Methods and apparatus to measure mobile broadband market share

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to measure mobile broadband market share. A disclosed example method involves invoking an adapter query on a computing device in response to detecting a request for Internet services, identifying a plurality of available adapters on the computing device based on the adapter query, and determining whether the computing device includes a mobile broadband service provider based on which one of the plurality of available adapters is servicing the request for Internet services.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method to identify mobile broadband Internet services, comprising:
 invoking an adapter query on a computing device in response to detecting a request for Internet services;   identifying a plurality of available adapters on the computing device based on the adapter query; and   determining whether the computing device includes a mobile broadband service provider based on which one of the plurality of available adapters is servicing the request for Internet services.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising identifying an operating system associated with the computing device prior to invoking the adapter query. 
     
     
         3 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising tailoring the adapter query on the computing device based on a type of the identified operating system. 
     
     
         4 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the adapter query comprises an ipconfig command. 
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising confirming that the computing device is associated with the mobile broadband service provider when the adapter query identifies an active mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising confirming that the computing device is unassociated with the mobile broadband service provider when the adapter query identifies an inactive mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising identifying a NULL Internet protocol address associated with the inactive mobile broadband adapter to confirm that the computing device is unassociated with the mobile broadband service provider. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 6 , further comprising identifying an active adapter as at least one of an Ethernet network interface card or a wireless network interface card when the adapter query identifies the inactive mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising identifying that the computing device is travelling when an active mobile broadband adapter employs a first Internet protocol (IP) address at a first time for the Internet services, and employs a second IP address at a second time for the Internet services. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the computing device is travelling between a first time and a second time by:
 identifying a first Internet protocol (IP) address at the first time used by an active mobile broadband adapter;   identifying a second IP address at the second time used by the active mobile broadband adapter; and   determining the computing device is not travelling when a same access router is associated with the first IP address and the second IP address.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the same access router is identified by a traceroute of the first IP address and the second IP address. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus to identify mobile broadband Internet services, comprising:
 a remote application interface to invoke an adapter query of a computing device in response to detecting a request for Internet services; and   a data card rule manager to:
 identify a plurality of available adapters on the computing device based on the adapter query; and 
 determine whether the computing device includes a mobile broadband service provider based on which one of the plurality of available adapters is servicing the request for Internet services. 
   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising an analysis manager to identify an operating system associated with the computing device prior to invoking the adapter query. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the remote application interface is to tailor the adapter query on the computing device based on a type of the identified operating system. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the remote application interface is to employ an ipconfig command as the adapter query. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the data card rule manager is to confirm that the computing device is associated with the mobile broadband service provider when the adapter query identifies an active mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the data card rule manager is to confirm that the computing device is unassociated with the mobile broadband service provider when the adapter query identifies an inactive mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the data card rule manager is to identify a NULL Internet protocol address associated with the inactive mobile broadband adapter to confirm that the computing device is unassociated with the mobile broadband service provider. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the data card rule manager is to identify an active adapter as at least one of an Ethernet network interface card or a wireless network interface card when the adapter query identifies the inactive mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the data card rule manager is to identify that the computing device is travelling when an active mobile broadband adapter employs a first Internet protocol (IP) address at a first time for the Internet service, and employs a second IP address at a second time for the Internet services. 
     
     
         21 . A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a processor to, at least:
 invoke an adapter query on a computing device in response to detecting a request for Internet services;   identify a plurality of available adapters on the computing device based on the adapter query; and   determine whether the computing device includes a mobile broadband service provider based on which one of the plurality of available adapters is servicing the request for Internet services.   
     
     
         22 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to identify an operating system associated with the computing device prior to invoking the adapter query. 
     
     
         23 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to tailor the adapter query on the computing device based on a type of the identified operating system. 
     
     
         24 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to apply an ipconfig command for the adapter query. 
     
     
         25 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to confirm that the computing device is associated with the mobile broadband service provider when the adapter query identifies an active mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         26 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to confirm that the computing device is unassociated with the mobile broadband service provider when the adapter query identifies an inactive mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         27 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to identify a NULL Internet protocol address associated with the inactive mobile broadband adapter to confirm that the computing device is unassociated with the mobile broadband service provider. 
     
     
         28 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to identify an active adapter as at least one of an Ethernet network interface card or a wireless network interface card when the adapter query identifies the inactive mobile broadband adapter. 
     
     
         29 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to identify that the computing device is travelling when an active mobile broadband adapter employs a first Internet protocol (IP) address at a first time for the Internet services, and employs a second IP address at a second time for the Internet services. 
     
     
         30 . A storage medium as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:
 identify a first Internet protocol (IP) address at the first time used by an active mobile broadband adapter;   identify a second IP address at the second time used by the active mobile broadband adapter; and   determine the computing device is not travelling when a same access router is associated with the first IP address and the second IP address.