AUTOMATIC COLLECTION AND UPDATING OF APPLICATION USAGE
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring usage in an electronic device operating a plurality of application programs, comprising the steps of:
- a) gathering usage statistics of the application programs;
b) storing the usage statistics; and
c) automatically transmitting the usage statistics that are stored to a server on a regular basis, whereby the server tabulates the usage statistics;
wherein the gathering step further comprises the steps of;
measuring duration of application usage, and when an auto-shutoff occurs, including a predetermined fraction of the time from a last user interaction to the auto-shutoff in the measured duration.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system providing automatic collection and updating of application usage on a large number of electronic devices without user intervention. The electronic devices may be a palm-sized computer systems, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or wireless telephones. On an electronic device, application usage statistics, for example, the number of times a user uses an application, are gathered and stored. Once gathered and stored, the usage statistics are transferred to a host computer, and subsequently to a server (alternatively, the electronic device can send the gathered statistics directly to a server). The server tabulates usage statistics gathered from a plurality of electronic devices and publishes the results. The users of the electronic devices that gather usage statistics can be compensated in a variety of ways (e.g., monetary, chances in a raffle, discounts on purchases etc.).
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring usage in an electronic device operating a plurality of application programs, comprising the steps of:
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a) gathering usage statistics of the application programs; b) storing the usage statistics; and c) automatically transmitting the usage statistics that are stored to a server on a regular basis, whereby the server tabulates the usage statistics; wherein the gathering step further comprises the steps of; measuring duration of application usage, and when an auto-shutoff occurs, including a predetermined fraction of the time from a last user interaction to the auto-shutoff in the measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In an electronic device comprising a processor coupled to a bus, a display coupled to the bus and a memory coupled to the bus, the memory having a database of records of different categories and instructions implementing a method of displaying information comprising the steps of:
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a) gathering usage statistics of the application programs; b) storing the usage statistics; and c) automatically transmitting the stored usage statistics to a server on a regular basis, whereby the server tabulates the usage statistics; and wherein the gathering step further comprises measuring duration of application usage, and when an auto-shutoff occurs, includes a predetermined fraction of the time from a last user interaction to the auto-shutoff in the measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a system comprising one or more electronic devices having application programs and a computer server, a method of monitoring usage comprising the steps of:
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a) gathering usage statistics of the application programs b) storing the usage statistics; c) automatically transmitting the stored usage statistics to a server on a regular basis; and d) tabulating the transmitted usage statistics; and wherein the gathering step further comprises measuring duration of application usage, and when an auto-shutoff occurs, includes a predetermined fraction of the time from a last user interaction to the auto-shutoff in the measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In one or more computer servers, a method of collecting usage statistics comprising the steps of:
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a) automatically receiving usage statistics for at least one application program on a regular basis, the usage statistics having been gathered from electronic devices,; b) tabulating the received usage statistics; c) publishing the tabulated usage statistics; and wherein the gathering step further comprises measuring duration of application usage, and when an auto-shutoff occurs, includes a predetermined fraction of the time from a last user interaction to the auto-shutoff in the measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification