IP Library Granted Patent US 8,837,699
Granted Patent B2
US 8,837,699 · App. 12/243,699 · Granted Sep 16, 2014

Methods and apparatus to monitor subscriber activity

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,837,699
App. No.
12/243,699
Granted
Sep 16, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus to respond to monitor subscriber activity are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a first set of client telephone number (TN) data associated with a client and a current time period, and receiving a second set of client TN data associated with a prior time period. The example method also includes receiving a first set of subscriber activity data associated with the current time period, identifying a TN that is in the first set of subscriber activity data and is absent from at least one of the first or second sets of client TN data, and identifying the TN with at least one of a new inroad for a competitor or a new inroad for the client based on at least one activity code from the first set of subscriber activity data.

Claims (37)

1. A method to identify subscriber activity, comprising:

receiving a first set of service provider telephone number (TN) data associated with a service provider and a current time period;

receiving a second set of service provider TN data associated with a first prior time period;

receiving a first set of subscriber activity data associated with the current time period;

identifying a TN that is in the first set of subscriber activity data, is present in the first set of service provider TN data, is absent from the second set of service provider TN data, and is present within a threshold number of subscriber activity data sets associated with prior time periods; and

identifying the TN as a winback for the service provider when the TN is owned by the service provider at the current time period.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising querying a local exchange and routing guide to determine ownership of a TN block associated with the TN when an activity code comprises at least one of an add-event or a change-event.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 , further comprising identifying the TN as a new inroad for a competitor when the TN block is not owned by the service provider.

4. A method as defined in claim 2 , further comprising querying a local number portability data source to determine an operating carrier name (OCN) of the TN when the TN block is owned by the service provider.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 , further comprising identifying the TN as a new inroad for the service provider when the OCN is indicative of service provider ownership.

6. A method as defined in claim 4 , further comprising identifying the TN as a new inroad for a competitor when the OCN is indicative of competitor ownership.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising identifying the TN as a disconnect when an activity code comprises a disconnect event.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the TN is present within a second set of subscriber activity data, present within the first set of service provider TN data, and absent from the second set of service provider TN data.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising querying a local exchange and routing guide to determine ownership of a TN block associated with the TN when the TN is not present within the threshold number of subscriber activity data sets associated with prior time periods.

10. A method as defined in claim 9 , further comprising identifying the TN as a competitive gain for the service provider when the TN block ownership is associated with the competitor.

11. A method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the threshold number of subscriber activity data sets is a first threshold number of subscriber activity data sets and further comprising identifying the TN as a new inroad for the service provider when disconnect activity codes are absent from a second threshold number of subscriber activity data sets associated with prior time periods.

12. A method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising querying a local exchange and routing guide to determine ownership of a TN block associated with the TN when the TN is present within the threshold number of subscriber activity data sets associated with prior time periods.

13. A method as defined in claim 12 , further comprising identifying the TN as a client winback when the TN block ownership is associated with the service provider.

14. A method as defined in claim 12 , further comprising identifying the TN as a competitive gain for the service provider when the TN block ownership is associated with the competitor.

15. An apparatus to identify subscriber activity, comprising:

a customer data retriever to retrieve service provider telephone number (TN) data, the service provider TN data comprising a current time period data set and prior time period data sets;

a subscriber activity system interface to retrieve subscriber activity data associated with the current time period and prior time periods; and

a process engine to:

identify a TN that is present in the subscriber activity data associated with the current time period, present in the service provider TN data during the current time period, absent from the service provider TN data during a first one of the prior time periods, and present within a threshold number of subscriber activity data sets associated with prior time periods; and

associate the TN with a winback status when the TN is owned by the service provider at the current time period.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 , further comprising a local exchange and routing guide (LERG) interface to query a LERG database, the LERG interface to initiate a query in response to the subscriber activity system interface identifying at least one of an add-event or a change-event associated with the TN, the query to determine ownership of a TN block associated with the TN.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 , further comprising a local number portability (LNP) engine to query an LNP database, the LNP engine to initiate a query in response to determining that the TN block is owned by the service provider, the query to determine an operating carrier name (OCN) associated with the TN.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein the process engine identifies the TN as a new inroad for the service provider when the OCN is indicative of service provider ownership.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein the process engine identifies the TN as a new inroad for a competitor when the OCN is indicative of competitor ownership.

20. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disk comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to at least:

receive a first set of service provider telephone number (TN) data associated with a service provider and a current time period;

receive a second set of service provider TN data associated with a first prior time period;

receive a first set of subscriber activity data associated with the current time period;

identify a TN that is in the first set of subscriber activity data, is present in the first set of service provider TN data, is absent from the second set of service provider TN data, and is present within a threshold number of subscriber activity data sets associated with prior time periods; and

identify the TN as a winback for the service provider when the TN is owned by the service provider at the current time period.

21. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 20 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to query a local exchange and routing guide to determine ownership of a TN block associated with the TN when an activity code comprises at least one of an add-event or a change-event.

22. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 21 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to query a local number portability data source to determine an operating carrier name (OCN) of the TN when the TN block is owned by the service provider.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
RELEASE (REEL 037172 / FRAME 0415) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 061750/0221 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2015
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY ((US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE FIRST LIEN SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 037172/0415 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2010
From: HURST, JENNIFER ANN; FOGLE, ERIC; STOFFEL, PAUL; LEBRETON, ALISON
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 024056/0761 →