Patent · US Expired

Uniquely identifying a crashed application and its environment

US7421490B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
7References
43Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 6, 2002
Grant dateSep 2, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 3, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/1004
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for collecting information to uniquely identify an application on a client computer upon the occurrence of a reporting event, such as a crash. The method is implemented by providing a client computer having access to a network. In order to uniquely identify the application, the method generates an inventory of selected files stored in at least one directory, normally including the directory containing the application executable file. The method further generates an inventory of system properties for the client computer. The inventories are transmitted via the network to a server computer. Upon receipt by the server computer, the inventory information is compared with corresponding information in a database to determine whether the application can be uniquely identified. If the application can be identified, the user can be notified of a solution or other information in response to the reporting event. If no appropriate response can be found, the inventory data can be retained in the database for future reference.

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