Detecting browser failure

US8356211B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Joseph Eytan Benedek · Thornhill, CA
• Roberto A. Franco · Seattle, US
• Quji Guo · Kirkland, US
• J. Craig Hally · Sammamish, US
• Reid T. Holmes · Aliso Viejo, US
• Roman Pamucci · Bellevue, US
• Edward J. Praitis · Woodinville, US
• Christopher T. Sager · Stanwood, US
• Brian D. Wentz · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 3, 2012
• Grant date: Jan 15, 2013
• Expiry date: Feb 3, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F11/0709
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments are configured to improve the stability of a Web browser by identifying plug-in modules that cause failures. Data in memory at the time of a failure is analyzed, and a failure signature is generated. The failure signature is compared to a database of known failure signatures so that the source of the failure may be identified. If a plug-in module to a Web browser is identified as the source of a failure, options are presented to the user who may update the plug-in module with code that does not produce a failure or disable the plug-in module altogether.