Methods and apparatus for collecting information about portable device usage

• US 8,463,233 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• 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: Agarwal, Kanishka, Monighetti, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US13/563,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20120295581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/59 based on real time

Abstract

An example method of collecting information about usage of a mobile device involves monitoring first usage of the mobile device associated with accessing, via the mobile device, a first internet website of a communication service carrier providing a service subscription for the mobile device. The example method also involves monitoring second usage of the mobile device associated with accessing, via the mobile device, a second internet website not of the communication service carrier. The monitoring of the first and second usage is performed on the mobile device. First and second usage information about the first and second usage is collected. The first usage information indicates that the first internet website is an internet portal of the communication service carrier.

Claims

1. A method of collecting information about usage of a mobile device, the method comprising:

monitoring first usage of the mobile device associated with accessing, via the mobile device, a first internet website of a communication service carrier providing a service subscription for the mobile device;

monitoring second usage of the mobile device associated with accessing, via the mobile device, a second internet website not of the communication service carrier, wherein the monitoring of the first and second usage is performed on the mobile device; and

collecting first and second usage information about the first and second usage, the first usage information indicating that the first internet website is an internet portal of the communication service carrier.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

processing the first and second usage information; and

storing the first and second usage information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing of the first and second usage information comprises storing the first and second usage information on the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising collecting additional information about at least one of a time or a location associated with the first and second usage.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting additional information indicating whether the access of the first internet website is performed while the mobile device is in communication with a network operated by the communication service carrier providing the service subscription for the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication service carrier is a wireless service carrier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a wireless network status of a wireless network over which the mobile device communicates.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless network status comprises an on-network status or an off-network status, and further comprising collecting on-network usage information or off-network usage information based on the wireless network status, wherein the on-network status indicates that the mobile device is accessing a network operated by the communication service carrier providing the service subscription for the mobile device, and wherein the off-network status indicates that the mobile device is accessing a network not operated by the communication service carrier.

9. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an information collection component to;

monitor first usage of the mobile device associated with accessing, via the mobile device, a first internet website of a communication service carrier providing a service subscription for the mobile device;

monitor second usage of the mobile device associated with accessing, via the mobile device, a second internet website not of the communication service carrier, wherein the monitoring of the first and second usage is performed on the mobile device; and

collect first and second usage information about the first and second usage, the first usage information indicating that the first internet website is an internet portal of the communication service carrier.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the processor is operable to process the first and second usage information, and wherein the memory is operable to store the first and second usage information.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the information collection component is further to collect additional information about at least one of a time or a location associated with the first and second usage.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the information collection component is further to collect additional information indicating whether the access of the first internet website is performed while the mobile device is in communication with a network operated by the communication service carrier providing the service subscription for the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the communication service carrier is a wireless service carrier.

14. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the information collection component is further to collect a wireless network status of a wireless network over which the mobile device communicates.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the wireless network status comprises an on-network status or an off-network status, and wherein the information collection component is further to collect on-network usage information or off network usage information based on the wireless network status, wherein the on-network status indicates that the mobile device is accessing a network operated by the communication service carrier providing the service subscription for the mobile device, and wherein the off-network status indicates that the mobile device is accessing a network not operated by the communication service carrier.

16. A method of collecting information about usage of a mobile device, the method comprising:

monitoring usage of the mobile device, wherein the monitoring is performed on the mobile device;

determining a quantity of a plurality of other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device in association with an interactive process conducted via the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices; and

sending the quantity of the plurality of the other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device to a third-party entity that is separate from an entity facilitating the interactive process.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the interactive process is a mobile conferencing process.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising storing the quantity of the plurality of other end-user devices in the mobile device.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising collecting additional information about at least one of a time or a location associated with the quantity of the plurality of other end-user devices.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining of the quantity of other end-user devices occurs in real-time.

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising collecting at least one of a duration of the mobile conferencing process or content of communications between the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices involved in the mobile conferencing process.

