Method and system for collecting and analyzing market data in a mobile communications system

• US 20030229534A1
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: Nielsen Company (US), LLC
• Inventors: Chin, Christopher, Mahoney, Liam, Baer, James, Vogel, Andreas, Frangione, Tom
• Granted Patent: US 8,639,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration

Abstract

A method and a system for measuring market data in a mobile communications system. The method and system may be used to obtain data such as growth, churn rate, and other measurable metrics of mobile communications device subscribers. The method includes selecting a sample of contact numbers, using one or more contacting or querying methodologies to assess the state of the contact numbers, and analyzing the results to determine the market data.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and analyzing market data in a mobile communications system comprising the steps of:

selecting a representative sample of mobile directory numbers;

contacting the sample of mobile directory numbers to obtain contact results, including an assigned or unassigned status of the mobile directory numbers; and

analyzing the contact results to determine a measure of market data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of analyzing the contact results includes clarifying any uncertainty regarding the status of a mobile directory number.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein clarifying any uncertainty comprises re-contacting a mobile directory number to determine the status of the mobile directory number.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein re-contacting a mobile directory number is performed using a different form of contact.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results includes allocating a mobile directory number to a specific mobile operator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a representative sample of mobile directory numbers includes drawing a random sample of mobile directory numbers allocated to a mobile operator within at least one predetermined market.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the random sample is tracked over time.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein a new random sample is drawn periodically.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a representative sample of mobile directory numbers includes obtaining a panel of voluntary participants.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a representative sample of mobile directory numbers includes updating the representative sample of mobile directory numbers over time as carriers add new blocks of numbers.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the sample is expanded to include a random draw from a new block of numbers.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the sample is redrawn and blended over time.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the sample is partially retired and a new sample is substituted in place.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of filtering the representative sample of mobile directory numbers prior to contacting the sample.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of filtering the representative sample is performed using data from one or more internal databases.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of filtering the representative sample is performed using data from one or more external databases.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of actively updating the representative sample of mobile directory numbers over time.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of actively updating the representative sample of mobile directory numbers over time is performed using data from one or more internal databases.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of actively updating the representative sample of mobile directory numbers over time is performed using data from one or more external databases.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of contacting the sample is performed using a messaging approach.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the messaging approach includes the use of SMS contact messages.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the messaging approach utilizes at least one mobile communication device to send SMS contact messages.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the messaging approach utilizes an SMPP protocol to send SMS contact messages.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the messaging approach utilizes an HTTP protocol to send SMS contact messages.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the messaging approach utilizes an SMTP protocol to send SMS contact messages.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the messaging approach utilizes a UCP protocol to send SMS contact messages.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein the messaging approach utilizes header changes to make the SMS contact messages invisible on a mobile device.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the messaging approach utilizes header changes to make the SMS contact messages invisible on a mobile device.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein the messaging approach includes the use of voicemail messages.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein the messaging approach includes the use of MMS contact messages.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein the messaging approach includes the use of WAP contact messages.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein the messaging approach includes the use of Instant Messaging contact messages.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of contacting the sample is performed using a network signaling approach.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the network signaling approach utilizes SS7 network signaling to query fixed and mobile networks to obtain the status of the mobile directory numbers.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the network signaling approach utilizes PRI network signaling to query fixed and mobile networks to obtain the status of the mobile directory numbers.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the network signaling approach is invisible on a mobile device.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of contacting the sample is performed using a call set-up approach.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the call set-up approach utilizes call set-up and control information communicated to the originating mobile devices during call processing to obtain the status of the mobile directory numbers.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein the call set-up approach is invisible on a mobile device.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of cross-referencing the representative sample of mobile directory numbers after contacting the sample.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the step of cross-referencing the representative sample is performed using data from one or more internal databases.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the data from one or more internal databases includes contact results from a different form of contact.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of cross-referencing the representative sample is performed using data from one or more external databases.

44. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating a total number of subscribers for a mobile operator.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating a total number of subscribers for a mobile operator within at least one predetermined market.

46. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating net subscriber activations for a mobile operator for a predetermined period of time.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating net subscriber activations for a mobile operator for a predetermined period of time within at least one predetermined market.

48. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating gross additions of subscribers for a mobile operator for a predetermined period of time.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating gross additions of subscribers for a mobile operator for a predetermined period of time within at least one predetermined market.

50. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating market share for a mobile operator.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating market share for a mobile operator within at least one predetermined market.

52. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating deactivations of subscribers for a mobile operator for a predetermined period of time.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating deactivations of subscribers for a mobile operator for a predetermined period of time within at least one predetermined market.

54. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises identifying a mobile operator for a mobile directory number.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein identifying a mobile operator for a mobile directory number is performed by comparing the mobile directory number to a third party database.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein identifying a mobile operator for a mobile directory number is performed by assessing the format of a contact response for the mobile directory number.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein assessing the format of a contact response includes referencing a database for tracking known formats of contact responses of mobile operators to different contact methods.

58. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises identifying a geographical region of origin of a mobile directory number.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein identifying a geographical region of origin for a mobile directory number is performed by comparing the mobile directory number to a third party database.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein identifying a geographical region for a mobile directory number is performed by assessing the format of a contact response for the mobile directory number.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein assessing the format of a contact response includes referencing a database for tracking known formats of contact responses of mobile operators in each geographical market to different contact methods.

62. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating churn of subscribers for a mobile operator for a predetermined period of time.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the step of analyzing the contact results comprises estimating churn of subscribers for a mobile operator for a predetermined period of time within at least one predetermined market.