Method And System For Suggesting An Edition Of Product Software


Updated about 2 years ago

Abstract

In general, the invention relates to a method for facilitating usage of a product.The method includes obtaining a usage level of a first edition of the product by the user,determining an inactivity level of the user based on the usage level, suggesting a secondedition of the product to the user based on the inactivity level and facilitating use of thesecond edition of the product by the user, where the first edition of the product includesat least one additional feature as compared to the second edition of the product.

Information

Application ID 1134/KOL/2008
Invention Field ELECTRONICS
Date of Application 2008-06-30
Publication Number 17/2009

Applicants

Name Address Country Nationality
INTUIT INC. 2700 COAST AVENUE, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA U.S.A. U.S.A.

Inventors

Name Address Country Nationality
WEISS BENJAMIN R. 211 DEDALERA DRIVE, PORTOLA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 94028 U.S.A. U.S.A.
DEL FAVERO JAMES R. C/O INTUIT INC. P. O. BOX 7850, MTV-08-2, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA 94039-7850 U.S.A. U.S.A.

Specification

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUGGESTING AN EDITION OF
PRODUCT SOFTWARE
BACKGROUND
[0001] In a general sense, product software may be used to perform a set of tasks
desired by a user. Examples of product software include word processors,
spreadsheets, databases, media players, business applications, and medical
applications. Product software may be bundled with the operating system installed
on a computer, installed separately, and/or accessed remotely (e.g., over a network
connection).
[0002] Product software may also be associated with various features for
performing the user's tasks. For example, media players may include features for
visualization of music and creation of compact discs (CDs) and/or digital video
discs (DVDs) from media files. In addition, the features may be tailored to the
user's needs and/or capabilities. A more advanced user of the product software
may require more advanced and/or complicated features than a basic user. As a
result, product software may be released in various editions (or versions) to
accommodate the needs of different types of users.
[0003] Users may have difficulty selecting a suitable edition of product software to
purchase, which may result in the purchase of an edition that is not suited to the
users' needs and/or capabilities. The ineffective selection of product software may
also result in non-usage of one or more features of the software, or even a non-
usage of the product software as a whole. Thus, users, manufacturers, and vendors
of product software may benefit from mechanisms for recommending appropriate
product software editions to users.

SUMMARY
[0004] In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for facilitating
usage of a product. The method includes obtaining a usage level of a first edition
of the product by the user, determining an inactivity level of the user based on the
usage level, suggesting a second edition of the product to the user based on the
inactivity level, and facilitating use of the second edition of the product by the
user, where the first edition of the product comprises at least one additional feature
as compared to the second edition of the product.
[0005] In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a system for facilitating
usage of a product. The system includes a usage module configured to obtain a
usage level of a user of a first edition of a product, and determine an inactivity
level of the first edition of the product by the user based on the usage level. The
system further includes a recommendation engine configured to suggest a second
edition of the product to the user based on the inactivity level, and facilitate use of
the second edition of the product by the user, where the first edition of the product
comprises at least one additional feature as compared to the second edition of the
product.
[0006] hi general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a computer readable
medium comprising software instructions embodied therein for causing a
computer system to; obtain a usage level of a first edition of the product by the
user, determine an inactivity level of the user based on the usage level, suggest a
second edition of the product to the user based on the inactivity level, and
facilitate use of the second edition of the product by the user, where the first
edition of the product comprises at least one additional feature as compared to the
second edition of the product.
[0007] Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following
description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] Figure 1 shows a system in accordance with one or more embodiments of
the invention.
[0009] Figure 2 shows a flow diagram in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the invention.
[0010] Figure 3 shows a computer system in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are
denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.
[0012] In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention,
numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough
understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary
skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details.
In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid
unnecessarily complicating the description.
[0013] In general, embodiments of the invention provide a method and system to
suggest a product edition based on the use of the product by a user. Specifically,
embodiments of the invention provide a method and system to suggest a lower
product edition (e.g.. an edition with fewer features, an edition designed for a
novice user, an edition with a more graphical (or textual) interface, etc.) based on
a user's non-usage of (i.e., inactivity level associated with)the product. The non-
usage of the product may include non-usage of (or an inactivity level associated
with) the entire product or of one or more features of the product.

