Automatic tracking of usage of a software application having different versions

• US 7,698,419 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bostwick, Ben, Flores, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Haresh N
• Application Number:
  US11/406,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20070061447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 719/328, 709217-228, 717/128
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3495 for systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/865 Monitoring of software
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/88 Monitoring involving counting

Abstract

A method for automatically tracking application and content usage is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method first recites the step of accessing an application interface (API) call with a parameter specifying a first portion of content to be measured. For example, the amount of time for which the portion of content is used is measured. Next the method recites, in response to the accessed call, measuring usage for the first portion of content. Then, the method recites continuing to access API calls specifying additional portions of content to be measured until the program making the calls finishes execution. In this fashion, content usage is tracked. Application developers may determine, from the content usage, where users are getting stuck in a game or what segments of an electronic document are being viewed.

Claims

1. A method of using a processor to automatically track software application program usage by one or more users, said method comprising the steps of:

a) collecting, using a processor to execute a monitor program, usage data for the software application program having a plurality of versions, said collection taking place on a plurality of electronic devices;

b) associating a unique identifier with said usage data, the unique identifier being the same for at least two of said plurality of versions;

c) merging said usage data associated with the unique identifier,

wherein said usage data comprises the amount of content used during an execution of said software application program;

transferring the usage data to a repository,

wherein the merging is performed by a merger software program located at the repository; and

reporting the merged information devoid of version.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said plurality of versions are selected from the group comprising software versions, programming language versions and user interface language versions.

3. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

d) reporting said usage information by version.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein said usage data describe information selected from the group consisting of the number of times said software program was executed and the amount of time for which said software program was executed.