which consists in the course of which an evaluation is made of the degree of consistency of said message. So that the collection of biological and / or physiological information disturbs the subject as little as possible, it preferably uses non-invasive means of acquisition. Also the personal acquisition device comprises means arranged to measure information available on the surface of the subject's body, such as in particular neuro¬ muscular excitability, a difference in heart rate, or a variation in temperature.

Likewise, it is desirable that the subject does not modify his natural and spontaneous behavior when receiving the message, because of discomfort caused by the presence of the personal acquisition device. Also the personal acquisition device is preferably designed to occupy a reduced bulk. Advantageously, it is included in a current and discreet accessory of everyday life, that the subject carries with him. Thus the subject can manage to forget his presence.

For example, it may be included in a wristwatch that the subject wears on one of his wrists as mentioned in the cited prior art, or in a bracelet that the subject wears on one of his ankles or in a spectacle frame, or even in a time strip.

Of course, the accessories likely to receive the personal treatment device are not limited to those which have just been listed. According to another aspect of the invention, the information acquired at the level of each subject is sent to the central site for processing and analysis.

A first step in this routing is done locally, from the personal acquisition device to a local collection device, located near the subject or group of subjects perceiving the message.

The personal acquisition device for this purpose comprises means for instantaneously processing information of a physical, biological or physiological nature emitted by the subject in response to the message, and converting them into signals, and means for instantly transmitting these signals to the local device. The local collection device comprises conventional means for receiving said signals.

The second stage of routing is the transmission of the signals received by the local collection device to the central processing site. Depending on the use to be made of the results of the analysis of the biometric information emitted by the subjects, it is sometimes necessary for the processing and analysis of said information to be immediate. This is the case for example in an advertising or political context, when we want to measure the reactions of an audience perceiving a message and the evolution of these reactions during the delivery of the message.

In this case, the local collection device is arranged to instantly transmit said information to the central processing site.

Otherwise, the local collection system is organized to store the information it receives, and transmit it offline to the central processing and analysis site. The storage criteria can, depending on the case, be based on the number of information received or on a determined time interval.

For undifferentiated use, the local collection device includes both means for instant communication of information, and for storage of these for their subsequent communication to the central site.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for interactive management of information broadcast on television media, based on the system of collection and processing according to

1 invention.

This interactive management system for information broadcast on television media includes: - a plurality of local sites equipped with a television receiver set up to receive information from local or remote information media, a local collection device and interactive management system cooperating with the television receiver and provided for: (i) controlling a selective display of locally or remotely generated request messages, (n) collecting response information sent by a user in response to said request messages by means of a portable input device cooperating with the local device for interactive collection and management, and in a central management and processing site, means for remotely controlling the local device for interactive collection and management and means to collect the response information collected by the local collection system and interactive management.

This interactive management system is characterized in that each local device for interactive collection and management is arranged to manage the interactions of a plurality of users with television programs broadcast on this television set, and to associate with each reception of a response to a request an identification of the program corresponding to this request and an identification of the user sending this response.

It becomes possible with this interactive management system to offer qualitative and quantitative measures of high precision, due to the combined identification of programs and users. This makes it possible to take into account the processing of the responses of several users for the same television set. In addition, because with the system according to the invention, a measure of the emotional behavior of each panelist is obtained passively without their active participation being required, the system according to the invention virtually eliminates the risks of human-induced error, including improper use of the remote control, which are inherent in all other audience measurement systems.

There are currently many interactive television systems, the common objective of which is to provide a viewer with the opportunity to interact in a program or program broadcast on a television set. This viewer uses for this an infrared or radio frequency remote control which can be either versatile and control the television equipment, or specific to the interaction function. There are also systems in which the viewer interacts using the keypad of a telephone handset. Most of the current interactive systems use a local device for interactive collection and management which is either integrated within a television set, or connected to the latter via a SCART type socket. These local collection and interactive management systems have the following functions: essential, on the one hand, to control the display, on the screen of a television set, of grids, images, sequences, or animations intended to elicit interactions, and on the other hand, to receive and process information and decisions issued by the viewer using his multi-function or specific remote control. These local interactive collection and management devices are also generally connected via communication networks to a central interactive management system which generates, for example, messages and requests which are then downloaded into the local interactive collection and management device before '' be broadcast on the screens of television equipment, and which receives and processes the data collected in all of the local collection and interactive management systems.

We are therefore in the presence of interactive systems with three components: - a transmitter of solicitations and requests, which can be local or remote, a human receiver of these solicitations and requests, which reacts to these solicitations and requests by delivering responses and instructions , - a collector of these responses and instructions with a view to their transfer and processing.

These interactive systems are currently offered for teleshopping operations, for opinion polls, and for audience measurement operations.

However, the information and answers provided by the viewer are in practice very simple such as a selection of a good or service in a teleshopping operation, or answers to tests and questionnaires. Providing this information and these responses in fact depend entirely on the motivation and involvement of the viewer, for whom entering responses to a grid can be a tedious task. This raises the question of the validity of such responses entered on a remote control, and, consequently, the question of the relevance and effectiveness of such an interactive system.

Furthermore, in the field of television audience measurement, the most efficient current measurement systems simultaneously implement two technologies: a black box type management device and a remote control: the management unit identifies the selected channel while that the remote control allows the panelist to indicate that he is watching a program. Management box technology is reliable and should continue to experience improvements over time, particularly with the inclusion of the channel code name in the broadcast signal. On the other hand, the reliability of the indication by remote control is much more questionable because it rests on the will of the panelist to follow the procedures. Because of this human factor, the reliability of current processes can hardly exceed 50 to 70%. The interactive management system according to the invention offers both greater flexibility of use, in particular allowing multiple users to be taken into account in the same room and better reliability than current interactive systems.

The portable input devices can be either specific and dedicated to the local device for interactive collection and management, or associated with remote control devices of the television receiver. In particular applications of the system according to the invention to the measurement of television audience and to the evaluation of the effectiveness of communication messages, each local device for interactive collection and management is arranged to receive in addition, from users of said system, signals representative of emotional shocks felt by these users in response to the broadcasting of a program on television equipment, these signals received being also associated with an identification of both the program concerned and the user transmitter of these signals.

In these particular applications, the portable capture devices are preferably associated with physiological signal sensor devices representative of emotional shocks felt by users.

It is advantageously possible to provide a personal portable device comprising means for picking up physiological signals emitted by the wearer, means for entering responses to requests, and means for transmitting these physiological signals and these responses to the local device for collecting and managing interactive. This personal portable device is preferably of the bracelet type and can perform a watch function.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method is proposed for interactively managing information broadcast on televisual media, implemented in the system according to the invention, comprising:

- at a plurality of local sites equipped with a television receiver set up to receive information from local or remote information carriers, - selective viewing on this television set of query messages generated locally or remotely,

- receiving response information sent by a user in response to these request messages, and - at a central management and processing site,

- remote control of the local collection and interactive management system and - collection of response information collected by the local collection and interactive management system,

According to the invention, this method further comprises local management of the interactions of a plurality of users with television programs broadcast on this television set, and, on each reception of a response to a request, an identification of the program with which this request is associated and an identification of the user sending this response.

