Tracking time usage on a disconnected client over a period of time
First Claim
1. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for tracking time usage of an application on a computer during a service period, the computer program instructions comprising instructions for:
- recording a start time for the service period of the application, wherein a plurality of service lives of the application occur during the service period, the service period being a preset time period provided by a subscription associated with the application;
recording time elapsed during each of the service lives based on a number of computer cycles that occurred during each service life;
recording time elapsed between each of the service lives based on time elapsed between a service life end time and a next service life start time for each of the service lives, the recorded time elapsed between each of the service lives comprising a sleep cycle for the application during which the application is not being executed;
determining total time depleted from the service period of the application based on total time elapsed during and between each of the service lives; and
adjusting time left in the service period of the application based on the determination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The tracking control module is adapted to track time usage (e.g., during a user'"'"'s subscription to a particular service) on a disconnected client over a period of time with limited server interaction in a manner that is not likely to be affected by system clock changes. The module is designed to take an initial read when an executable associated with the service starts. As the program runs, the running time during the service life can be tracked by the module based on computer cycles that occur over the service life rather than on the system clock. In some embodiments, the system clock is only relied upon to track the time between service lives during which the program is asleep, thus minimizing the affect any system clock changes would have on the accuracy of the time estimate. The module adjusts the time left in the service period according to the time determinations.
19 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for tracking time usage of an application on a computer during a service period, the computer program instructions comprising instructions for:
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recording a start time for the service period of the application, wherein a plurality of service lives of the application occur during the service period, the service period being a preset time period provided by a subscription associated with the application; recording time elapsed during each of the service lives based on a number of computer cycles that occurred during each service life; recording time elapsed between each of the service lives based on time elapsed between a service life end time and a next service life start time for each of the service lives, the recorded time elapsed between each of the service lives comprising a sleep cycle for the application during which the application is not being executed; determining total time depleted from the service period of the application based on total time elapsed during and between each of the service lives; and adjusting time left in the service period of the application based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of tracking time usage of an application on a computer during a service period, the method comprising:
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recording a start time for the service period of the application, wherein a plurality of service lives of the application occur during the service period, the service period being a preset time period provided by a subscription associated with the application; recording time elapsed during each of the service lives based on a number of computer cycles that occurred during each service life; recording time elapsed between each of the service lives based on time elapsed between a service life end time and a next service life start time for each of the service lives, the recorded time elapsed between each of the service lives comprising a sleep cycle for the application during which the application is not being executed; determining total time depleted from the service period of the application based on total time elapsed during and between each of the service lives; and adjusting time left in the service period of the application based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for tracking time usage of an application on a computer during a service period, the system comprising:
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a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store software modules comprising; a start time recording module that records a start time for the service period of the application, wherein a plurality of service lives of the application occur during the service period, the service period being a preset time period provided by a subscription associated with the application; a cycle recording module that records time elapsed during each of the service lives based on a number of computer cycles that occurred during each service life; a sleep time recording module that records time elapsed between each of the service lives based on time elapsed between a service life end time and a next service life start time for each of the service lives, the recorded time elapsed between each of the service lives comprising a sleep cycle for the application during which the application is not being executed; a determination module that determines total time depleted from the service period of the application based on total time elapsed during and between each of the service lives; a time adjustment module that adjusts time left in the service period of the application based on the determination; a processor configured to execute the software modules stored by the computer-readable storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification