System and method for geographic, temporal, and location-based detection and analysis of mobile communication devices in a communication network

• US 10,515,392 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Gailloux, Michael A., Golomeke, Samuel, King, Lauren, Pickett, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoltenberg, David J
• Application Number:
  US15/591,093
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0243 Comparative campaigns
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/654 International mobile subscriber identity [IMSI] numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A system for geographic, temporal, and location-based detection and analysis of mobile communication devices in a communication network is disclosed. The system comprises a database and a server communicatively coupled to the database that receives location data from a vendor server, sets a boundary around each location included in the location data, receives messages from mobile communication devices responsive to display of content on the mobile communication devices, analyzes mobile communication device data corresponding to determined mobile communication identifiers from cell sites, and applies a plurality of exclusions to the mobile communication devices based on the analysis to exclude mobile communication devices based on dwell times within the boundary, historical device patterns within the boundary, and/or dwell times patterns in relation to one or more geographic features in the boundary. The server then generates and displays a list of non-excluded mobile communication devices based on the plurality of exclusions applied.

Claims

1. A system for geographic, temporal, and location-based detection and analysis of mobile communication devices in a communication network, comprising:

a database comprising cell site data that indicates a coverage area of each of a plurality of cell sites in a wireless network, mobile communication device data from the plurality of cell sites, and a look-up table associating identifiers with mobile communication device identifiers; and

a server communicatively coupled to the database, comprising;

a non-transitory memory,

a processor, and

one or more applications stored in the non-transitory memory, that when executed by the processor;

receive location data from a vendor server associated with a vendor, wherein the location data comprises locations of a plurality of stores of the vendor,

determine which cell sites of the plurality of cell sites have coverage areas that include the locations of the plurality of stores based on the received location data and the cell site data from the database,

set a boundary around each of the locations of the plurality of stores,

determine which one or more cell sectors associated with the determined cell sites are at least partially within each boundary based on the cell site data from the database,

receive a plurality of messages comprising a plurality of identifiers from a plurality of mobile communication devices in response to display of content on the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein the content is associated with the vendor and a time period,

determine a plurality of mobile communication device identifiers corresponding to the plurality of identifiers using the look-up table in the database,

analyze the mobile communication device data corresponding to the plurality of mobile communication identifiers from the database,

determine which cell sectors each of the plurality of mobile communications devices resided within during the time period and dwell times for each mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors based on the analysis,

exclude any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times less than a minimum dwell time threshold,

exclude any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times greater than a maximum dwell time threshold,

generate a list of a subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices based on the exclusions, wherein the subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices consists of non-excluded mobile communication devices, and

display the list on a display.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the plurality of mobile communication devices, each of the plurality of mobile communication devices comprising;

a non-transitory memory,

a processor, and

an analysis application stored in the non-transitory memory, that when executed by the processor;

determines that the content is displayed on a corresponding mobile communication device, and

transmits a message comprising an identifier associated with the corresponding mobile communication device to the server.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications, when executed by the processor:

validate whether a purchase was made at one or more of the plurality of stores within the time period by each of the non-excluded mobile communication devices by sending corresponding identifiers associated with the non-excluded mobile communication devices to a third-party server,

receive a report from the third-party server, the report indicating each transaction with the vendor during the time period associated with any of the corresponding identifiers and a purchase amount of each transaction, and

send the report to the vendor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications, when executed by the processor:

exclude any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices not within the boundary during the time period, and

exclude any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during non-operating hours of the vendor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more applications, when executed by the processor:

determine a historical device pattern for each of the plurality of mobile communications devices by determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of mobile communications devices historically resided within before the time period and historical dwell times for each mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors before the time period based on the analysis, and

exclude any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices that have historical device patterns within the boundary.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the database comprises geographic feature data that indicates locations of a plurality of geographic features, and wherein the one or more applications, when executed by the processor:

determine one or more geographic features within the boundary based on the geographic feature data,

determine a historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features based on the mobile communication device data by determining typical dwell times at the one or more geographic features and at what times of day, and

exclude any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times at times of day consistent with the historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the minimum dwell time threshold and the maximum dwell time threshold are determined by the vendor based on a type of good or service provided by the vendor at the plurality of stores.