Advantageously, provision can be made for the function for entering responses to requests to be associated with a function for remote control of the television equipment. In the applications of the method for evaluating communication messages and measuring audience, it also comprises local reception, coming from the users of said system, of signals representative of emotional shocks felt by these users in response to the broadcasting of a program on television equipment, these received signals also being associated with an identification both of the program concerned and of the user transmitting these signals. It may further comprise an elaboration of requests designed to provide an estimate of a degree of coherence associated with this communication message.

These requests are developed remotely and downloaded to the local device for interactive collection and management to be broadcast on the television equipment at predetermined times according to the broadcasting of the messages to which these requests are associated. Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description below. In the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples:

- Figure 1 is a block diagram of a collection and processing system according to the invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates the essential steps of an example of implementation of the method according to the invention;

- Figure 3 is a block view of an exemplary implementation of the interactive information management system of the invention;

- Figure 4 is a block diagram of an interactive sequence during the execution of the method according to the invention;

- Figure 5 shows an embodiment of an interactive management device implemented in a system according to the invention; Figure 6 shows the rear face of the device shown in Figure 5;

- Figure 7A is a block diagram of the internal structure of an interactive management device implemented in a system according to one invention; FIG. 7B is a block diagram representing the structure of a complete system, and in particular the connections between the management device interactive information of the invention and all the peripherals of the system;

- Figure 8 is a block diagram of the main components of an interactive management device implemented in a system according to the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates the internal structure of an exemplary embodiment of a portable acquisition device implemented in a system according to the invention; - Figure 10 is a perspective view of a wristwatch and its removable module implemented in an interactive information management system 1 invention;

- Figure 11 shows an operation for removing a removable module coupled to charging equipment; FIG. 12 represents an operation for coupling the removable module to the wristwatch; FIG. 13 represents an operation for selecting a command on the removable module; FIG. 14 represents a validation operation by pressing a button on the wristwatch according to the invention; FIG. 15 illustrates the implementation of the system according to the invention within an auditorium; FIG. 16 illustrates the implementation of the system according to the invention for permanent panels; FIG. 17 illustrates the implementation of the system according to the invention for television audience measurements; FIGS. 18A and 18B respectively represent the front face and the rear face of a guest badge implemented in the system according to the invention; and - Figures 19A, 19B and 19C illustrate three characteristic examples of screens that can be viewed in the case of the application of the method according to the invention to measure the effectiveness of a communication message.

We will now describe an example of implementation of the interactive information management method the invention in an audience measurement system S

(television in particular), with reference to Figure 1.

In this system, people 60 participating in an audience or impact measurement operation, are equipped, within their homes 67, with a television receiver 61 and its remote control 62, with a local device of interactive collection and management 64, and of an acquisition and capture wristwatch 63 which has the function of transmitting to the local device of interactive collection and management 64 information of a biometric nature, for example neuromuscular excitability , difference in heart rate and thermal variation.

It is important to specify, in order to appreciate the advantage of the present invention, that any communication message created simultaneously in an individual receiving it:

- on the psychological level, an emotional impact, on a physiological level, a series of variations in blood pressure, skin temperature and neuromuscular tension. Neuromuscular tension constitutes the most reactive modification of the above-mentioned variations. A variation of this neuromuscular tension precisely quantifies the force of the impact or emotional shock and can be measured by a biometric technique or "biofeedback". In the context of the present invention, two types of data are acquired by a wristwatch:

- "biofeedback" signals which provide a voltage proportional to the stress of the wearer, via an acquisition and amplification chain,

- motion signals which provide a voltage proportional to the physical agitation of the wearer, via a motion sensor.

The emotional shock data measured by the system according to the invention and represented on a scale of 1 to 10 are obtained from a correlation law between the "biofeedback" signals and the movement signals of the wearer. These two types of data are sampled every 1/100 of a second on a wristwatch according to the invention.

By way of nonlimiting example, we present below a particular embodiment of an algorithm making it possible to calculate emotional shock data. The biofeedback signals (B) are picked up, amplified and then sampled with voltage levels on the order of a millivolt the microcontroller (8 bits) of the wristwatch.

The value resulting from this processing is between 0 and 255. The motion signals (M) are directly acquired and sampled at voltage levels of the order of a millivolt and converted into a resulting digital quantity between 0 and 255. The signals are sampled and stored every hundredth of a second. After 5 seconds, a calculation is made on the basis of all the data stored (500 samples per signal).

We then define the following quantities: - a Difference in Movement ΔM = (Mmax-Mmin) - a difference in "biofeedback" ΔB = (Bmax-Bmin)

A specific coefficient is determined as follows:

Coefficient = (50-ΔM / 40) /2.5 Note that the number 50 corresponds to the average value of the scale [10: 100] of the emotional shock data, that the number 40 corresponds to the fact that the scale motion signals is between 0 and 255, and dividing by 2.5 keeps the emotional shock data scale between 10 and 100.

The emotional shock data, also referred to as "Datashock", is determined as follows:

"Datashock" = (Coefficient x ΔB) If the emotional shock data is greater than 100, it is considered to be equal to 100. This test allows the elimination of any recording of emotional shock data that would be too violent, resulting from unknown causes. It should be noted that all the coefficients and calculation algorithms can be programmed.

Every 5 seconds, each wristwatch thus calculates the value of the emotional shock data and transmits it to the interactive management device. Through statistical processing of all emotional shock data, the processing system can calculate the average emotional impact of a message or a sequence of messages.

Each local interactive collection and management device 64 is designed to communicate via a telecommunication network RT with a central remote collection and processing site 66. These local interactive collection and management devices can also be connected to the receiving stations 61 for collect different channels in real time selected over time by the test subjects. The central site 66 can also be connected to a television program supplier site 65 to transmit, via an RC television network which may be wired, wireless or any other technology, specific information and requests intended to be viewed on the receiving stations 61 of test subjects.

We will now describe an example of operation of this audience measurement system, with reference to Figures 1 and 2. A message, visual and audible, is sent by a supplier site 65 and received by test subjects 60 on their receiving stations respective. The wristband acquisition and capture devices 63 measure, acquire and transmit to the local collection and interactive management devices which are provided with local reception means 640, the instant physiological reactions of the test subjects 60, with a view to determining a measurement. statistics of the intensity of the emotional shock in response to the evaluated message. Each local interactive collection and management device 64 transmits to the central processing site 66 the collected physiological data which have been shaped, amplified and filtered, as well as data corresponding to the channels successively selected by the test subjects by means of their remote control 62, and data on the actual presence of the test subjects. To this end, each local device for interactive collection and management comprises means for detecting, on the one hand, whether or not there are test subjects in front of the receiving station, and, on the other hand, whether the bracelet device d acquisition and seizure is effectively brought. These detection means can for example implement an analysis of the reception of signals emitted by the biometric mount. It should be noted that the local collection and interactive management devices 64 can communicate with the central site by means of GSM type telecommunication tools, or by any other communication vector. These data transmission operations from the local collection and interactive management devices to the central site are preferably deferred and scheduled in order to optimally use the available lines. Statistical processing of these data is carried out at the central site 66 to deliver an emotional shock score corresponding to the message evaluated.