21. A method of collecting information about usage of a mobile device, the method comprising:

monitoring usage of the mobile device, wherein the monitoring is performed on the mobile device; and

determining a quantity of a plurality of other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device in association with an interactive process conducted via the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices, wherein the interactive process is an interactive gaming process.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising collecting user inputs associated with the interactive gaming process.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising collecting at least one of a type of interaction, a frequency of interaction, or a duration of interaction associated with the interactive gaming process.

25. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an information collection component to;

monitor usage of the mobile device;

determine a quantity of a plurality of other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device in association with an interactive process conducted via the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices; and

send the quantity of the plurality of the other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device to a third-party entity that is separate from an entity facilitating the interactive process.

26. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the interactive process is a mobile conferencing process.

27. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the information collection component is further to collect additional information about at least one of a time or a location associated with the quantity of the plurality of other end-user devices.

30. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein the information collection component is further to store the quantity of the plurality of other end-user devices in the mobile device.

28. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an information collection component to;

monitor usage of the mobile device; and

determine a quantity of a plurality of other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device in association with an interactive process conducted via the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices, wherein the interactive process is an interactive gaming process.

29. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein the information collection component is further to collect user inputs associated with the interactive gaming process.

31. The mobile device of claim 28, wherein the information collection component is further to collect at least one of a type of interaction, a frequency of interaction, or a duration of interaction associated with the interactive gaming process.

32. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an information collection component to;

monitor usage of the mobile device;

determine a quantity of a plurality of other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device in association with an interactive process conducted via the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices, wherein the interactive process is a mobile conferencing process; and

collect at least one of a duration of the mobile conferencing process or content of communications between the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices involved in the mobile conferencing process.

33. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

monitor first usage of a mobile device associated with accessing, via the mobile device, a first internet website of a communication service carrier providing a service subscription for the mobile device;

monitor second usage of the mobile device associated with accessing, via the mobile device, a second internet website not of the communication service carrier, wherein the monitoring of the first and second usage is performed on the mobile device; and

collect first and second usage information about the first and second usage, the first usage information indicating that the first internet website is an internet portal of the communication service carrier.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to:

process the first and second usage information; and

store the first and second usage information.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 34 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to store of the first and second usage information on the mobile device.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to collect additional information about at least one of a time or a location associated with the first and second usage.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to collect additional information indicating whether the access of the first internet website is performed while the mobile device is in communication with a network operated by the communication service carrier providing the service subscription for the mobile device.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the communication service carrier is a wireless service carrier.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to monitor a wireless network status of a wireless network over which the mobile device communicates.

40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 39, comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to collect on-network usage information or off-network usage information based on the wireless network status, wherein the on-network usage information indicates that the mobile device is accessing a network operated by the communication service carrier providing the service subscription for the mobile device, and wherein the off-network usage information indicates that the mobile device is accessing a network not operated by the communication service carrier.

41. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

monitor usage of the mobile device, wherein the monitoring is performed on the mobile device;

determine a quantity of a plurality of other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device in association with an interactive process conducted via the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices; and

send the quantity of the plurality of the other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device to a third-party entity that is separate from an entity facilitating the interactive process.

42. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41, wherein the interactive process is a mobile conferencing process.

43. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to store the quantity of the plurality of other end-user devices in the mobile device.

44. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to collect additional information about at least one of a time or a location associated with the quantity of the plurality of other end-user devices.

45. The computer readable storage medium of claim 41 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to determine the quantity of other end-user devices in real-time.

46. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

monitor usage of the mobile device, wherein the monitoring is performed on the mobile device; and

determine a quantity of a plurality of other end-user devices simultaneously in communication with the mobile device in association with an interactive process conducted via the mobile device and the plurality of other end-user devices, wherein the interactive process is an interactive gaming process.

47. The computer readable storage medium of claim 46 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to collect at least one of a type of interaction, a frequency of interaction, or a duration of interaction associated with the interactive gaming process.