Automatic collection and updating of application usage
First Claim
1. In an electronic device having a plurality of application programs, a method of monitoring usage comprising the steps of:
- a) gathering usage statistics of said application programs, said usage statistics comprising;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by batteries;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by an external source of power;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of said electronic device occurs, said measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor; and
measurements denoting a duration of usage of said application programs when an interrupt occurs;
b) storing said usage statistics; and
c) automatically transmitting said stored usage statistics to a server on a regular basis, whereby said server tabulates said usage statistics;
wherein said 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 said auto-shutoff in said measured duration.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system providing automatic collection and updating of application usage on large number of electronic devices without user intervention. The electronic devices may be 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.).
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. In an electronic device having a plurality of application programs, a method of monitoring usage comprising the steps of:
-
a) gathering usage statistics of said application programs, said usage statistics comprising;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by batteries;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by an external source of power;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of said electronic device occurs, said measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor; and
measurements denoting a duration of usage of said application programs when an interrupt occurs;b) storing said usage statistics; and c) automatically transmitting said stored usage statistics to a server on a regular basis, whereby said server tabulates said usage statistics; wherein said 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 said auto-shutoff in said measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. In an personal digital assistant having a plurality of application programs, a method of monitoring usage comprising the steps of:
-
a) gathering usage statistics of said application programs, said usage statistics comprising;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said personal digital assistant is powered by batteries;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said personal digital assistant is powered by an external source of power;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of said personal digital assistant occurs, said measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor; and
measurements denoting a duration of usage of said application programs when an interrupt occurs;b) storing said usage statistics; and c) automatically transmitting said stored usage statistics to a server on a regular basis, whereby said server tabulates said usage statistics; and wherein said 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 said auto-shutoff in said measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. In an electronic device comprising a processor coupled to a bus, a display coupled to said bus and a memory coupled to said bus, said memory having a database of records of different categories and instructions implementing a method of displaying information comprising the steps of:
-
a) gathering usage statistics of said application programs, said usage statistics comprising;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by batteries;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by an external source of power;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of said electronic device occurs, said measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor; and
measurements denoting a duration of usage of said application programs when an interrupt occurs;b) storing said usage statistics; and c) automatically transmitting said stored usage statistics to a server on a regular basis, whereby said server tabulates said usage statistics; and wherein said 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 said auto-shutoff in said measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. In a system comprising a plurality of electronic devices having application programs and a computer server, a method of monitoring usage comprising the steps of:
-
a) gathering usage statistics of said application programs, said usage statistics comprising;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by batteries;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by an external source of power;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of said electronic device occurs, said measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor; and
measurements denoting a duration of usage of said application programs when an interrupt occurs;b) storing said usage statistics; c) automatically transmitting said stored usage statistics to a server on a regular basis; and d) tabulating said transmitted usage statistics; and wherein said 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 said auto-shutoff in said measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. In one or more computer servers, a method of collecting usage statistics comprising the steps of:
-
a) automatically receiving usage statistics for at least one application program on a regular basis, said usage statistics having been gathered from electronic devices, wherein said usage statistics comprise;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by batteries;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when said electronic device is powered by an external source of power;
measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of said electronic device occurs, said measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor and measurements denoting a duration of usage of said at least one application program when an interrupt occurs;b) tabulating said received usage statistics; and c) publishing said tabulated usage statistics; and wherein said 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 said auto-shutoff in said measured duration. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
Specification