From the central site 66, an operator develops consistency test grids associated with the different messages to be tested, and these grids are transmitted, via local collection and transmission devices, to the receiving stations 61 of the test homes. The transmission of the consistency grids from the central site to the local collection and interactive management systems is preferably carried out before the transmission of the tested communication messages. Consistency grids associated with messages whose transmission times are programmed can then be stored in the local collection and interactive management systems. These consistency grids are only displayed on the screens of receiving stations after the communication messages to which they are attached have been broadcast.

Each test subject 60 then responds to the consistency tests thus proposed, by means of its wristband acquisition and capture device 63 which is provided for this purpose with a response data capture device, for example keys arranged on his case or a touch screen or any other appropriate means. The responses to these consistency tests are collected by the local interactive collection and management device 64, and transmitted to the central site 66 either via the television network RC or via the telecommunications network RT. These responses are then processed by specific software and statistically to generate a consistency score.

The combined processing of the emotional shock score, the consistency score and the symbolic value of the massage, which are determined beforehand by specific evaluation tools, then leads to an evaluation of the symbolic meaning of the message broadcast. We can then provide a measure of the effectiveness of the message that has just been broadcast.

In FIG. 3 is reproduced a local site 11 provided with television equipment 3 used by several subjects 2 perceiving the same communication message. This situation illustrates the acquisition of physiological reactions from the various members of a family, for example, each equipped with a portable acquisition and input device 4. A single local device for interactive collection and management 6 is associated with the station. television 3 message broadcaster. This local interactive collection and management device 6, described here in a non-exclusive manner, includes a certain number of means known in the prior art. It includes in particular means 26 for receiving the information sent by each portable acquisition and input device 4, means 28 for processing the information received, possibly means 30 for storing the information received and / or the information processed, and means 32 for transmitting information processed towards the central processing and analysis site 8.

To transmit to the central site

8, the local interactive collection and management device 6 may in particular include:

means 36 for communicating with the central processing site through a telephone communication network,

means 38 for communicating with the central processing site through a wireless communication network,

- Means 40 including a cable network to communicate with the central processing site, and means 42 for mobile telephony to communicate with the central site.

According to this variant, the system also comprises interactive means for questioning 44 the subjects

2, and interactive means 46 for collecting their responses to the questions. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, interactive sequences are advantageously broadcast via a television set

3. According to the illustrated embodiment, a screen page (or several successive screen pages) appears on the television screen, displaying a coherence grid 44, on which appear, for example, symbols 45.

According to a first variant, this consistency grid 44 is sent by the central site 8 to the local device for interactive collection and management.

6 of local site 11 at the time when the television program is broadcast.

According to a second variant, this consistency grid 44 is sent in advance by the central site to the collection device 6. The latter then stores the consistency grid 44 until the desired time: the time of broadcast of the corresponding scheduled program.

To receive the elements of the coherence grid from the central site 8 to the local site 11, the local collection device 6 may in particular comprise means 36 of communication through a telephone communication network, or means 40 including a cable network. The interactive means 46 for collecting the response from each subject 2 are advantageously placed on the portable device 4 for acquiring and transmitting the latter, in this case the case 17 of its wristwatch. These are, for example, push buttons or touch zones arranged around the dial of the subject's watch 2.

Each portable acquisition and transmission device 4 also includes means for processing and transmitting the information received to the local device for interactive collection and management 6.

The interactive means 46 could, in the same way, be included in a remote control unit. But in this case a difficulty would appear if several subjects 2 included in the same presence cone must use the same remote control to interact. The use of portable acquisition and transmission devices 4 thus effectively solves the problem of individualizing the processing of the responses of a group of panelists within the same family.

In this regard, it should be noted that the local interactive collection and management device 6 is preferably designed to ensure radio communications with the portable devices. acquisition and transmission devices which are located in a predetermined presence cone 5. Portable acquisition and transmission devices located outside this presence cone are not taken into account. The presence cone must have a dimension compatible with all practical situations of collective use of a television set. The directivity inherent in this television cone also makes it possible to ensure, as it were, a radioelectric partitioning between two adjacent rooms or two adjacent rooms within the same room, thus avoiding any risk of interference between two local collection devices. Furthermore, as soon as a wearer of a portable acquisition and transmission device leaves the presence cone and is therefore no longer in a position to watch television, the absence of radioelectric communication which results therefrom between the portable device acquisition and transmission concerned and the local device for interactive collection and management is then detected and this information is recorded for further processing.

The radio link between the local interactive collection and management device 6 and the portable acquisition and transmission devices 4 supplied in the form of a wristwatch is for example only possible in a cone corresponding to the first quarter before . Outside this connection zone 5, a carrier of a portable acquisition and transmission device is no longer taken into account for statistical calculations. This directivity is ensured by a particular arrangement and control of the antenna of the local device for interactive collection and management, which will be presented in more detail below. The link range is approximately 5 to 10 m. Each panelist carrier is identified by their portable acquisition and transmission device.

The time setting for all the portable acquisition and transmission devices associated with a local collection and interactive management device is carried out automatically by the latter: all wristwatches are thus at the same time. Each portable acquisition and transmission device is equipped with two alarm systems: a visual system and a sound system (beep) to warn the wearer of poor contact with the electrodes or insufficient charge of the energy module. removable.

In addition, provision can be made to provide invited guests with a specific portable acquisition and transmission device such as a badge or equivalent device that these people will wear during a collective television session. These badges can include, for example, means for entering a response to messages and means of communication with the local device for interactive collection and management, but do not include means for acquiring physiological signals. By way of nonlimiting example of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 18A and 18B, such a badge 180 can have a lenticular shape and include on its front face 181, an indication of guest badge number 183, buttons 182 making it possible to indicate the gender of the badge holder, four buttons 184 for indicating the age range of this holder and a charge indicator 185 of electroluminescent type. There is also a more sophisticated version of such a badge in which the four age indication buttons 184 can also be used as buttons for responding to questionnaires. The rear face 187 of the badge 180 is for example provided with a pocket clip 186 and a charging connector 188.

To send the interactive information sent by the subject 2 from the local site 11 to the central site 8, the local collection device 6 comprises means similar to those used to send the biometric information sent by this same subject: means 36 for communication through a telephone communication network, means 38 for communication through a wireless communication network, or means 40 including a wired network.

The system works as follows:

- subject 2 receives a communication message broadcast by his television set 3. - the portable acquisition device 4 with which he is equipped records the biometric information that he emits and transmits them to the local device for interactive collection and management 6.

- This transmits, after possible storage, the information to the central site 8, which receives, processes and analyzes the information.