[0014] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system in accordance with one or
more embodiments of the invention. As shown in Figure 1, the system includes a
product (100) and a user interface (125). The product (100) additionally includes
multiple features (e.g., feature 1 (105), feature n (110)), a usage module (115), and
a recommendation engine (120). The product may be accessed and/or used by one
or more users through the user interface (125).
[0015] In one or more embodiments of the invention, the product (100) is a
software product, a service plan, or other product with the ability to track usage.
Examples of the product (100) include: operating systems, integrated development
environments (BDEs), industrial automation software, word processing software,
accounting software, business software, medical software, computer games,
cellular service plans, databases, and/or any other type of software-related product.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, the product (100) may be used by
the user to perform a set of tasks. For example, the user may use accounting
software to create a budget, balance his/her checkbook, track his/her spending and
investments, track phone usage, and perform other accounting-related functions..
In addition, the product (100) may include multiple features (e.g., feature 1 (105),
feature n (110)) to help the user perform the tasks. For example, accounting
software may include a feature for generating charts and graphs of the user's
finances, as well as another feature for downloading banking, credit card, and
investment information into the product (100).
[0016] The product (100) may also be associated with one or more editions. Each
edition of the product (100) includes one or more features (e.g., feature 1 (105)5
feature n (110)). The specific features (e.g., feature 1 (105), feature n (110))
included in a particular edition of the product (100) depend on the particular
edition. In one embodiment of the invention, the higher edition of the product
(100) may include more features (e.g., feature 1 (105), feature n (110)) and/or
more advanced features, whereas a lower edition of the product (100) may have

fewer and/or more basic features. For example, an accounting software product
may include a basic edition and a deluxe edition. The basic edition may include
functionality to track bank accounts, schedule payment reminders, and create a
budget. The deluxe edition may include all the features of the basic edition, as
well as features for finding tax deductions, planning for retirement, and tracking
investment accounts.
[0017] Additionally, different editions of the product (100) may be implemented
using different architectures. A web edition of the product (100) may run on one
or more servers and be accessed using a web browser and/or a network
connection. On the other hand, a client edition of the product may be installed
locally on a computing system, which may include personal computers (PCs),
mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other digital computing
devices. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different editions of the
product (100) may include a different combination of features and/or architectures.
For example, a higher edition of the product (100) may be released as both a client
edition and a web edition, whereas a. base edition of the product (100) may be
released only as a web edition.
[0018] As mentioned above, the product (100) may be accessed and/or used by one
or more users through a user interface (125). The user interface (125) may be a
part of the product (100) or the user interface (125) may be a separate component.
For example, a client edition of the product (100) may include a graphical user
interface that may be accessed when the product (100) is installed and run on the
user's computing system. However, a web edition of the product (100) may not be
installed on the user's computing system. Instead, the product (100) may be
executing on a server and the user may access the product (100) by using a web
browser, which serves as a user interface (125) for the product (100).

[0019] In one or more embodiments of the invention, the usage module (115)
determines a usage level and/or usage statistics of one or more users of the product
(100). The usage module (115) may keep a record of the frequency and length of
use of the product (100) by a particular user. The usage module (115) may
additionally track the user's usage of different features (e.g., feature 1 (105),
feature n (110)) of the product. For example, the usage module (115) may begin
tracking usage of the product (100) upon installation of a client edition of the
product (100) and/or subscription to a web edition of the product by the user. The
usage module (115) may record each instance of use, the length of each use,
and/or features used by the user. The usage module (115) may also apply
statistical methods to determine patterns and trends in the user's usage of the
product (100), as well as compare the patterns and trends with those of other users
of the product (100).
[0020] In one or more embodiments of the invention, usage statistics obtained by
the usage module (115) may be used by the recommendation engine (120) to
suggest a different edition'of the product (100) to the user. Specifically, the
recommendation module (120) may suggest a lower edition of the product (100) to
the user after a period of inactivity (e.g., a week, a month, three months, a year, or
some other period of time) is detected by the usage module (115). The period of
inactivity may correspond to a non-usage of the product (100) by the user. For
example, the user may install accounting software on his system and access the
accounting software a number of times after installation before discontinuing use
of the accounting software for three months. On the other hand, the period of
inactivity may be associated with the user's usage of a particular feature (e.g.,
feature 1 (105), feature n (110)) of the product (100). For example, a user of
accounting software may use the budget managing feature frequently, but the user
may never use the investment management feature because the user does not have

