System and method to query wireless network offerings

• US 20070254635A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: comScore, Inc.
• Original Assignee: M:Metrics, Inc. (comScore, Inc.)
• Inventors: Montelius, Johan
• Granted Patent: US 7,702,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A system and method to collect all the offerings of a wireless service provider. Wireless service providers have different types of offerings, said offerings depending on the type of wireless client device being used. A single type of device, linked to an emulation computer, can ‘spoof’ the identification of all the devices that the wireless service provider supports. The emulation computer traverses the links made available by the wireless service provider for the type device the emulation computer is ‘spoofing’

Claims

1. A method for surveying wireless service provider offerings comprising:

a) linking a wireless client device to an emulation computer;

b) substituting the identification of type of wireless client device being used with information emulating a different type of client wireless device; and

c) transmitting the substituted identification to a wireless service provider.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the substituted identification to survey offerings made by the wireless service provider for the type of device having said substituted identification.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the survey traverses links to all said offerings made by the wireless service provider.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein data resulting from the survey is cataloged and stored for referral and analysis.

5. A system for collecting, cataloging and storing offerings of wireless service providers comprising:

a) an emulation computer linked to a wireless client device;

b) said wireless client device, using an identification code provided by the emulation computer to override an identification code normally used by said wireless client device, connects to a wireless service provider;

c) said wireless service provider, upon receipt of the emulated identification from the wireless client device, sends one or more links to the offerings of said provider that said provider provides for wireless client devices identified with said emulated identification; and

d) said emulation computer follows said links, gathers data of said offerings, catalogs said data, and stores said data for later referral and analysis.