For the more sophisticated applications mentioned above, the operation of the system is extended as follows: - either in advance or at the same time as it receives, processes and analyzes the biometric information, the central site 8 sends, by via communication means 10 such as those mentioned above, additional questions relating to said communication message, to the local site 11. these questions, converted into signals, are routed to the local device for interactive collection and management 6, which transmits them to the television set 3. - These questions are submitted to subject 2, for example in the form of screen pages diffusing consistency grids 44 appearing on the television screen 3. - Subject 2 answers these questions interactively, for example by actuating push-buttons or tactile zones 46 provided for this purpose on the case 17 of its wristwatch. these responses, converted into signals, are sent to the local interactive collection and management device 6, which transmits them to the central site 8. As with biometric information, the retransmission of interactive information can be carried out instantaneously or deferred after storage.

We will now describe an exemplary embodiment of a local device for interactive collection and management, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

This local device for interactive collection and management, which also provides collection and processing functions, is implemented in an interactive management system for which it is imperative to obtain precise and reliable identification of the channel at all times. and of the program being received by each user.

This interactive management device is, for example, installed in a dwelling whose occupants are provided with portable devices for acquiring signals in the form of wristwatches or wristwatches. It collects the signals transmitted by each of these portable devices, identifies the channels and programs being received, possibly performs local pre-processing of this data, then transmits them in predetermined time windows to a central processing site. The interactive data management device 1 comprises, with reference to FIG. 7A, a central unit 10 with which is associated a storage memory, a directional radiofrequency antenna AR connected to the central unit 10 by a transmission channel EM and a RE reception channel, an HA agenda clock, a CVD video grid generator, a CDC channel identification device, control keys

CO, and AF displays. It is connected, for example via a modem MO and a communication network RC, to a remote central processing site SC.

The CDC channel identification device may include a scanning frequency detection card for analog channels and an optical reader card for digital channels. It should be noted that provision can also be made to equip local collection and interactive management devices with a special card for encrypted channels. We can also plan to include in the local device for interactive collection and management a data compression card to allow the broadcasting of short films (for example, less than one minute) on the screen of panelists or surveyed.

The directional antenna AR, of dipolar structure with two antennas distant by a quarter wave, was specifically designed and controlled so as to be able to detect communications with transmitters / receivers located in the front lobes of a cardioid and thus identify and take into account the only carriers of portable devices actually located in front of the television set concerned. This is achieved by a process of periodically switching the cardioid from front to back and vice versa, implementing a periodic phase shift action of

90 degrees. It should be noted that this directional antenna, initially disposed externally on the top of the housing of the interactive management device, can entirely be placed inside this housing.

The radio communication of the interactive management device 1 with acquisition wristwatches worn by panelists is for example carried out in Half-Duplex mode. It is possible to provide a range of approximately 5 to 10 meters and a directivity corresponding substantially to the viewing angle of a television set, namely approximately 120 °. You can choose the IETS 300-220 standard at a frequency of 433 MHz, with a speed of 9600 Bauds. In addition, several communications must be able to operate nearby and an interactive management device can only transmit after having verified that another interactive management device is not active. The interactive management device 1 is for example produced with encapsulated components available in mixed DIL and CMS technology, and included in a compact box 100. The front face 110 of this box 100 comprises, with reference to FIG. 5, elements of AF display and the CO control keys as well as connectors CS for recharging removable modules for wristwatches, while the rear face 120 comprises, with reference to FIG. 6, all of the connections: RFin input, RFout output, Scart sockets PE1, PE2, PM modem connector, SD maintenance connector.

It is possible to provide, for the interactive management device 1, an internal structure 30 as shown in FIG. 8, in the form of modular cards linked by data buses, addresses 0747 PC17FR97 / 00779

- 31 - and control ^' to the central unit 10. These cards include, for example

- the central unit motherboard 10,

- a CDM dialogue card, - a CRS radiofrequency communication card with portable collection devices,

- a CSV voice synthesis card,

a CFA card managing the front face of the housing of the interactive management device, a CVD video card and a CDC card containing the channel identification device according to the invention.

The central unit 10 performs the following functions:

- piloting of self-tests at power up, - detection and display of operating anomalies,

- control of AF displays, CO keyboard and Menu messages, assistance in the remote adjustment of acquisition wristbands,

- radio messaging with acquisition wristbands,

- identification, recognition, decoding of the channel being viewed, - pre-processing, combination of signals, dating, storage,

- display of consistency grids at predetermined times,

- input of panelists' responses, - communication and telephone messaging with the central processing site SC, remote reprogramming of functional parameters such as pre-processing and sensor compression laws, symbol graphics. The memory associated with the central unit 10 must be able to store preferably two to three days of sensor recording, after compression.

Communication between the interactive management device 10 and the central processing site can be carried out using any of the currently available communication techniques, whether radio or wired. One can for example use a switched telephone network (PSTN) or a cellular telephone network according to the GSM standard. In the case of communication over a PSTN network, it is preferable to use a maximum speed (V32bis or V34). Communications are made by reference at night to limit costs. The interactive management arrangement 1 according to the invention can be locally connected to several peripherals and equipment, as illustrated in FIG. 7B. The internal structure of the interactive management device shown here includes a motherboard MB, a backplane card BC, channel detection cards CDC, a multifunction television connector MTV, a video card CVD, a communication card SEN HF with portable devices, a CSV voice synthesis card, a PO power supply module, an MFA multifunctional auxiliary connector, an MFG multifunctional game connector, an MSC master-slave card, an MO modem card, and a FC front panel including a keyboard, a device for charging portable devices and displays. The interactive management device 1 is connected to a television set 3 via the multifunction connector MTV, to a satellite demodulator 703 via an RF OUT connector and an HF STA OUT connector, and a game console 704 via the connector MFG multi-function play equipment. It is also connected to the antenna AR directional, to the telephone network via a telephone socket connected to the MO modem card, to the electrical sector via a PS socket outlet connected to the PO power supply module, and to a satellite antenna via the HF SAT IN connector . The portable devices in communication with the interactive management device can be watches 4 or guest badges 180. The satellite demodulator 703 has its RF OUT output connected to the RF IN input of the video recorder 701 whose RF OUT output is connected to the RF IN input of the television 3 and the auxiliary port of which is connected to a multifunction connector of an encrypted chain decoder 702. The motherboard stores and compresses the information received from the portable devices by, for example, implementing a flash memory of 13 Mbytes, provides time indications to portable devices, and verbally informs users with recorded messages by implementing text-to-speech tools.

The SEN radio communication card relays the commands of the portable devices and receives the data, and validates the presence of the panelists in the operating area. The CVD video card allows the viewing of questionnaires, images and coherence grids on the screen, detects the various sources of transmission, notably television, video recorder, video games and computers. The CDC channel detection card detects the channel activated in analog television, and detects a program selected from a bouquet of programs. The MSC master-slave card establishes communication between a Master interactive management device and slave interactive management devices, for example by the technique of carrier currents. The FC front panel displays information relating to the initialization and detection of the channels. A "pack" card indicates the charge level of the energy packs and guest badges. An interactive management device can, by way of nonlimiting example, recharge eight packs and eight guest badges.

