James R Call

US Patent:

49124668, Mar 27, 1990

Filed:

Sep 15, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/245740

Inventors:

James Call - Larchmont NY

Assignee:

NPD Research Inc. - Port Washington NY

International Classification:

G06F 302

US Classification:

341 20

Abstract:

An audio frequency based data capture tablet (26) includes a working surface (210) upon which a data collection document having marked responses is placed. A movable cursor (212, 222), which is mechanically disposed above the working surface (210), produces an audio signature indicating both its position and relative motion orthogonally. shaded bars (214, 216) along the top and sides of the tablet (26) which comprise binary encoded sections, cause a composite of audio frequencies to be produced. The intersecting members (212, 222) of the movable cursor are orthogonally disposed with the x-axis member including seven phototransistors (220) as does the y-axis member (225), with each of the phototransistors (220, 223) being uniquely associated with an audio frequency oscillator (330-342, 334-356) whose outputs are mixed and combined (400) to provide a composite audio signature; and optically alignable with the shaded bars (214, 216). The movable intersecting members (214, 222) also comprise a plurality of windows (225, 227), with the intersecting windows (225, 227) being aligned so as to intersect over a marked response area (229) to define the unique position of the answer along the working surface (210).

US Patent:

50239295, Jun 11, 1991

Filed:

Sep 15, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/245739

Inventors:

James Call - Larchmont NY

Assignee:

NPD Research, Inc. - Port Washington NY

International Classification:

H04B 1700
H04N 710

US Classification:

455 2

Abstract:

A method for obtaining audience preference market survey data, such as a radio and/or television listening audience survey and/or supplemental data, such as bar coded data (156), from a plurality of diverse locations for accumulative processing by a remote data processor, involves recording (22, 30, 40, 42, 44, 56, 54, 52) a plurality of audio signals (46, 48, 50) at each of the diverse locations which corresponds to the ambient radio and/or television audio sound at predetermined synchronized discrete sampling times (42, 60, 64, 66, 62) or windows which are synchronized to a master recording (110) of the programs being surveyed. The sampling windows are of short duration with respect to the measurement interval. The master recording (110) audio signals frequency intervals are matched against the frequency of the diverse location audio samples to provide an indication of audience preference and tested for a correct match in a configurable filter array (120, 122, 124). Respondents at the diverse locations may be provided with portable tape recorders (30) which are automatically activated at synchronized clock times to obtain the audio samples.

US Patent:

43353037, Jun 15, 1982

Filed:

Oct 23, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/087476

Inventors:

James Call - Larchmont NY

International Classification:

G06K 1512
G03B 2700

US Classification:

235463

Abstract:

A method for collecting market survey data from universal product type code bearing market items is provided in which a lenseless data recorder is employed for collecting the universal product type code encoded market data. The data recorder comprises a housing with the housing having an exposure aperture therein for admitting a source of light therethrough, such as ambient light or artificial light. A photographic recording medium, such as a film having photographic emulsion on opposite sides thereof to permit recording on both sides, is disposed in the housing adjacent the exposure aperture. The exposure aperture is optically alignable with the universal product type code on a market item for which the survey data is to be collected. A keyboard is provided in the housing for enabling the insertion of ancillary market survey information corresponding to the market item whose product code has been recorded. Fiber optics may be employed with the recorder for facilitating the recording of both the ancillary and product code information, with the recording being accomplished on both sides of the film.

US Patent:

42906881, Sep 22, 1981

Filed:

Dec 19, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/970986

Inventors:

James Call - Larchmont NY

International Classification:

G03B 1724
G03B 2700

US Classification:

355 1

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for collecting market survey data from universal product type code bearing market items is provided in which a lenseless data recorder is employed for collecting the universal product type code encoded market data. The data recorder comprises a housing with the housing having an exposure aperture therein for admitting a source of light therethrough, such as ambient light or artificial light. A photographic recording medium, such as a film having photographic emulsion on opposite sides thereof to permit recording on both sides, is disposed in the housing adjacent the exposure aperture. The exposure aperture is optically alignable with the universal product type code on a market item for which the survey data is to be collected. A keyboard is provided in the housing for enabling the insertion of ancillary market survey information corresponding to the market item whose product code has been recorded. Fiber optics may be employed with the recorder for facilitating the recording of both the ancillary and product code information, with the recording being accomplished on both sides of the film.

US Patent:

40127206, Mar 15, 1977

Filed:

Sep 25, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/616842

Inventors:

James Call - Mamaroneck NY
John Robertson - Chillicothe OH

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

3401725

Abstract:

A data entry system for providing a computer readable record of historical information, such as market survey information, relating to at least one common subject, such as a particular product, having a plurality of different possible attributes, such as price, store in which purchased, etc. , with the attributes having a plurality of different selectable definitions, such as different store names, different price values, etc. The system comprises at least one electrical crosspoint matrix array with each of the crosspoints having an associated indicia corresponding to one of the selectable definitions and having bit state corresponding to the absence of the associated definition and a different bit state corresponding to the presence of the associated definition. Addressable temporary storage means, such as a random access memory, having a plurality of different bit addresses with a unique bit address being associated with each of the bits associated with the crosspoints is provided, with the temporary storage means being selectively connectable to each of the crosspoints for recording the state of the associated bit at the unique associated bit address therefor. An electrical contact probe is provided for selectively changing the state of the bit associated with a crosspoint by selective contact therewith.