METHOD FOR COLLECTING DATA OF USERS OF ACTIVE MOBILE TELEPHONES

• US 20120142321A1
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mezuro, B.V.
• Original Assignee: Mezuro, B.V.
• Inventors: Steenbakkers, Wim
• Granted Patent: US 8,818,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

In a method data are collected about users of mobile telephones which are present within a plurality of defined cells between two specified points in time. For this purpose a list of telephone numbers of mobile telephones is retrieved from a data base, which mobile telephones were located in the defined cells between the two specified points in time. The list of telephone numbers is converted into unique numbers to avoid violation of privacy. Subsequently, the cells are defined in which the housing locations of the users of these mobile telephones are situated. This is effected by sending non-noticeable text messages to mobile telephones on various days at a number of different points in time at which most people are expected to be at home. Based on these text messages the locations of the mobile telephones are established.

Furthermore, the postal code areas are determined in which the cells of the housing locations are situated and, subsequently, the statistical data associated with these postal codes are retrieved from a further data base. These statistical data are then coupled to the unique numbers of the mobile telephones that were present in defined cells between the specified points in time.

Claims

1. A method for collecting data of users of active mobile telephones which are located between two specified points in time within one or more defined cells each defined by at least three adjacent communication masts for mobile communication, while a data base is utilised in which events with active mobile telephones as well as the points in time when and the location where these events take place are stored, where the unique mobile telephone numbers of the mobile telephones are converted into anonymous, unique numbers and the postal code of the owners of the mobile telephones are stored as far as they are known, according to which method data about the active mobile telephones between said points in time in the defined cells are retrieved from this data base, characterised in that furthermore statistical data are collected of the users of these retrieved active mobile telephones by retrieving from said data base the postal codes of the addresses of the owners of the mobile telephones and utilising a further data base which contains statistical data about the residents per postal code, while these statistical data are coupled to the associated unique numbers.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that for those mobile telephones whose postal codes are lacking in the data base or for those mobile telephones that are coupled to a postal code to which more than one predefined number of mobile telephones are coupled in the data base, the cells are defined in which the probable housing locations of the users of the mobile telephones are situated, by imposing events on these mobile telephones at a number of different points in time at which these users are expected to be at home, on the basis of which events the locations of these mobile telephones are established.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that these imposed events are the sending of non-noticeable text messages.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that furthermore the patterns of movement of the active mobile telephones are retrieved from the data base.