8. A method for geographic, temporal, and location-based detection and analysis of mobile communication devices in a communication network, each step of the method performed by one or more applications stored in a non-transitory memory of a server and executable by a processor of the server, the method comprising:

receiving location data from a vendor server associated with a vendor, wherein the location data comprises locations of a plurality of stores of the vendor;

determining which cell sites of a plurality of cell sites have coverage areas that include the locations of the plurality of stores based on the received location data and cell site data from a database, wherein the cell site data indicates a coverage area of each of the plurality of cell sites in a wireless network;

setting a boundary around each of the locations of the plurality of stores;

determining which one or more cell sectors associated with the determined cell sites are at least partially within each boundary based on the cell site data from the database;

receiving a plurality of messages comprising a plurality of identifiers from a plurality of mobile communication devices in response to display of content on the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein the content is associated with the vendor and a time period;

determining a plurality of mobile communication device identifiers corresponding to the plurality of identifiers using a look-up table in the database, wherein the look-up table associates identifiers with mobile communication device identifiers;

analyzing mobile communication device data corresponding to the plurality of mobile communication identifiers from the plurality of cell sites and stored in the database;

determining a historical device pattern for each of the plurality of mobile communications devices by determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of mobile communications devices historically resided within before the time period and historical dwell times for each mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors before the time period based on the analysis;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices that have historical device patterns within the boundary;

determining one or more geographic features within the boundary based on geographic feature data in the database;

determining a historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features based on the mobile communication device data by determining typical dwell times at the one or more geographic features and at what times of day;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times at times of day consistent with the historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features;

generating a list of a subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices based on the exclusions, wherein the subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices consists of non-excluded mobile communication devices; and

displaying the list on a display.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of mobile communications devices resided within during the time period and dwell times for each mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors based on the analysis;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices not within the boundary during the time period;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times less than a minimum dwell time threshold; and

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times greater than a maximum dwell time threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

selecting a plurality of control group mobile communication devices that did not receive the content;

determining a plurality of control group mobile communication device identifiers corresponding to the plurality of control group mobile communication devices;

analyzing mobile communication device data corresponding to the plurality of control group mobile communication identifiers from the plurality of cell sites and stored in the database;

determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of control group mobile communications devices resided within during the time period and dwell times for each control group mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors based on the analysis;

determining a historical device pattern for each of the plurality of control group mobile communications devices by determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of control group mobile communications devices historically resided within before the time period and historical dwell times for each control group mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors before the time period based on the analysis;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices not within the boundary during the time period;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times less than the minimum dwell time threshold;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times greater than the maximum dwell time threshold;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices that have historical device patterns within the boundary;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times at times of day consistent with the historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features;

generating a list of a subset of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices based on the exclusions to the plurality of control group mobile communication devices, wherein the subset of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices consists of non-excluded control group mobile communication devices; and

removing one or more of the non-excluded mobile communication devices from the list of the subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices based on the number of non-excluded control group mobile communication devices in the subset of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of identifiers comprises a plurality of advertisement identifiers.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the content comprises at least one advertisement.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of mobile communication device identifiers comprises one or more of mobile equipment identifiers, international mobile subscriber identities, or international mobile equipment identities.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting, by a content server, additional content to the non-excluded mobile communication devices based on the generated list of the subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein the content and the additional content are associated with different advertising campaigns.

