METHODS AND APPARATUS TO COLLECT WIRELESS INFORMATION

• US 20140019203A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Petersen, David, Stapleton, Padraig
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to collect wireless information are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves installing an operating system and a data collector to execute outside a context of the operating system on a wireless handheld device. A testing process is performed to ensure functionality of the wireless handheld device. An application is installed on the wireless handheld device to execute in the context of the operating system. The data collector is to collect usage information regarding the application and to provide the usage information to a network provider.

Claims

1. A method of collecting information on a wireless handheld device, the method comprising:

executing a collecting information component in a kernel layer of the wireless handheld device and outside of an operating system context of the wireless handheld device, the kernel layer being operable to manage resources and communication between software and hardware;

monitoring usage of the wireless handheld device via the collecting information component; and

collecting information about the usage of the wireless handheld device via the collecting information component, the collected information including when advertising occurred on the wireless handheld device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the collected information further includes at least one of when the wireless handheld device operated for commerce activity or a duration for which the wireless handheld device operated as a mobile television.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the collecting information component communicates with components installed within an operating system layer, a firmware layer and the kernel layer of the wireless handheld device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the collecting information component is installed in a firmware layer, and a second portion of the collecting information component is installed in the kernel layer of the wireless handheld device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the collected information further includes at least one of:

types of shortcuts on the cellular telephone,

indications of short messaging service activity, or

indications of signal strength.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the collected information, and transmitting the collected information to a data center.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the collecting information component communicates with the operating system.

8. A wireless handheld device comprising:

a processor; and

a collecting information component executed by the processor in a kernel layer of the wireless handheld device and outside of an operating system context of the wireless handheld device, the kernel layer operable to manage resources and communication between software and hardware, and the collecting information component to at least;

monitor usage of the wireless handheld device; and

collect information about the usage of the wireless handheld device, the collected information including when advertising occurred on the wireless handheld device.

9. The wireless handheld device of claim 8, wherein the collected information further includes at least one of when the wireless handheld device operated for commerce activity or a duration for which the wireless handheld device operated as a mobile television.

10. The wireless handheld device of claim 8, wherein the collecting information component is further to communicate with components installed within an operating system layer, a firmware layer and the kernel layer of the wireless handheld device.

11. The wireless handheld device of claim 8, wherein a first portion of the collecting information component is installed in a firmware layer, and a second portion of the collecting information component is installed in the kernel layer of the wireless handheld device.

12. The wireless handheld device of claim 8, wherein the collected information further includes at least one of:

types of shortcuts on the cellular telephone,

indications of short messaging service activity, or

indications of signal strength.

13. The wireless handheld device of claim 8, wherein the collecting information component is further to store the collected information, and transmit the collected information to a data center.

14. The wireless handheld device of claim 8, wherein the collecting information component is further to communicate with the operating system.

15. A machine accessible storage device or storage disk comprising instructions that cause a machine to at least:

execute a collecting information component in a kernel layer of the wireless handheld device and outside of an operating system context of the wireless handheld device, the kernel layer being operable to manage resources and communication between software and hardware;

monitor usage of the wireless handheld device via the collecting information component; and

collect information about the usage of the wireless handheld device via the collecting information component, the collected information including when advertising occurred on the wireless handheld device.

16. The machine accessible storage device or storage disk of claim 15, wherein the collected information further includes at least one of when the wireless handheld device operated for commerce activity or a duration for which the wireless handheld device operated as a mobile television.

17. The machine accessible storage device or storage disk of claim 15, wherein the instructions cause the collecting information component to communicate with components installed within an operating system layer, a firmware layer and the kernel layer of the wireless handheld device.

18. The machine accessible storage device or storage disk of claim 15, wherein a first portion of the collecting information component is installed in a firmware layer, and a second portion of the collecting information component is installed in the kernel layer of the wireless handheld device.

19. The machine accessible storage device or storage disk of claim 15, wherein the collected information further includes at least one of:

types of shortcuts on the cellular telephone,

indications of short messaging service activity, or

indications of signal strength.

20. The machine accessible storage device or storage disk of claim 15, wherein the instructions cause the collecting information component to communicate with the operating system.