IP Library Granted Patent US 9,307,418
Granted Patent B2
US 9,307,418 · App. 14/041,613 · Granted Apr 5, 2016

Systems, methods, and apparatus to monitor mobile internet activity

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,307,418
App. No.
14/041,613
Granted
Apr 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus to monitor mobile Internet activity are disclosed. An example method comprises determining, with a processor, whether a device is communicatively coupled to a WiFi network, the WiFi network identified by a Service Set Identifier. Whether proxy settings are configured on the device in association with the WiFi network is identified. Registration information is transmitted from the device to a registrar if the proxy settings are not configured, the registration information comprising a classification of the WiFi network and the Service Set Identifier. The proxy settings of the WiFi network are configured based on instructions received from the registrar, the instructions to cause the device to transmit network communications using the proxy settings when communicatively coupled to the WiFi network.

Claims (31)

1. A method of monitoring usage of a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining, with a processor, whether a device is communicatively coupled to a WiFi network, the WiFi network identified by a Service Set Identifier;

identifying whether proxy settings are configured on the device in association with the WiFi network;

determining whether the device has reached a threshold usage level in association with the WiFi network;

in response to determining (1) that the device has reached the threshold usage level and (2) that the proxy settings are not configured, transmitting registration information from the device to a registrar, the registration information including a classification of the WiFi network and the Service Set Identifier; and

configuring the proxy settings of the WiFi network based on instructions received from the registrar, the instructions to cause the device to transmit network communications using the proxy settings when communicatively coupled to the WiFi network.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the proxy settings include a proxy server address and a proxy server port.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the proxy server address and the proxy server port are uniquely assigned to the device and Service Set Identifier combination.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the threshold usage level is a duration of connectivity to the WiFi network.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the threshold usage level is a data transmission threshold.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the threshold usage level is a number of connection occurrences.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 , wherein the number of connection occurrences is calculated over an interval of time.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the threshold usage level is a number of connection occurrences between a first time of day and a second time of day.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including prompting a panelist to classify the WiFi network.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein the WiFi network is classified as a home network.

11. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the registration information includes an identifier of the device.

12. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising first instructions which, when executed, cause a computing device to at least:

determine whether the device is communicatively coupled to a WiFi network, the WiFi network identified by a Service Set Identifier;

identify whether proxy settings are configured on the computing device in association with the WiFi network;

determine whether the device has reached a threshold usage level in association with the WiFi network; and

in response to a determination (1) that the computing device has reached the threshold usage level and (2) that the proxy settings are not configured, transmit registration information from the computing device to a registrar, the registration information including a classification of the WiFi network and the Service Set Identifier, the device to configure the proxy settings of the WiFi network on the computing device by executing configuration instructions received from the registrar, the configuration instructions to cause the computing device to transmit network communications using the proxy settings when communicatively coupled to the WiFi network.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the proxy settings include a proxy server address and a proxy server port.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 13 , herein the proxy server address and the proxy server port are uniquely assigned to the computing device and Service Set Identifier combination.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the threshold usage level is a duration of connectivity to the WiFi network.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the threshold usage level is a data transmission threshold.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the threshold usage level is a number of connection occurrences.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the number of connection occurrences is calculated for a period of time.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the threshold usage level is a number of connection occurrences between a first time and a second time.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the first instructions, when executed, cause the computing device to prompt a panelist to classify the WiFi network.

21. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 20 , wherein the WiFi network is classified as a home network.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the registration information includes an identifier of the computing device.

Assignments (9)
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 →