AUTOMATIC COLLECTION AND UPDATING OF APPLICATION USAGE

• US 20090150545A1
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bostwick, Ben, Flores, Roger
• Application Number:
  US12/367,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

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.).

Claims

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. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the storing step further comprises, for at least one of the application programs, storing of:

i) duration of usage since the last transmitting step occurred;

ii) number of times used since the last transmitting step occurred;

iii) total duration usage; and

iv) total number of times used.

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

displaying the stored usage statistics on a display of the electronic device.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the gathering step further comprises the step of:

measuring duration of usage of at least one of the application programs and does not include time when the electronic device is turned off.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the gathering step further comprises the steps of:

i) measuring, for at least one of the application programs, a first duration of usage while the electronic device is running on batteries; and

ii) measuring, for the at least one application program, a second duration of usage while the electronic device is connected to an external source of power.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the measuring steps do not include time when an interrupt pauses use of the at least one application program.

7. A method as described in claim 1, where the usage statistics comprise at least one of:

measurements denoting a duration of usage when the electronic device is powered by batteries;

measurements denoting a duration of usage when the electronic device is powered by an external source of power;

measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of the electronic device occurs, the measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor; and

measurements denoting a duration of usage of the application programs when an interrupt occurs.

8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a palm-sized computer system.

9. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a wireless telephone.

10. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a personal digital assistant.

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:

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.

12. A method as described in claim 11 wherein the storing step comprises, for at least one the application program, storing of:

i) duration of usage since last the transmitting step occurred;

ii) number of times used since last the transmitting step occurred;

iii) total duration usage; and

iv) total number of times used.

13. A method as described in claim 11 and further comprising the step of:

displaying the stored usage statistics on a display of the electronic device.

14. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the gathering step further comprises the steps of:

i) measuring, for at least one the application program, a first duration of usage while the electronic device is running on batteries; and

ii) measuring, for the at least one application program, a second duration of usage while the electronic device is connected to an external source of power.

15. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a palm-sized computer system.

16. A method as described in claim 11 wherein the electronic device is a wireless telephone.

17. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the usage statistics comprise at least one of:

measurements denoting a duration of usage when the electronic device is powered by batteries;

measurements denoting a duration of usage when the electronic device is powered by an external source of power;

measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of the electronic device occurs, the measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor; and

measurements denoting a duration of usage of the application programs when an interrupt occurs.

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:

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.

19. A method as described in claim 18, wherein the usage statistics comprise at least one of:

measurements denoting a duration of usage when the electronic device is powered by batteries;

measurements denoting a duration of usage when the electronic device is powered by an external source of power;

measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of the electronic device occurs, the measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor; and

measurements denoting a duration of usage of the application programs when an interrupt occurs.

20. A method as described in claim 19, the system further comprising a host computer, and wherein the stored usage statistics are transmitted to the host computer before transmitting the stored usage statistics to the server.

21. A method as described in claim 19 and further comprising the step of:

publishing the tabulated usage statistics on the Internet.

22. A method as described in claim 19 and further comprising the step of:

crediting value to an account corresponding to at least one of the electronic devices.

23. 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, 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.

24. A method as described in claim 23 and further comprising the step of:

crediting value to an account corresponding to at least one of the electronic devices.

25. A method as described in claim 23 and further comprising the step of:

storing the tabulated usage results in a database that can be queried.

26. A method as described in claim 23, wherein the publishing step comprises:

a) receiving a query request;

b) applying the query to the database;

c) receiving query results from the database;

d) formatting the results; and

e) transmitting the formatted results.

27. A method as described in claim 23, wherein the usage statistics comprise at least one of:

measurements denoting a duration of usage when the electronic device is powered by batteries;

measurements denoting a duration of usage when the electronic device is powered by an external source of power;

measurements denoting a duration of usage when an auto-shutoff of the electronic device occurs, the measurements for denoting a duration of usage adjusted by a predetermined scale factor and measurements denoting a duration of usage of the at least one application program when an interrupt occurs.