DYNAMIC UPDATE OF A USER INTERFACE BASED ON COLLECTED USER INTERACTIONS

• US 20090150814A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Eyer, Mark, Douma, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

While a user is using the electronic device, user interaction information for keystrokes, button pushes, and activation of functional controls may be recorded. The user interaction information is stored and when the electronic device is connected to a network, the user interaction information is sent over the network to a user interface analyzer. The user interface analyzer analyzes the user interaction information to determine patterns of usage regarding a hierarchy of menu items for the user interface. The analysis may show that a user interface may be improved for better usability. The user interface on the electronic device may be dynamically changed to alter the menu hierarchy, or the analysis may be used to improve future generations of products. For example, menu items may be positioned such that the user can more easily access menu items that are used more frequently.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing use of a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving user interaction information over a network, the user interaction information determined at an electronic device while a user is using the electronic device;

analyzing the user interaction information to determine patterns of usage regarding a hierarchy of menu items for a user interface of the electronic device;

determining a possible menu item in the hierarchy of menu items that the user was searching for based on the analysis; and

storing an analysis result for the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing comprises:

determining a first sequence of key strokes down the hierarchy of menu items;

determining a second sequence of key strokes, wherein at least one key stroke in the second sequence is up the hierarchy of menu items; and

determining the possible menu item based on the first sequence and/or the second sequence.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining a menu item that is selected; and

determining the selected menu item is the possible menu item the user was searching for.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein one or more time stamps as to when key strokes in the first sequence and/or second sequence are used to determine if the user was looking for the possible menu item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting with the electronic device; and

sending interface adjustment information to the electronic device to allow the device to change the hierarchy of menu items in the interface based on the analysis.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interface adjustment information changes a location of one or more menu items in the hierarchy of menu items.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the possible menu item is for a function that the user wanted to trigger.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interaction information comprises keystroke information and/or information for a function that was altered.

9. A method for analyzing use of a user interface, the method comprising:

determining user inputs for the user interface while a user is using the electronic device;

storing user interaction information based on the user inputs;

sending the user interaction information over a network to a user interface analyzer to allow the user interface analyzer to analyze the user interaction information to determine patterns of usage regarding a hierarchy of menu items for the user interface of the electronic device;

receiving user interface adjustment information from the user interface analyzer; and

adjusting one or more menu items in the hierarchy of menu items based on the user interface adjustment information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interaction information comprises information for a first sequence of key strokes down the hierarchy of menu items and/or a second sequence of key strokes, wherein at least one key stroke in the second sequence is up the hierarchy of menu items.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface information comprises a menu item that is selected.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the interface adjustment information changes a location of one or more menu items in the hierarchy of menu items.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the possible menu item is for a function that the user wanted to trigger.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interaction information comprises keystroke information and/or information for a function that was altered.

15. Software encoded in one or more computer-readable media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to

receiving user interaction information over a network, the user interaction information determined at an electronic device while a user is using a user interface for the electronic device;

analyzing the user interaction information to determine patterns of usage regarding a hierarchy of menu items for a user interface of the electronic device;

determining a possible menu item in the hierarchy of menu items that the user was searching for based on the analysis; and

storing an analysis result for the determination.

16. The software of claim 15, wherein software operable to analyze comprises software further operable to:

determine a first sequence of key strokes down the hierarchy of menu items;

determine a second sequence of key strokes, wherein at least one key stroke in the second sequence is up the hierarchy of menu items; and

determine the possible menu item based on the first sequence and/or the second sequence.

17. The software of claim 16, wherein the software is further operable to:

determining a menu item that is selected; and

determining the selected menu item is the possible menu item the user was searching for.

18. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the one or more processors and when executed operable to;

determine user inputs for a user interface while a user is using the electronic device;

store user interaction information based on the user inputs;

send the user interaction information over a network to a user interface analyzer to allow the user interface analyzer to analyze the user interaction information to determine patterns of usage regarding a hierarchy of menu items for the user interface of the electronic device;

receive user interface adjustment information from the user interface analyzer; and

adjust one or more menu items in the hierarchy of menu items based on the user interface adjustment information.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user interaction information comprises information for a first sequence of key strokes down the hierarchy of menu items and/or a second sequence of key strokes, wherein at least one key stroke in the second sequence is up the hierarchy of menu items.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the interface adjustment information changes a location of one or more menu items in the hierarchy of menu items.