We will now describe a nonlimiting example of a portable acquisition and input device implemented in the form of a wristwatch device in an interactive information management system of the invention, with reference to Figure 9. It should be noted that the electronic components of this portable device could very well be integrated within a portable remote control unit. The portable acquisition and acquisition device 100 comprises measurement electrodes 25, 18, 35 which have the function of collecting neuromuscular excitation signals on the surface of the wearer's skin. The conditioning of the signals picked up at the terminals of the measurement electrodes 25, 35 and of reference 18 is ensured by a differential amplifier with variable gain 56. The portable acquisition and capture device 100 further comprises a motion detector 51, including by example a miniature accelerometer, to provide data relating to the movement of the wearer of the watch.

Four input keys 55 are provided, for example on the periphery of the wristwatch case according to the invention, for inputting responses to consistency tests, as well as a cancellation key 66 and a validation key 65 .

The portable acquisition and acquisition device 100 further comprises a buzzer 54, preferably of the sub-miniature type, for preventing or calling to order the panelist during a consistency test, and to attract his attention in the event of an anomaly, in particular in the event of a weak battery, out of the field for a long period of time, sensor faults or even a systematic erroneous radio frequency link.

The radio communication implemented in the portable device can, by way of nonlimiting practical example, be of the Half-Duplex, single-channel type.

This communication is provided by a transmitter-receiver unit 52 comprising a transmitter 521, a receiver 522 and an antenna 520.

The transmitter 521 can be a simple modulated oscillator. The receiver 522 is necessary to separate the watches and avoid transmitting if they are not in the field. A radiated power of -30 dBm represents sufficient power for this application. The HF 520 antenna is in practice integrated in the housing of the portable device 100. The range is approximately 5 to 10 meters and no particular directivity is provided, the wristwatch 1 having to operate in all positions. The frequency band used can be for example the IETS 300-220 / 433 Mhz band and a speed of 9600 baud can be provided. This radio communication allows the transmission, to a collection and processing device, of the physiological signals picked up and conditioned and of a signal indicative of the movements of the wearer of the wristwatch according to the invention. The received signals are then correlated and processed to provide information representative of the emotional shocks felt by the wearer.

The electronic circuit implementing the functions of the portable device 100 is constructed around a central unit comprising for example a microcontroller 50 incorporating most of the control and processing functions achievable by this watch, and of an analog / digital converter processing the captured and amplified signals. It is possible to provide for a sampling of the signals received every 0.2 to 1 second, a memorization of the last packet of signals transmitted, and a transition to "low energy" mode in the following cases: low battery, prolonged output interface box, watch not worn, operating anomalies detected.

The chronometry part of the wristband device 101 when it is integrated within a wristwatch can be supplied by a rechargeable Lithium 53 battery of 3 volts. The display 6, 7 can advantageously be produced by the conventional technique of liquid crystal display.

We will now describe a practical embodiment of a wristwatch 1 implemented in an interactive information management system of the invention, with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14.

A wristwatch 1 comprises on the one hand, a main case 10 provided with a strap 72-74, two strap connecting pieces provided with articulations, a lateral control button 17 and including an electronic circuit d 'watchmaking (chronography, chronometry), and secondly, a removable module 90 provided to be easily coupled to the main housing 10 provided for this purpose on its side with a coupling recess 160 whose bottom is provided with connectors. The removable module 90 also includes connectors suitable for cooperating with the connectors of the main housing 70, and on its upper face control keys 151-154 usable by the wearer of the wristwatch 1 for entering commands or responses to solicitations, tests or requests.

The removable module 90 has an external shape adapted to allow easy manipulation of the module with two fingers and for this purpose comprises two gripping zones in relief 101, 102 arranged on either side of a coupling face.

180 having a concavity adapted to the convex shape of the main housing. A wristwatch 1 according to the invention can perform the following functions:

- it displays the time, the date and optionally the data of emotional shock, connection faults (alarm signal) and can be provided with illumination of the dial. The time setting is automatic via the interactive management device; it receives (for example in 1/100 of a second), stores and transmits (for example in 5 seconds) data of emotional shock of the carriers; - it allows the identification of carriers and the start of measurement procedures;

- it captures, transmits and validates the carriers' responses to questionnaires, consistency tests and images; - it informs when the load on its removable module is insufficient, for example by means of an audible alarm.

It should be noted that the wristwatches according to the invention can be completely personalized and present a shape, a color and an aesthetic adapted to those who wear them, in particular according to their age, their lifestyle, their clothing style or many other considerations. In particular, several ranges of size and style of wristwatches are provided, in particular for men, women and children categories. The validation buttons can be integrated into the wristwatch case.

It should be noted that the removable modules are preferably not dedicated to a particular wristwatch, but can be used interchangeably by all the wristwatch wearers as a function of the state of charge of these removable modules. A procedure can be provided to encourage the first user of a television set associated with a local collection and interactive management device to connect a removable module to his wristwatch. To illustrate this, we consider a panelist wearing a wristwatch according to the invention, entering a room where there is a television set initially switched off and a local device for collection and interactive management. This panelist turns on the television but has not yet connected a removable module known as a "Pack" to his wristwatch. The image that appears on the television screen is altered or made invisible, for example by superimposing black bands and a visual message of the type "please connect your pack to your watch". The visual message can be supplemented by an audible message. The panelist will only be able to watch his program in full visibility when he has actually connected a removable module to his wristwatch which he has taken from the front of the local device for interactive collection and management. About 15 seconds after the panelist has connected a removable module to his watch, the bands disappear on the screen and the panelist can watch television normally.

We will now describe the essential steps in the use of a wristwatch implemented in an interactive information management system, the invention, with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, from the removal of a removable module during charging.

A wearer of a wristwatch 1 according to initially not provided with a removable module takes from a local device for interactive collection and management 200 provided with recharging equipment, a removable module 90 previously recharged. This removal can be carried out by holding the removable module for example between the thumb and the index finger of a hand 160 placed in abutment on the grip zones 101, 102 (FIG. 11). A loaded module can be recognized by a light signal emitted by a light-emitting diode disposed on the front face of the management device 200.

Without a change in grip, the wearer then inserts the removable module 90 onto the main housing 70. The respective complementary shapes of the removable module 90 and the main housing 70 provide autoguiding of the connection which ends with a final locking accompanied by a slight clipping (Fig. 12).

The wristwatch 1 is then in a state to ensure all of its acquisition, conditioning and transmission functions. In the particular application of television audience measurement, the carrier is a panelist who is periodically asked to respond to consistency tests. This is practically done by the panelist by selecting one of four responses by pressing one of the four control keys 151-154 using a finger 163 (Fig. 13). The choice made is then displayed on the display screen 76 of the main unit 70.

The validation of the choice made by the panelist holder is carried out by pressing the button validation 17 with the thumb 161 and back pressure of the index 162 on the opposite face of the wristwatch bearing against the removable module 90 (Fig. 14). The validation function is preferably accompanied by a simultaneous backlighting of the display screen 76.

During the validation sequence, the display screen 76 is always free to display even when wearing long-sleeved clothing. Indeed, to access the lateral validation button 17, the thumb 161 necessarily goes up the sleeve of the garment.

