System and method for measuring user behavior and use of mobile equipment

• US 20070232290A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Jerry, Tatman, Lance, Purdy, Glen, Engel, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

In a communication network architecture including mobile equipment that employs multiple functions selectable for use by the user, the functions having respective measurable parameters, a service provider monitors the user'"'"'s behavior with, and use of, the mobile equipment. An agent, such as software installed on-board the mobile equipment, measures parameters that are related to the user'"'"'s behavior and use of the mobile equipment, and communicates the measured parameters to the service provider, over the communication network. The agent detects change of such user behavior and use, and accordingly changes parameters to measure and report on.

Claims

1. A parameter measurement system, for measuring parameters accessible by mobile equipment which communicates over a communication network, the mobile equipment employing multiple functions selectable for use by the user, the system comprising:

an agent which includes;

(i) measuring means for measuring predetermined parameters of operation of the uses of the mobile equipment by the user;

(ii) means for changing measurement parameters to make parameter measurements appropriate for a detected change of use of the mobile equipment; and

(iii) a transmitter for transmitting measured parameters over the communication network.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile equipment includes a processor, memory, and a wireless communication interface.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein the mobile equipment includes one of (i) a cellular telephone, (ii) a portable computer, (iii) a handheld personal digital assistant unit, and (iv) a wireless transducer.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the agent is included within the mobile equipment.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the agent includes parameter storage for accumulating measurements of the parameters, and storing the measurements as the measurements accumulate.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the agent stores the accumulated measurements of the parameters for one of (i) a predetermined period of time, (ii) until a predetermined quantity of parameters have been accumulated, and (iii) until a change in user behavior is detected.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the agent further comprises a processor for preprocessing the measured parameters before transmitting the measured parameters.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the agent further includes:

(i) a transducer for sensing user behavior, and

(ii) sets of parameters suitable for different network technologies, including a parameter set from which parameters are selected for measurement based on the sensed user behavior.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein (a) the transducer includes (i) a user interface sensor for sensing user manipulation of a user input interface, and (ii) an interpreter for interpreting when user manipulations of the user input interface represent a command for employing a function of the mobile equipment;

and (b) the agent configures parameter sensing responsive to the representation interpreted by the interpreter.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the interpreter interprets the user manipulations of the user input interface to determine that the user is commanding an application program to start up.

11. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein (i) the mobile equipment includes an operating system that interprets user manipulation of a user input interface as a command for employing a function of the mobile equipment;

and (ii) the interpreter operates in conjunction with the operating system to interpret when user manipulations of the user input interface represent a command for employing a function of the mobile equipment.

12. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the agent further comprises a transmitter for transmitting the selected parameters over the communication network, responsive to a received request for transmission of the parameters.

13. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the agent further comprises a selector for selecting parameters for measurement, responsive to one of (i) a received command to do so;

and (ii) an elapsed time.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a service provider which is coupled for communication with the mobile equipment over the communication network, and which receives the measured parameters.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the service provider includes a node, coupled to the communication network to receive the measured parameters transmitted from the agent.

16. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the measuring means includes means for associating, with a parameter measurement, at least one of (i) a location, (ii) a date, and (iii) a time, of the parameter measurement.

17. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the measuring means includes means for detecting a failed user attempt to employ one of (i) a home service provider service and (ii) a mobile equipment function.

18. A method for measuring parameters accessible by mobile equipment which communicates over a communication network, the mobile equipment employing multiple functions selectable for use by the user, the method comprising:

(i) measuring predetermined parameters of operation of the uses of the mobile equipment by the user;

(ii) changing measurement parameters to make parameter measurements appropriate for a detected change of use of the mobile equipment; and

(iii) transmitting measured parameters over the communication network.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the mobile equipment includes a processor, memory, and a wireless communication interface.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the mobile equipment includes one of (i) a cellular telephone, (ii) a portable computer, (iii) a handheld personal digital assistant unit, and (iv) a wireless transducer.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the mobile equipment performs the measuring, changing and transmitting.

22. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising accumulating measurements of the parameters, and storing the measurements as the measurements accumulate.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein storing includes storing the accumulated measurements of the parameters for one of (i) a predetermined period of time, (ii) until a predetermined quantity of parameters have been accumulated, and (iii) until a change in user behavior is detected.

24. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising preprocessing the measured parameters, and transmitting the measured and preprocessed parameters.

25. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein:

(i) the method further comprises sensing user behavior, and

(ii) the mobile equipment includes sets of parameters, including a parameter set from which parameters are selected for measurement based on the sensed user behavior.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein:

(a) sensing includes (i) sensing user manipulation of a user input interface, and (ii) interpreting when user manipulations of the user input interface represent a command for employing a function of the mobile equipment; and

(b) the method further comprises configuring parameter sensing responsive to the representation interpreted by the interpreting.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein interpreting includes interpreting the user manipulations of the user input interface to determine that the user is commanding an application program to start up.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein (i) the mobile equipment includes an operating system that interprets user manipulation of a user input interface as a command for employing a function of the mobile equipment;

and (ii) the interpreting takes place in conjunction with operation of the operating system, to interpret when user manipulations of the user input interface represent a command for employing a function of the mobile equipment.

29. A method as recited in claim 25, further comprising transmitting the selected parameters over the communication network, responsive to a received request for transmission of the parameters.

30. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the agent further comprises a selector for selecting parameters for measurement, responsive to one of (i) a received command to do so;

and (ii) an elapsed time.

31. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein:

a service provider is coupled for communication with the mobile equipment over the communication network; and

the method further comprises the service provider receiving the measured parameters.

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein:

the service provider includes a node, coupled to the communication network; and

the method further comprises the node receiving the measured parameters transmitted from the agent.

33. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the measuring includes associating, with a parameter measurement, at least one of (i) a location, (ii) a date, and (iii) a time, of the parameter measurement.

34. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the measuring includes detecting a failed user attempt to employ one of (i) a home service provider service and (ii) a mobile equipment function.