METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING COMMUNICATION MARKET STATISTICS

摘要

Methods and apparatus are provided for determining market statistics for communcation service providers. Determinations of whether or not a sampling of telephone numbers are assigned by a particular service provider are employed to determine market statistics. A message (630) which is used to obtain a response (640). The response (640) is interpreted to determine whether or not the telephone number associated with the wireless device is assigned (650). Alternatively, a sampling of telephone numbers are dialed over a digital line (620). Based upon the result of the dialing, it is determined whether or not the telephone numbers are assigned by the service provider. Telephone numbers which have been ported between service providers in networks which employ local number portability can be accounted for in the determination of market statistics. A telephone number portability database can also be employed for determining whether or not a telephone number is assigned (650) by a service provider.