The removable module 90 is preferably placed on the right hand of the main housing 70, which makes it easily and directly accessible, even with long sleeves and leaves free the vision of the dial of the wristwatch 1. This positioning of the removable module 90 on the right side of the main housing 70 ensures perfect functional ergonomics of the wristwatch 1. We will now describe the essential functionalities of a central system for processing the data collected and transmitted by the interactive management devices. This central processing processing system can perform the following functions: - processing data from an interactive management device: emotional shock data, responses to questionnaires;

- scheduling the sending of questionnaires, visual and voice messages to the interactive management system;

- edition of statistics relating to the audience, emotional shock data and responses to questionnaires; - management of the link between the interactive management device and the central server processing system) via a modem;

- use of a relational database which is specific to each client.

The interactive information management system and method of the invention find applications in various fields.

A first natural application is the measurement of television or radio audience. The system first makes it possible to detect the real presence of viewers or listeners in the detection cone that it defines. Above all, it makes it possible to assess the public's appreciation of the programs broadcast, by acquiring and analyzing data reflecting the emotion of the subjects, for example. These data are integrated into message evaluation analyzes, for example of an advertising or political type. In the television audience measurement system SH represented in FIG. 17, each household Hl, H2, Hi, comprising one or more people, is equipped with a local measurement system comprising a local device for collecting and interactive master management MM and possibly one or more local devices for the collection and interactive management of slaves SM1, SM2; SM, and as many acquisition wristwatches S1-S4 according to the invention as there are people using at least one of the household television sets. The master interactive management devices are connected to a central processing site by modem via an RT telephone network. The local slave collection and interactive management devices can communicate with the master devices using the carrier current technique. The central processing site includes a SU data collection server linked via a network local RL to a voice synthesis station SV, to a grid creation station SG and to a request station SD.

We will now describe several modes of use of the audience measurement system according to the invention, in particular with reference to FIGS. 19A,

19B and 19C. When a program is to be the subject of a questionnaire, eligible viewer panelists are informed in advance by a message, for example a scrolling type visual message, appearing on the screen of the television set. This message is for example: "In a few moments, a questionnaire concerning this program will be sent to you. If you agree to answer the questions, press the key 1". Eligible panelists are selected based on two criteria that can be programmed into the local collection and interactive management system:

- their length of stability, namely the length of time since which they watch this program, their percentage of attendance to make their responses to the questionnaires credible.

If the panelist answers that he wishes to answer the questionnaire by pressing the 1 key on his wristwatch, the questionnaire is then sent to the television screen by the local device for interactive collection and management. The form and the sending of the questionnaire were previously programmed during the previous night at a specific time, generally between two transmissions.

Panelists answer the questionnaire using the four buttons provided on the removable energy module connected to their wristwatch according to a specific procedure for each questionnaire, then validate their answers using a button. 0747 PC17FR97 / 00779

- 43 - validation arranged for example laterally on the main case of their wristwatch.

By questionnaire is meant a series of questions for which the panelists' responses are compiled and then analyzed. Two types of questionnaires can for example be used in the audience measurement system according to the invention: analog questionnaires: comprehension, satisfaction, message evaluation, - consistency questionnaires: icons or symbolic images that the panelists must associate with the message.

The audience measurement system according to the invention can use any questionnaire configuration having four options. It can be foreseen that when the questionnaire is on the screen, the program in progress is interrupted, as illustrated in FIGS. 198A and 19B, or that this questionnaire appears in superposition with an image or a sequence of the communication message. to be evaluated, as illustrated in the figure

19C. In a first example of arrangement of a consistency grid represented in FIG. 19A, the screen page

19A includes a cartridge 190 containing a question

(for example: "among these four images, which do you associate the most with this program?"), four symbols 191-194 with each of which is associated a prompt message "Press 1, 2, 3, 4" and a cartridge 195 containing a message prompting the panelist to validate his response. In another example of arrangement of a questionnaire represented in FIG. 19B, the screen page 19B comprises a cartridge 290 containing a question relating to the program which has just been broadcast (for example: "In the program which you just saw, which sequence interested you the most? "), four proposed responses 291-294 to each of which is associated a prompt message "Press 1, 2, 3, 4" and a cartridge 195 containing a message prompting the panelist to validate his response. In an example of a questionnaire associated with an advertising message and displayed superimposed on an image of this message, for example the final image, with reference to FIG. 19C, the screen page 19C comprises a cartridge 390 containing a question relating to this advertising message (for example: "Does this advertisement make you want to buy the product?"), four response options 391-394 (for example, "not at all", "a little", "enough", " enormously ") and a 195 cartridge containing a message encouraging the panelist to validate his answer.

It should be noted that the statistical report produced by the central processing site only includes those responses which have been validated by the panelists.

By way of non-limiting practical example, it can be estimated that the time required to carry out a telephone transmission of all of the audience and emotional shock data for a household of three people who have watched television for three hours is approximately 3 minutes. over the course of a day. This information is stored every day by each local device for interactive collection and management and then downloaded by telephone during the night to the central server which processes this information and publishes the results of these treatments. By way of nonlimiting example, the measurement indices delivered by the audience measurement system according to the invention can be:

- the audience rate,

- the level of impact, - the degree of support / 0747 PC17FR97 / 00779

- 45 - The three main indicators of television audience are: the average audience, that is, the average audience at the different times measured (screens, time slots, etc.),

- the length of viewing, that is, the number of minutes spent watching a channel or a program, and the cumulative audience, that is, the number of people who watched television during a given period, regardless of the time spent to watch.

The audience measurement system according to the invention can also be programmed to deliver the following statistical information: - audience statistics for the previous night: average audience, duration and cumulative audience;

- statistics of emotional shock data from the previous night by channel and by target audience; - statistics of responses to questionnaires since the previous day, depending on the target audience.

The audience measurement system according to the invention has several competitive advantages compared to current measurement systems, among which the fact that this new measurement system implements a passive detection of panelists and thus contributes to eliminating the distortions due to the human factor. It therefore allows audience measurements of a high level of reliability, because these are further validated by the active presence of the panelist in front of his television set. The audience measurement system according to the invention also makes it possible to accurately measure the number of panelists leaving the room during the advertisements in the programs. Another major advantage of the audience measurement system according to the invention lies in the fact that it provides a new unit for television audience measurements, in this case the emotional shock datum designated by the term "datashock" , with which it is possible to describe the power of attraction or repulsion. This new concept considerably increases the field of investigation in terms of television programming, for example for a better estimate of the influence of sex and violence on all the targets of viewers.

The audience measurement system according to the invention also has the advantage of being an interactive system allowing a dialogue with the panelists. It describes the audience on large scales and provides a single source of information for broadcasters and advertisers on the real-time perception of television programs and advertisements. Furthermore, audience measurement systems according to the invention can be easily adapted to specific groups of panelists, to a given country or to a group of countries, or to a preexisting audience measurement system. They can be used for all types of analog or digital television systems, encrypted or not and can identify any image source: satellite decoder, video recorder, video camera, video game, personal computer, etc.

