Command Usage Mapping for Software Proficiency Evaluation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing software applications lack effective techniques for users to evaluate their command usage patterns, identify recommended certifications, and discover underutilized commands to enhance proficiency, with no existing solutions for automated data collection and presentation of such information.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that generates a command map GUI to visually display command usage patterns, recommend certifications, and suggest underutilized commands based on user and group data, utilizing a server-client architecture or cloud-based service for data collection and visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If command usage data is automatically collected and processed to provide meaningful information about user proficiency, then user evaluation capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser evaluation capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically collects command usage data without requiring user intervention. The proficiency evaluation system self-services by autonomously gathering data, processing it, and generating evaluations, eliminating the need for manual data collection and analysis while providing comprehensive user proficiency assessments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that sits between the software application and the user. This intermediary automatically collects command usage data, processes it through analysis algorithms, and presents simplified proficiency evaluations to users, thereby hiding the underlying system complexity while delivering ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If certification eligibility is automatically determined based on command usage patterns, then user convenience is improved, but data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoiddata processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and analyzing command usage data in the background before users need certification information. This preliminary data processing enables the system to instantly determine certification eligibility when queried, providing user convenience without requiring intensive processing at the moment of user interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where command usage data is continuously collected, processed to identify proficiency patterns, and used to automatically determine certification eligibility. This feedback mechanism transforms raw usage data into actionable certification recommendations, reducing data processing requirements at any single point by distributing the analysis over time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If recommended commands are identified and presented to users, then user proficiency development is improved, but information presentation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser proficiency developmentVSAvoidinformation presentation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by providing personalized command recommendations tailored to each user's specific proficiency gaps and usage patterns. Rather than presenting generic information, the system analyzes individual command usage data and presents targeted recommendations specific to each user's needs, thereby improving proficiency development while managing presentation complexity through personalization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the vast command set into manageable categories and prioritizes recommendations based on user-specific analysis. By dividing command recommendations into segmented, prioritized lists rather than presenting all possible commands simultaneously, the system improves productivity through focused learning while reducing information presentation complexity through structured organization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3871085B1Techniques for analyzing the proficiency of users of software applications
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 AUTODESK INC
  • EP3871085B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3871085B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3871085B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A command map GUI that illustrates command usage patterns of a first entity and/or a comparison between the first entity and a second entity. A server receives and stores command usage data from a plurality of clients, each client executing a software application that enables a set of commands. A client displays the GUI based on command usage data received from the server. The GUI displays a circle chart comprising a plurality of segments representing various command categories, each segment including a wedge that represents the amount of usage of the corresponding command category. The GUI also displays a plurality of data points, each data point representing a command, wherein the distance from the center of the circle chart represents the amount of usage of the corresponding command. The GUI may display a certification and/or an unused command recommended for a user based on command usage patterns of the user.