IP Library Granted Patent US 10,405,217
Granted Patent B2
US 10,405,217 · App. 14/982,992 · Granted Sep 3, 2019

Methods and apparatus to measure wireless networks indoors

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,405,217
App. No.
14/982,992
Granted
Sep 3, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to measure wireless networks indoors are disclosed herein. The example methods and apparatus include, in response to determining that a mobile device is in an indoor location, classifying the indoor location. In some examples, the methods and apparatus execute a first measurement of said wireless network. Based on the results of the first measurement, the example methods and apparatus determine whether to download and execute measurement instructions. The example measurement instructions are based on at least the indoor location classification.

Claims (80)

1. A method for measuring a wireless network, comprising:

in response to determining that a mobile device performed a mobile payment:

classifying, by executing instructions via a processor, an indoor location of the mobile device based on an identification of the mobile payment;

executing, by executing instructions via the processor, a first measurement test of the wireless network;

determining, by executing instructions via the processor, whether a result of the first measurement test satisfies a threshold; and

when the result of the first measurement test satisfies the threshold, selecting either a second measurement test of the wireless network or a third measurement test of the wireless network different from the second measurement test, the selecting based on the classified indoor location, the second measurement test having measurement instructions stored in the mobile device and third measurement test having measurement instructions to be downloaded from a server communicatively coupled to the mobile the device.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the classifying that the mobile device is in an indoor location includes:

determining whether the mobile device is within range of a small cell network;

in response to determining the mobile device is within range of the small cell network, determining a cell ID of the small cell network;

comparing the cell ID to an identification database, wherein the identification database includes location information associated with cell IDs; and

determining the cell ID matches an entry in the identification database associated with indoor location information.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the classifying that the mobile device is in the indoor location includes:

identifying receipt of an electronic communication on the mobile device, the electronic communication having location information embedded therein; and

determining the location information is associated with the indoor location.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the classifying that the mobile device is in the indoor location further includes triggering a location detector of the mobile device in response to the mobile payment.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including:

determining a download duration;

determining a download connection identifier;

determining a download connection type;

determining a download status; and

calculating a download test result based on at least one of the download duration, the download connection identifier, the download connection type, or the download status.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , further including uploading at least one of a user ID, a location classification, or a timestamp to the server.

7. The method as defined in claim 6 , wherein the third measurement instructions are based on the at least one of the user ID, the location classification, or the timestamp.

8. The method as defined in claim 6 , further including:

determining an upload duration;

determining an upload connection identifier;

determining an upload connection type;

determining an upload status; and

calculating an upload test result based on at least one of the upload duration, the upload connection identifier, the upload connection type, or the upload status.

9. An apparatus for measuring a wireless network, comprising:

a location detector to determine whether a mobile device performed a mobile payment;

a location classifier to classify an indoor location of the mobile device based on an identification of the mobile payment;

an executor to:

execute a first measurement test of said wireless network, the first measurement test includes executing a default latency test; and

determine whether a result of the first measurement satisfies a threshold; and

a loader to, when the result of the first measurement satisfies the threshold, select either a second measurement test or a third measurement test different from the second measurement test, the selecting based on the classified indoor location, the second measurement test having measurement instructions stored on the mobile device, the third measurement test having measurement instructions to be downloaded from a server communicatively coupled to the mobile device.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the location detector is to:

determine whether the mobile device is within range of a small cell network;

in response to determining the mobile device is within range of the small cell network, determine a cell ID of the small cell network;

compare the cell ID to an identification database, wherein the identification database includes location information associated with cell IDs; and

determine the cell ID matches an entry in the identification database associated with indoor location information.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the location detector is to:

identify receipt of an electronic communication on the mobile device, the electronic communication having location information embedded therein; and

determine the location information is associated with the indoor location.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the mobile device is to trigger the location detector in response to the mobile payment.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , further including a manager to:

determine a download duration;

determine a download connection identifier;

determine a download connection type;

determine a download status; and

calculate a download test result based on at least one of the download duration, the download connection identifier, the download connection type, or the download status.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 , wherein the loader is to upload at least one of a user ID, the location classification, or a timestamp to the server.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the measurement instructions corresponding to the third measurement include a customized measurement package based on the at least one of the user ID, the location classification, or the timestamp.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the manager is to:

determine an upload duration;

determine an upload connection identifier;

determine an upload connection type;

determine an upload status; and

calculate an upload test result based on at least one of the upload duration, the upload connection identifier, the upload connection type, or the upload status.

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

determine whether a mobile device performed a mobile payment;

classify an indoor location of the mobile device based on an identification of the mobile payment;

execute a first measurement test of a wireless network associated with the mobile device, the first measurement test includes executing a default latency test;

determine whether a result of the first measurement test satisfies a threshold;

when the result of the first measurement test satisfies the threshold, select either a second measurement test of the wireless network or a third measurement test of the wireless network different from the second measurement test based on the classified indoor location, the second measurement test having measurement instructions stored in the mobile device, the third measurement test having measurement instructions to be downloaded from a server communicatively coupled to the mobile device.

18. The storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to:

determine whether the mobile device is within range of a small cell network;

in response to determining the mobile device is within range of the small cell network, determine a cell ID of the small cell network;

compare the cell ID to an identification database, wherein the identification database includes location information associated with cell IDs; and

determine the cell ID matches an entry in the identification database associated with indoor location information.

19. The storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to:

identify receipt of an electronic communication on the mobile device, the electronic communication having location information embedded therein; and

determine the location information is associated with the indoor location.

20. The storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to:

determine a download duration;

determine a download connection identifier;

determine a download connection type;

determine a download status; and

calculate a download test result based on at least one of the download duration, the download connection identifier, the download connection type, or the download status.

21. The storage medium as defined in claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to trigger a location detector of the mobile device in response to the mobile payment.

Assignments (8)
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2016
From: NGAI, DOMINIC H.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 037654/0457 →