Another important application of the method and system of collection and processing according to the invention relates to the collection of information from a representative sample of a population and composed according to the instructions of customers. Each sample group is defined: by categories: homes, children, professionals, members,

- by numbers: for example from 100 to 1000 people,

- according to geographic criteria: local, regional, national, multinational.

This sample group is permanently established and can be used at any time by customers according to an access protocol specified by contract, defined and treated case by case. In a collection and processing system SP applied to a permanent panel, each person surveyed PI, P2, Pi is equipped with a local system including, with reference to FIG. 16, a local device for interactive collection and management M and a portable acquisition and transmission device S and connected to its television set or to a personal computer. The local interactive collection and management devices M are connected via the telephone network RT to a central site comprising a server SU for collecting data which is connected by a local network RL for example to a voice synthesis station SV, to a station creation of SG grid and to an SD request station.

The respondent takes the acquisition and transmission wristwatch S and connects their removable energy module to it before receiving a message on the screen. His reactions to the message in terms of emotional impact are recorded by the wristwatch S, then processed by the local collection and interactive management device M and by the server SU. Questionnaires are sent to the screen of the person surveyed by an operator via the local collection and interactive management system. The respondent responds using the buttons provided on the removable module connected to the wristwatch. The responses are processed and compiled by the processing server SU. The effectiveness of the messages is measured on the sample group in terms of:

- understanding / appreciation, - emotional impact,

- degree of consistency.

The length of analog questions is not limited and respondents can in practice be paid for their responses to the questionnaires. Many fields of application can be provided for this form of implementation of the system according to the invention. In particular, this system can be proposed to manufacturers to measure the effectiveness of an advertisement, promotion or acceptance of a new product. It can also be used by program broadcasters to obtain detailed measures of the effectiveness of all types of television programs. Companies can also implement this system to measure the perception of new messages.

The application of the collection and processing system according to the invention to measuring the effectiveness of messages on permanent panels has several major advantages: - permanent and direct accessibility to respondents,

- large samples,

- rapid response,

- a quality of measurements and optimizations, - a low cost, amortized on a large number of surveys or on several partners, in particular associations.

Another major application of the collection and processing system according to the invention relates to the measurement of the effectiveness of a message on an audience. gathered in a hall, a conference room, an auditorium, in terms of understanding / estimation, emotional impact and degree of coherence. We thus consider, with reference to FIG. 15, an auditorium or a conference room 300 in which a group of people 310 listen to a speaker

303 which generally uses visual aids projected from a control room onto a screen 302 visible to the audience. Room 300 is equipped with a local collection and interactive management system

304 to which are connected two remote radio antenna devices 305, 306 arranged respectively to the left and to the right of the audience. Each person 311 is provided with a wristwatch 1 according to the invention. Wristwatches can be given to participants for the duration of the conference and then returned at the exit. This particular application is interesting for advertisers who wish to test their advertising messages, for film production companies for their trailers, and for the organizers of symposia, conferences and conventions in order to know the reaction of spectators and participants. As a practical example of implementing the system according to the invention in this application, it is possible to design a system comprising: a set of 250 acquisition and transmission wristwatches 1,

a local interactive collection and management device 304, and a collection and processing station 307 arranged in the control room 301.

In order to take into account the distances to be covered for radio communications, the removable technical modules of the wristwatches are reinforced in terms of radio transmission / reception: they must be more precise in reception and more powerful in transmission than the removable modules used in a room of a dwelling. Each participant 311 is identifiable by the wristwatch 1 which he wears and which constantly measures the emotional impact which he undergoes during the conference or presentation. At the end of the service, the participant 311 wearing a wristwatch 1 according to the invention responds to the programmed questionnaires by pressing the buttons arranged on the technical module of his watch. The emotional impact scores and the answers to the questions are immediately recorded by the local collection and interactive management device 304 and then transmitted to the collection and processing station 307 for processing. Such an auditorium efficiency measurement system also has the advantage of being easily transportable. In addition, the information that can be collected from participants can be many and varied. The further processing of the information collected by the psychostrategy method can also allow the clients of the system to optimize their messages. We can thus envisage a new realization of a film, modifications in an advertisement, or a reorganization of the speech of a speaker.

The system and method according to the invention can also be used as a working tool in focus or reflection groups ("Focus Groups"), in particular in communication agencies. It is then a question of measuring the effectiveness of any communication message with a view to their optimization. These efficiency measurements are carried out in real time, on a representative development group of around 20 people, in terms of understanding, evaluation and buy-in, emotional impact and degree of consistency. This particular application of the collection and processing system according to the invention can relate to any type of communication, for example corporate communication, advertising, promotion, direct marketing, all types of product communication (for example example, packaging, design, merchandising), any type of interpersonal communication (for example, manager, distributor, sales force) and any type of internal communication in a company. Among the advantages of using the collection and processing system according to the invention in focus groups, we can cite the fact that it can be applied to any type of communication message. communication whatever its state of development, that it can provide qualitative graduated measures of emotional impact, dynamic tests and the degree of coherence, and that the passive nature of emotional shock detections allows reliable measurements and which cannot be influenced.

The present invention can also be of interest to financial analysis, by making it possible, for example, to collect the reactions of financial actors directly to fluctuations in the stock markets, in particular in order to be able to anticipate the reactions of these markets.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, many other applications of the present invention could be envisaged with future generations of acquisition and transmission wristwatches according to the present invention. We can thus cite the possibility to follow the movements of a panelist away from home or the possibility of providing a panelist with services such as information on his stress level or his ideal waking time.

Claims

1. System for collecting and processing biometric information emitted by human subjects (2) in response to a communication message, characterized in that it comprises:

- for each human subject (2), a portable device (4) for acquisition and transmission comprising:

means for measuring (16) biometric information sent in response to the communication message, in particular neuro¬ muscular excitability of the subject (2),

means for processing (18) and for transmitting (20) the information acquired to a local collection device and,

a local device (6) for interactive collection and management which can communicate with a central processing site (8), and

- In this central site, - means (26) for receiving the information collected by each local device (6) for collecting, and central means for processing and analyzing this information.

2. Collection and processing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the central reception, processing and analysis means are arranged to provide an evaluation of the intensity of the emotional shock perceived in response to the communication message by each human subject (2) equipped with a portable acquisition device (4).

3. Collection and treatment system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises in addition, at the level of human subjects (2), interactive means for questioning (44) these human subjects

(2) and to receive (46) their responses, and means for transmitting these responses to the central processing site (8), in order to provide an evaluation of the degree of consistency of the message.

4. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for measuring (16) said biometric information are further arranged for measuring a difference in the subject's heart rate.

(2).

5. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for measuring (16) said biometric information are also arranged for measuring a temperature variation.

6. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portable acquisition device (4) is included in a wristwatch that the subject wears on one of his wrists.

7. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims and claim 3, characterized in that said interactive means for questioning (44) are consistency grids (44) broadcast on a television set.

(3).

8. Collection and treatment system according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that said interactive means for receiving (46) the responses are tactile means placed on the wristwatch of each subject.

9. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local collection device (6) is arranged to detect the active presence of subjects (2) in a given detection volume (5) .

10. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local device (6) for collecting is arranged to instantly transmit to the central site (8) for processing the biometric information emitted by the device portable (4) acquisition and transmission.

11. Collection and processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the local device (6) for collecting is arranged for storing and transmitting deferred to the central site (8) for processing the information biometric emitted by the portable acquisition and transmission device (4).

12. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local collection device (6) is arranged to receive coherence grids (44) corresponding to the central site (8) for processing television programs programmed subsequently and for storing them until said programs are broadcast before transmitting them to the television set (3). 47 PC17FR97 / 00779

- 56 -

13. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims and claim 3, characterized in that the local device (6) for collecting is arranged to transmit instantaneously to the central site (8) for processing the interactive information. subjects (2) emitted by the portable acquisition and transmission device (4).

14. Collection and processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and claim 3, characterized in that the local device (6) of collection is arranged to store and transmit delayed to the central site (8) processing the interactive information of the subjects (2) emitted by the portable device (4) of acquisition and transmission.

15. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local collection device (6) comprises means (36) for communicating with the central processing site through a telephone communication network .

16. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local device for interactive collection and management comprises means (38) for communicating with the central processing site (8) through a wireless communication network.

17. Collection and treatment system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local device for interactive collection and management comprises means (40) including a cable network for communicating with the central processing site (8).

18. Collection and processing system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local device for interactive collection and management comprises mobile telephone means (42) for communicating with the central processing site (8) .

19. Method for evaluating a communication message, implemented by the system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following successive steps:

- for each human subject (2), a message is sent to the subject via a visual and / or audio medium, - the biometric response of the subject (2) to the message is measured,

- transmitting said response to the central processing site (8).

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:

- An evaluation is made of the intensity of the emotional shock of the message perceived by each human subject (2) equipped with a portable acquisition device (4).

21. Method according to one of claims 19 or 20, characterized in that it comprises the following additional successive steps: - for each human subject (2), the subject is sent interrogation elements by means of a visual and / or audio medium,

- the subject responds interactively to said interrogation elements,

- transmitting said response to the central processing site (8).

22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:

- an evaluation of the degree of consistency of said message is generated.

23. An interactive management system for information broadcast on television media, based on a collection and processing system according to any one of claims 1 to 18, this interactive management system comprising:

- In a plurality of local sites equipped with a television receiving station intended to receive information coming from local or distant information carriers, a local device of collection and interactive management cooperating with the television receiving station and provided for: (i) command a selective display of request messages generated locally or remotely, (ii) collect response information sent by a user in response to these request messages by means of a portable input device cooperating with the local device interactive collection and management, and

- in a central management and processing site, means to remotely control the local collection and interactive management device and means to collect the response information collected by the local interactive collection and management device, characterized in that each local interactive collection and management device is arranged to manage the interactions of a plurality of users with television programs broadcast on this television set, and to associate with each reception of a response to a request an identification of the program corresponding to this request and an identification of the user sending this response.

24. Interactive information management system according to claim 23, characterized in that portable input devices are associated with remote control devices of the television receiver.

25. interactive information management system claim 23, characterized in that each local device for interactive collection and management is arranged to receive, in addition, from the users of said system, signals representative of shocks emotional feelings felt by these users in response to the broadcasting of a program on television equipment, these received signals also being associated with an identification both of the program concerned and of the user transmitting these signals.

26. Interactive information management system according to claim 25, characterized in that portable input devices are associated with physiological signal sensor devices representative of emotional shocks felt by users.

27. Interactive information management system according to claim 26, characterized in that at least one user carries a personal portable device comprising means for picking up physiological signals emitted by the wearer, means for entering responses to requests. , and means for transmitting these physiological signals and these responses to the local device for collection and interactive management.

28. Interactive information management system according to claim 27, characterized in that the personal portable device is a bracelet type device.

29. Interactive information management system according to claim 28, characterized in that the personal portable bracelet-type device also performs a watch function.

30. Interactive information management system any one of claims 23 to 29 and claim 24, characterized in that the portable input device is disposed within a portable remote control device.

31. Interactive information management system any one of claims 23 to 31, characterized in that the local interactive collection and management device (6) is arranged to communicate with portable presence capture devices temporarily delivered to people present in the room.

32. Interactive information management system according to claim 31, characterized in that the portable presence capture device is in the form of a badge worn by a person.

33. Method for interactively managing information broadcast on televisual media, implemented in the interactive information management system any one of claims 23 to 32, comprising:

- in a plurality of local sites equipped with a television receiving station intended to receive information coming from local or remote information media, a selective display on this television station of request messages generated locally or remotely,

a reception of the response information sent by a user in response to these request messages, and

- in a central management and processing site,

- a remote control of the local device of interactive collection and management and - a collection of response information collected by the local device of interactive collection and management, characterized in that it also comprises a local management of the interactions of a plurality of users with television programs broadcast on this television set, and, on each reception of a response to a request, an identification of the program with which this request is associated and an identification of the user sending this response .

34. A method of interactive information management according to claim 33, characterized in that the function of entering responses to requests is associated with a function of remote control of the television equipment.

35. Method for interactive management of information one of claims 33 or 34, characterized in that it further comprises a local reception, coming from the users of said system, of signals representative of emotional shocks felt by these users in response the broadcasting of a program on television equipment, these received signals also being associated with an identification both of the program concerned and of the user transmitting these signals.

36. A method of interactive information management according to claim 35, characterized in that the function of entering responses to requests is associated with the function of acquisition of physiological signals.

37. Method according to any one of claims 35 or 36, for evaluating the effectiveness of a communication message, characterized in that it further comprises an elaboration of requests designed to provide an estimate of a degree of consistency associated with this communication message.

38. Evaluation method according to claim 37, characterized in that these requests are developed remotely and downloaded into the local device for interactive collection and management to be broadcast on the television equipment at predetermined times following the broadcasting of the messages. to which these queries are associated.

39. Evaluation method according to claim 38, characterized in that these requests include consistency grids.

40. Evaluation method according to one of claims 38 or 39, characterized in that these requests include digitized video sequences.

41. Application of the interactive information management system and method any one of claims 23 to 40, to the measurement of television audience.

42. Application of the interactive information management system and method according to any one of claims 23 to 40, to teleshopping operations.

43. Application of the interactive information management system and method according to any one of claims 23 to 40, to measure the effectiveness of messages, in particular advertising messages.

44. Application of the interactive information management system and method according to any one of claims 23 to 40, to financial analysis.

45. Application of the system and method of collection and processing according to any one of claims l to 22, to medical analysis of the reactions of human subjects to a message.

46. Interactive information management system according to any one of claims 23 to 32, implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of a communication message. delivered in a room in front of a group of spectators, characterized in that it comprises: a local device for interactive collection and management connected on the one hand, to a first and to a second radio communication devices arranged respectively on the left and right of the spectator set, and on the other hand, to a central collection and processing server, and

- a set of portable acquisition and capture devices worn by each spectator.