SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING USER EFFICIENCY WITH HANDHELD DEVICES

• US 20090298020A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hennessy, Shane Brandon, Kisamore, Michael Todd, Lancraft, Roy E., Jones, Stephen Mark, Pitta, Devidas Ramdas, Corcoran, Gerardine Mary
• Application Number:
  US12/132,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20090298020A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/118
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0053 Computers, e.g. programming

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for training users how to operate handheld electronic devices and/or their respective applications, wherein the handheld electronic device may receive an expected input associated with an application executing on the handheld from a computing device. The handheld may then receive an actual input from a user of the handheld electronic device, compare the two inputs, and release the actual input from the user to the application if the inputs are substantially the same.

Claims

1. A system for training users how to operate handheld electronic devices and their respective applications comprising:

a computing device in electronic communication with a handheld electronic device,

wherein the computing device is configured to;

display instructions for training a user how to operate an application executing on the handheld electronic device; and

transmit an expected input to the handheld electronic device; and

wherein the handheld electronic device is configured to;

receive the expected input from the computing device, wherein the expected input is associated with the application being executed on the handheld electronic device;

receive an actual input initiated by a user of the handheld electronic device, wherein the actual input is associated with the application being executed on the handheld electronic device;

determine if the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same;

release the actual input to the application being executed on the handheld electronic device upon a determination that the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same; and

generate an error message and transmit the error message to the computing device in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are not substantially the same.

2. A system comprising:

a computing device configured to;

transmit an expected input; and

a handheld electronic device in electronic communication with the computing device, the handheld electronic device configured to;

receive the expected input from the computing device, wherein the expected input is associated with an application being executed on the handheld electronic device;

receive an actual input initiated by a user of the handheld electronic device, wherein the actual input is associated with the application being executed on the handheld electronic device;

determine if the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same; and

release the actual input to the application being executed on the handheld electronic device upon a determination that the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the handheld electronic device is further configured to:

generate an error message in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are not substantially the same.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the handheld electronic device is further configured to:

transmit the error message to the computing device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the handheld electronic device is further configured to:

transmit the error message and the actual input to the computing device.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the handheld electronic device is further configured to:

transmit the error message to the computing device;

receive, in response to transmitting the error message to the computing device, an override input from the computing device; and

release the override input to the application being executed on the handheld electronic device.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

display instructions for using the application being executed on the handheld electronic device, the instructions associated with the expected input.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is further configured to:

receive the error message from the handheld electronic device; and

display feedback in response to receiving the error message.

9. A method comprising:

establishing a connection between a handheld electronic device and a computing device;

receiving an expected input at the handheld electronic device from the computing device, wherein the expected input is associated with an application being executed on the handheld electronic device;

receiving an actual input initiated by a user of the handheld electronic device, wherein the actual input is associated with the application being executed on the handheld electronic device;

determining if the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same; and

releasing the actual input to the application being executed on the handheld electronic device in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving an expected input further comprises receiving the expected input from a computing device, the method further comprising:

generating an error message in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are not substantially the same.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting the error message to the computing device.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting the error message and the actual input to the computing device.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting the error message to the computing device;

receiving, in response to transmitting the error message, an override input from the computing device; and

releasing the override input to the application being executed on the handheld electronic device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the expected input comprises a key press.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

establish a connection with a computing device;

receive, from the computing device, an expected input associated with an application currently being executed on the apparatus;

receive an actual input initiated by a user of the application, wherein the actual input is associated with the application being executed on the apparatus;

determine if the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same; and

release the actual input to the application being executed on the apparatus in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the expected input is received from a computing device, and the processor is further configured to:

generate an error message in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are not substantially the same.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the error message to the computing device.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the error message and the actual input to the computing device.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the error message to the computing device;

receive, in response to transmitting the error message, an override input from the computing device; and

release the override input to the application being executed on the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the expected input comprises a key press.

21. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion configured to receive, from a computing device, an expected input associated with an application being executed on a handheld electronic device;

a second executable portion configured to receive an actual input initiated by a user of the handheld electronic device, wherein the actual input is associated with the application being executed on the handheld electronic device;

a third executable portion configured to determine if the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same; and

a fourth executable portion configured to release the actual input to the application being executed on the handheld electronic device in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the expected input is received from a computing device, the computer program product further comprising:

a fifth executable portion configured to generate an error message in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are not substantially the same.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising:

a sixth executable portion configured to transmit the error message to the computing device.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 further comprising:

a sixth executable portion configured to transmit the error message and the actual input to the computing device.

25. The computer program product of claim 24 further comprising:

a sixth executable portion configured to transmit the error message to the computing device;

a seventh executable portion configured to receive, in response to transmitting the error message, an override input from the computing device; and

an eighth executable portion configured to release the override input to the application being executed on the handheld electronic device.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the expected input comprises a key press.

27. A computer-implemented method for training a user to operate a package delivery application executing on a handheld delivery information acquisition device comprising:

establishing a connection between a handheld delivery information acquisition device and a computing device;

receiving an expected input at the handheld delivery information acquisition device from the computing device, wherein the expected input is associated with a package delivery application being executed on the handheld delivery information acquisition device;

receiving an actual input initiated by a user of the handheld delivery information acquisition device, wherein the actual input is associated with the package delivery application being executed on the handheld delivery information acquisition device;

determining if the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same; and

releasing the actual input to the package delivery application being executed on the handheld delivery information acquisition device in response to a determination that the expected input and the actual input are substantially the same.