Systems and methods for discovering features in a communication device

• US 7,580,702 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Core Mobility (Smith Micro Software Incorporated)
• Inventors: Othmer, Konstantin
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US11/129,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/414.2, 455/414, 455/1, 455/414.3, 455/424, 455/425, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/412.1, 455418-420, 455/186.1, 455/557, 455/414.1, 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/67.7, 455/412.2, 455/561, 455/416, 455/413, 379/207.04, 379/207.02, 37920101-20105, 379/142.01, 379/142.06, 379/114.07, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 370/259, 370/215, 345/810, 709/224, 348/563, 348/565, 725/110, 725/112, 725/43, 725/42, 725/47, 725/40, 725/9, 725/10, 725/12, 725 13- 21, 715/781, 715/774, 715/783, 715/784, 715/780
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34

Abstract

Systems and methods for discovering features of a communication device. The features of a communications device are tracked or monitored. Features that are unused or undiscovered are identified. The undiscovered features are then included as ticker items in an interactive ticker. When a ticker item that corresponds to an undiscovered feature is selected, the user is presented with information or a tutorial that instructs the user about the feature or how to use the feature. The undiscovered features included in the ticker can change based on how the usage of the device'"'"'s features changes.

Claims

1. A method for discovering features on a communications device, the method comprising:

monitoring features on a communication device to identify a feature that is not used by a user;

including the identified feature as a ticker item in a ticker displayed on the communication device;

presenting information relating to the identified feature on the communication device when the identified feature is selected from the ticker by the user, wherein presenting information relating to the identified feature on the communication device comprises;

presenting a tutorial regarding the identified feature; and

accessing the tutorial from at least one of the communication device and a

remote server;

monitoring the identified feature to determine whether the identified feature is used after presenting the tutorial; and

including the identified feature as a ticker item in the ticker if the feature is not used after a specfied period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified feature comprises a picture messaging feature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifed feature comprises a text message feature.