Patent · US Active

Automatic tracking of usage of a software application having different versions

US7698419B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
29References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 18, 2006
Grant dateApr 13, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 21, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2201/88
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.