15. A method for geographic, temporal, and location-based detection and analysis of mobile communication devices in a communication network each step of the method performed by one or more applications stored in a non-transitory memory of a server and executable by a processor of the server, the method comprising:

receiving location data from a vendor server associated with a vendor, wherein the location data comprises locations of a plurality of stores of the vendor;

determining which cell sites of a plurality of cell sites have coverage areas that include the locations of the plurality of stores based on the received location data and cell site data from a database, wherein the cell site data indicates a coverage area of each of the plurality of cell sites in a wireless network;

setting a boundary around each of the locations of the plurality of stores;

determining which one or more cell sectors associated with the determined cell sites are at least partially within each boundary based on the cell site data from the database;

receiving a plurality of messages comprising a plurality of identifiers from a plurality of mobile communication devices in response to display of content on the plurality of mobile communication devices, wherein the content is associated with the vendor and a time period;

determining a plurality of mobile communication device identifiers corresponding to the plurality of identifiers using a look-up table in the database, wherein the look-up table associates identifiers with mobile communication device identifiers;

analyzing mobile communication device data corresponding to the plurality of mobile communication identifiers from the plurality of cell sites and stored in the database;

applying a plurality of exclusions to the plurality of mobile communication devices based on the analysis;

generating a list of a subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices based on the plurality of exclusions, wherein the subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices consists of non-excluded mobile communication devices;

selecting a plurality of control group mobile communication devices that did not receive the content;

determining a plurality of control group mobile communication device identifiers corresponding to the plurality of control group mobile communication devices;

analyzing mobile communication device data corresponding to the plurality of control group mobile communication identifiers from the plurality of cell sites and stored in the database;

applying the plurality of exclusions to the plurality of control group mobile communication devices based on the analysis;

generating a list of a subset of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices based on the plurality of exclusions, wherein the subset of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices consists of non-excluded control group mobile communication devices; and

removing one or more of the non-excluded mobile communication devices from the list of the subset of the plurality of mobile communication devices based on the number of non-excluded control group mobile communication devices in the subset of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of mobile communication devices that display the content are selected to receive the content based on a common demographic profile, and wherein the plurality of control group mobile communication devices are selected based on the common demographic profile.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein applying the plurality of exclusions to the plurality of mobile communication devices based on the analysis comprises:

determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of mobile communications devices resided within during the time period and dwell times for each mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices not within the boundary during the time period;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times less than a minimum dwell time threshold;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times greater than a maximum dwell time threshold;

determining a historical device pattern for each of the plurality of mobile communications devices by determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of mobile communications devices historically resided within before the time period and historical dwell times for each mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors before the time period;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices that have historical device patterns within the boundary;

determining one or more geographic features within the boundary based on geographic feature data in the database;

determining a historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features based on the mobile communication device data by determining typical dwell times at the one or more geographic features and at what times of day; and

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times at times of day consistent with the historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein applying the plurality of exclusions to the plurality of control group mobile communication devices based on the analysis comprises:

determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of control group mobile communications devices resided within during the time period and dwell times for each control group mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices not within the boundary during the time period;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times less than a minimum dwell time threshold;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times greater than a maximum dwell time threshold;

determining a historical device pattern for each of the plurality of control group mobile communications devices by determining which cell sectors each of the plurality of control group mobile communications devices historically resided within before the time period and historical dwell times for each control group mobile communication device within each of the cell sectors before the time period;

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices that have historical device patterns within the boundary;

determining one or more geographic features within the boundary based on geographic feature data in the database;

determining a historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features based on the mobile communication device data by determining typical dwell times at the one or more geographic features and at what times of day; and

excluding any mobile communication devices of the plurality of control group mobile communication devices within the boundary during the time period with dwell times at times of day consistent with the historical device pattern in relation to the one or more geographic features.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

for each of the plurality of mobile communication devices,

determining, by an analysis application stored in a non-transitory memory of a corresponding mobile communication device and executed by a processor of the corresponding mobile communication device, that the content is displayed on a corresponding mobile communication device; and

transmitting, by the analysis application, a message comprising an identifier associated with the corresponding mobile communication device to the server.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

validating whether a purchase was made at one or more of the plurality of stores within the time period by each of the non-excluded mobile communication devices by sending corresponding identifiers associated with the non-excluded mobile communication devices to a third-party server;

receiving a report from the third-party server, the report indicating each transaction with the vendor during the time period associated with any of the corresponding identifiers and a purchase amount of each transaction; and

sending the report to the vendor.