Importance

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Abstract

A method of conducting a public opinion poll by means of a telephone loop network comprises selecting such a network whose customers are representative of a universe of interest in the subject matter of the poll and soliciting by means of a mass communication medium, such as television, a non-billed manipulation of the telephone instruments of such customers during a prescribed time period in response to a polling question. During the polling period, while instruments of responding customers are placed in an off-hook condition, the normal line-scanning function in the network central office is disabled, thereby allowing electrical current to flow continuously in the network in proportion to the number of customer instruments in the off-hook state. Based upon the previously established electrical resistance of the selected network, a statistical model of the central office distribution plant is utilized to determine the number of off-hook customer instruments, and thereby the preference of the network customers with respect to the polling question.

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First Claim