Method and apparatus for tracking program usage in a computer system

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the client computer includes a local data store, said step of tracking information comprising recording information in the local data store.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein the client computer is coupled to a server computer including a remote data store, said method further comprising the step of transmitting a portion of the information recorded in the local data store to the server computer to update the remote data store.

Claim 5

An instruction set residing on a storage medium for tracking program usage on a client computer, the client computer enabling a user to launch one or more application programs and including an operating system executing the launched application programs, each application program causing the operating system to execute a task and zero or more subtasks, wherein the operating system views each of said task and subtasks as a distinct executable program, said instruction set comprising instructions for: identifying a launched application program; detecting a task initiated by the launched application program; detecting any subtasks initiated directly or indirectly by the task; compiling information in the client computer relating to the task and subtasks in a manner that does not interfere with their execution; and associating with the launched application program compiled information relating to execution of the task initiated by the launched application program and compiled information relating to all subtasks initiated directly or indirectly by the task.

Claim 6

An instruction set residing on a storage medium for tracking program usage on a client computer, the client computer enabling a user to launch one or more application programs and including an operating system executing the launched application programs, each application program causing the operating system to execute a task and zero or more subtasks, wherein the operating system views each of said task and subtasks as a distinct executable program, said instruction set comprising instructions for: identifying a launched application program; detecting a task initiated by the launched application program; detecting any subtasks initiated directly or indirectly by the task; compiling information in the client computer relating to the task and subtasks in a manner that does not interfere with their execution; and associating with the launched application program compiled information relating to execution of the task initiated by the launched application program and compiled information relating to all subtasks initiated directly or indirectly by the task.

Claim 7

The instruction set of claim 4, wherein the client computer is coupled to a server computer, said instruction set further comprising instructions for transmitting a portion of the compiled information to the server computer with a unique identifier for the client computer.

Claim 8

The instruction set of claim 4, wherein the client computer includes a local data store, said instruction set further comprising instructions for storing a record containing the compiled information in the local data store, said instructions for detecting a task initiated by the launched application program including instructions for: identifying a task being executed by the operating system; and designating the identified task as a newly-initiated task when the local data store does not contain a record associated with the identified task.

Claim 9

The instruction set of claim 6, further comprising instructions for designating the identified task as a task being terminated when the local data store contains a record associated with the identified task.

Claim 10

The instruction set of claim 4, wherein the operating system maintains a system task list identifying active tasks and substasks, said detecting steps comprising interrogating the system task list and extracting an identifier for an active task or subtask.

Claim 11

The instruction set of claim 4, wherein the operating system generates a callback message when a task or a subtask is initiated, said detecting steps comprising receiving the callback message and extracting an identifier for an initiated task or subtask.

Claim 12

The instruction set of claim 4, wherein the storage medium comprises a portable magnetic storage device.

Claim 13

The instruction set of claim 4, wherein the storage medium comprises a downloadable data set residing on a remotely-accessible central computer.

Claim 14

The instruction set of claim 4, wherein the storage medium comprises a hard-disk of the client computer.

Claim 15

A program monitor for monitoring program usage in a client computer including an operating system configured to manage execution of an application program initiating a task capable of spawning one or more subtasks, wherein the operating system views each of said task and subtasks as a distinct executable program, said program monitor being resident in the client computer and comprising: means for recognizing an action by the operating system on a task or subtask; means for identifying an application program associated with the task or subtask acted upon by the operating system; and means for tracking information relating to execution of the task or subtask acted upon by the operating system and combining said information with information relating to execution of all other tasks or subtasks associated with the application program.

Claim 16

A program monitor for monitoring program usage in a client computer including an operating system configured to manage execution of an application program initiating a task capable of spawning one or more subtasks, wherein the operating system views each of said task and subtasks as a distinct executable program, said program monitor being resident in the client computer and comprising: means for recognizing an action by the operating system on a task or subtask; means for identifying an application program associated with the task or subtask acted upon by the operating system; and means for tracking information relating to execution of the task or subtask acted upon by the operating system and combining said information with information relating to execution of all other tasks or subtasks associated with the application program.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a data store for maintaining the information relating to execution of tasks, said data store being configured to distinctly maintain information relating to execution of tasks by a plurality of application programs.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the operating system maintains a system task list including a unique task identifier for each currently-active task, said task detection means comprising instructions for reading a unique task identifier for a currently-active task from the system task list and identifying an application program which spawned the currently-active task.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the operating system is configured to generate a callback message containing a task identifier when the operating system starts or ends execution of a task, said task detection means comprising instructions for searching said local data store for a corresponding entry including the task identifier, said task detection means determining that the task is being started when no corresponding entry is found in said local data store.

Claim 20

A client computer configured to track information relating to usage of application programs and report said information to a server computer, said client computer comprising: an operating system configured to manage execution of an application program initiating a task capable of spawning one or more subtasks, wherein the operating system views each of said task and subtasks as a distinct executable program; and a program monitor coupled to said operating system, said program monitor comprising a software routine configured to monitor execution of tasks and subtasks by said operating system, identify an application program associated with said monitored tasks and subtasks, compile information relating to execution of all tasks and subtasks associated with the identified application program, and transmit said compiled information to the server computer.

Claim 21

A client computer configured to track information relating to usage of application programs and report said information to a server computer, said client computer comprising: an operating system configured to manage execution of an application program initiating a task capable of spawning one or more subtasks, wherein the operating system views each of said task and subtasks as a distinct executable program; and a program monitor coupled to said operating system, said program monitor comprising a software routine configured to monitor execution of tasks and subtasks by said operating system, identify an application program associated with said monitored tasks and subtasks, compile information relating to execution of all tasks and subtasks associated with the identified application program, and transmit said compiled information to the server computer.

Claim 22

The client computer of claim 17, wherein said operating system supports concurrent execution of multiple instances of an application program, said program monitor being further configured to concurrently compile information relating to execution of all of said multiple instances.

Claim 23

A client-server computer system for central tracking of application program usage by remote users, said client-server computer system comprising: a client computer including a graphical user interface enabling a user to initiate execution of an application program, an operating system for managing execution of said application program, and a program monitor for compiling and reporting information relating to execution of said application program, said application program initiating execution of a task and zero or more subtasks, wherein the operating system views each of said task and subtasks as a distinct executable program, said program monitor being capable of associating said task and said subtasks with said application program, and said information compiled by said program monitor reflecting execution of each task and subtask associated with the application program; and a server computer coupled to said client computer, said server computer including a database for distinctly maintaining information relating to application program usage reported by a plurality of client computers.

Claim 24

A client-server computer system for central tracking of application program usage by remote users, said client-server computer system comprising: a client computer including a graphical user interface enabling a user to initiate execution of an application program, an operating system for managing execution of said application program, and a program monitor for compiling and reporting information relating to execution of said application program, said application program initiating execution of a task and zero or more subtasks, wherein the operating system views each of said task and subtasks as a distinct executable program, said program monitor being capable of associating said task and said subtasks with said application program, and said information compiled by said program monitor reflecting execution of each task and subtask associated with the application program; and a server computer coupled to said client computer, said server computer including a database for distinctly maintaining information relating to application program usage reported by a plurality of client computers.

Claim 25

The client-server computer system of claim 19, wherein said client computer communicates with said server computer over a hybrid fiber coax network.

Claim 26

The client-server computer system of claim 20, wherein said graphical user interface enables a user of said client computer to initiate execution of an application program providing access to an on-line service.