any investment accounts and/or the investment management feature is too
advanced or difficult for the user to use.
[0021] In one or more embodiments of the invention, the recommendation module
(130) is included as part of the user interface (125). Once a period of inactivity is
established by the usage module (115), the recommendation module (130) may
suggest a lower edition of the product (100) to the user upon the user's next access
to the product (100). The suggestion may then be presented in the form of an
internal message or pop-up to the user upon logging into the product (100) if the
product (100) is a web edition and/or starting an instance of the product (100) if
the product (100) is a client edition. The recommendation module (130) may also
communicate with the user through a variety of other external means. For
example, the usage module (115) may track the user's usage and send the usage
statistics to an external server (not shown). The usage module (115) may even
exist on the external server and receive logs of the user's activity from the product
(100). The recommendation engine (120) and recommendation module (130) may
also run separately or together on one or more external server(s) and send
suggestions to the user from the external server(s). For example, the
recommendation module (130) may send the suggestion to the user through an
email, text message, voicemail, instant message, and/or other communications
medium.
[0022] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that an inactivity level of the user
with respect to the product (100) may be established in various configurable
manners. The inactivity level may correspond to non-usage or limited usage of
one or more features of the product (100), or of the entire product (100), over a
period of time. The period of time may also vary based on the nature of the
product (100) and/or usage statistics by other users of the product (100). For
example, if a majority of users tend to use a certain feature of the product (100)
daily, the inactivity level for a particular user may be established within a week or

two of observing the user's usage of that feature. However, if common usage of a
feature of the product (100) is observed to be weekly or monthly, a period of non-
usage or limited usage of the feature may take longer to establish for a particular
user.
[0023] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the recommendation engine
(120) may use various methods to suggest a lower edition of the product (100) to
the user. For example, the recommendation engine (120) may suggest a base
edition of the product (100) and/or web edition of the product (100) whenever any
sort of inactivity is detected.
[0024] The base edition of the product (100) may include a basic set of features
(e.g., feature 1 (105), feature n (110)) that are easier to use and grasp than the
edition currently used by the user. On the other hand, the recommendation engine
(120) may suggest the edition of the product (100) that is just below the user's
current edition. For example, if four editions of the product (100) exist and the
user currently has the third edition installed, the recommendation engine (120)
may suggest the second edition of the product to the user if inactivity is detected
by the usage module (115). As another option, the recommendation engine (120)
may suggest an edition of the product (100) based on the user's usage of the
features (e.g., feature 1 (105), feature n (110)) of the product (100). For example,
if the user uses some, but not all, advanced features of the deluxe edition of the
product (100), the recommendation engine (120) may suggest a lower edition of
the product that includes most or all of the advanced features used by the user, but
few or none of the advanced features that are unused.
[0025] Figure 2 shows a flow diagram of product edition recommendation in
accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. In one or more
embodiments of the invention, one or more of the steps described below may be
omitted, repeated, and/or performed in a different order. Accordingly, the specific

arrangement of steps shown in Figure 2 should not be construed as limiting the
scope of the invention.
[0026] In Step 201, the product is installed, if the product is a client edition.
Alternatively, if the product is a web edition, the user may simply subscribe to
access the product, thereby enabling access to the product's features by the user
through a web browser and network connection. Once the product is installed
and/or the user's subscription to the product is activated, the user's usage level of
the product is obtained (Step 203). As mentioned above, the usage level may
include usage statistics such as frequency of use, length of use, and/or features
used by the user.
[0027] The usage level may be analyzed to detect inactivity in the usage of the
product by the user (Step 205). As mentioned above, the inactivity level may
correspond to a non-usage of the entire product, a non-usage of one or more
features of the product, or a combination thereof. The inactivity level may also
correspond to limited usage of the entire product or one or more features of the
product. The inactivity level may also be established over different lengths of
time. For example, the user's inactivity may be determined after the user has not
used one or more features of the product for a month. Alternatively, the inactivity
level may be defined as non-usage of the entire product for three months. If
inactivity is detected, a lower edition of the product is determined for the user
based on the inactibity level (Step 207). For example, the lower edition may be
based on a default suggestion, such as a base edition or the next lower edition of
the product. On the other hand, the suggestion of the lower edition may be
tailored to the user's usage of various features of the product. For example, the
suggested lower edition may provide most or all of the features currently used by
the user and/or few or none of the features not used by the user.

[0028] The lower edition of the product is then suggested to the user (Step 209)
and use of the lower edition of the product is facilitated (Step 211). For example,
the suggestion may include a link to allow the user to access, install, and/or
purchase the lower edition. As mentioned above, the suggestion may be made by
generating a pop-up in the user interface of the product, or by sending an internal
message through the user interface or an external message using email, postal
mail, text messaging, instant messaging, voicemail, and/or any other type of
communications medium. In addition, the use of the lower edition may be
associated with a variety of charges and/or credits. For example, the user's
subscription fee to the product may be changed from a monthly fee corresponding
to the higher edition of the product to a fee corresponding to the lower edition of
the product once the user accepts the suggestion and begins using the lower
edition. On the other hand, the user may be offered a refund of the higher
edition's purchase price upon purchasing and/or installing the lower edition. The
user may also be charged a suggestion fee that may be deducted by subtracting
from any refunds and/or added to any fees the user may receive.
[0029] The functionality of the invention may be highlighted in various examples.
However, the following examples are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention. As a first example, a first user and a second user may purchase a third
edition and a second edition of the product, respectively. The third edition may
include a set of premium and/or advanced features of the product, and the second
edition may include a set of deluxe and/or less advanced features of the product.
Further, the inactivity level of the first user may be based on a non-usage of the
entire third edition for two months, whereas the inactivity level of the second user
may be based on a non-usage of the entire second edition for four months. As a
result, the first user may be suggested to use a base edition of the product after not
using the third edition for two months, while the second user may be suggested to
use the base edition after not using the second edition for four months.

[0030] As a second example, a user may purchase" a third edition of the product
with features A, B, C, and I). Inactivity of the user may be defined as non-usage
of one or more features of the third edition for two weeks. The product may also
include a second edition with features A, B, and C, and a base edition with only
feature A. Thus, if the user does not use features C and D for two weeks, the user
may be suggested to use the second edition instead of the first edition because the
second edition includes features A and B, which the user does use, whereas the
first edition does not include feature B. Alternatively, the user may be given a
listing of features to select from and be charged on a per-feature basis. Using the
listing of features, the user may select features A and B and pay for each feature
individually on top of a base price (e.g., the price of the base edition).
[0031] As a third example, a user may subscribe to a service plan with rate plans A
and B. Rate plan A costs $200 for 200 hours/month of premium service during
prime hours. Rate plan B costs $100 for 50 hours/month of standard service during
prime hours. Inactivity of the user may be defined as less than 25 hours/month of
usage during prime hours. If the user is paying for rate plan A and using the
service less than 25 hours/month, then a suggestion is presented to the user to
change to the less costly rate plan B.
[0032] The invention may be implemented on virtually any type of computer
regardless of the platform being used. For example, as shown in Figure 3, a
computer system (300) includes a processor (302), associated memory (304), a
storage device (306), and numerous other elements and functionalities typical of
today's computers (not shown). The computer (300) may also include input
means, such as a keyboard (308) and a mouse (310), and output means, such as a
monitor (312). The computer system (300) is connected to a local area network
(LAN) or a wide area network (e.g., the Internet) (not shown) via a network
interface connection (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
these input and output means may take other forms.

[0033] Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more elements of
the aforementioned computer system (300) may be located at a remote location
and connected to the other elements over a network. Further, the invention may be
implemented on a distributed system having a plurality of nodes, where each
portion of the invention (e.g., product, user interface, etc.) may be located on a
different node within the distributed system. In one embodiment of the invention,
the node corresponds to a computer system. Alternatively, the node may
correspond to a processor with associated physical memory. The node may
alternatively correspond to a processor with shared memory and/or resources.
Further, software instructions to perform embodiments of the invention may be
stored on a computer readable medium such as a compact disc (CD), a diskette, a
tape, a file, or any other computer readable storage device.
[0034] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of
embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will
appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the
scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention should be limited only by the attached claims.

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A method for facilitating usage of a product, comprising:
obtaining a usage level of a first edition of the product by the user;
determining an inactivity level of the user based on the usage level;
suggesting a second edition of the product to the user based on the inactivity level;
and
facilitating use of the second edition of the product by the user,
wherein the first edition of the product comprises at least one additional feature as
compared to the second edition of the product.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inactivity level corresponds to non-usage of a
feature of the first edition of the product.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second edition of the product fails to include
the feature of the first edition.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inactivity level corresponds to a non-usage of
the first edition of the product.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second edition of the product corresponds to
a lower edition of the product.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first edition of the product is at least one
selected from a group consisting of a client edition of the product and a web
edition of the product, and wherein the second edition of the product is at least
one selected from a group consisting of the client edition and the web edition of
the product.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second edition of the product is suggested
using at least one selected from a group consisting of a pop-up, an internal
message, email, a text message, an instant message, voicemail, and postal mail.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the inactivity level is determined over a period of
time.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage level comprises a usage level for each
of a plurality of features in the first edition of the product.
10. A system for facilitating usage of a product, comprising:
a usage module configured to:
obtain a usage level of a user of a first edition of a product, and
determine an inactivity level of the first edition of the product by the user
based on the usage level; and
a recommendation engine configured to:
suggest a second edition of the product to the user based on the inactivity
level, and
facilitate use of the second edition of the product by the user,
wherein the first edition of the product comprises at least one additional feature as
compared to the second edition of the product.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the inactivity level corresponds to a non-usage
of a feature.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second edition of the product fails to include
the feature of the first edition.
13. The system of claim 10, wherein the inactivity level corresponds to a non-usage
of the first edition.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the second edition of the product corresponds to
a base edition of the product.
15. The system of claim 10, wherein the first edition of the product is at least one
selected from a group consisting of a client edition and a web edition, and
wherein the second edition of the product is at least one selected from a group
consisting of the client edition and the web edition.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the second edition of the product is suggested
using at least one selected from a group consisting of a pop-up, an internal
message, email, a text message, an instant message, voicemail, and postal mail.
17. The system of claim 10, wherein the inactivity level is determined over a period
of time.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the usage level comprises a usage level for each
of a plurality of features in the first edition of the product.

In general, the invention relates to a method for facilitating usage of a product.
The method includes obtaining a usage level of a first edition of the product by the user,
determining an inactivity level of the user based on the usage level, suggesting a second
edition of the product to the user based on the inactivity level and facilitating use of the
second edition of the product by the user, where the first edition of the product includes
at least one additional feature as compared to the second edition of the product.

Documents

Name Date
1134-KOL-2008-TRANSLATED COPY OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf 2011-10-07
1134-KOL-2008-GPA.pdf 2011-10-07
1134-KOL-2008-FORM 3-1.1.pdf 2011-10-07
1134-KOL-2008-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf 2011-10-07
1134-KOL-2008-CORRESPONDENCE-1.2.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-gpa.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-form 5.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-form 3.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-form 2.pdf 2011-10-07
1134-KOL-2008-ASSIGNMENT.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-form 1.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-drawings.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-correspondence others.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-abstract.pdf 2011-10-07
01134-kol-2008-claims.pdf 2011-10-07
1134-KOL-2008-(05-08-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf 2013-08-05
01134-kol-2008-description complete.pdf 2011-10-07
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-OTHERS.pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-PA.pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-DRAWINGS.pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008-(05-08-2013)-OTHERS.pdf 2013-08-05
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-ANNEXURE TO FORM 3.pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-ABSTRACT.pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008-(25-03-2014)-CLAIMS.pdf 2014-03-25
1134-KOL-2008_EXAMREPORT.pdf 2016-06-30
1134-KOL-2008-CORRESPONDENCE-170316.pdf 2016-06-20

Orders

Applicant Section Controller Decision Date URL