Consumer network diagnostic agent

• US 20020144187A1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nick, Benjamin E., Lawrence, Sherwood H., Morgan, Dennis A., Gunter, David V.
• Granted Patent: US 6,883,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

A software tool and method are provided which allow an unsophisticated user to easily determine or identify problems in a networked computer system. The software tool comprises a diagnostic component adapted to determine at least one attribute associated with the computer system, and a user interface component adapted to launch the diagnostic component and to render the attribute to a user. The diagnostic component may obtain first information related to a local host computer, and selectively perform one or more tests associated with the local host computer according to the first information. The diagnostic component then determines the attribute according to the first information and/or the test results. A self-healing networked computer system is also disclosed, comprising the diagnostic component and a remedial object adapted to perform one or more remedial actions according to the attribute.

Claims

1. A software tool for diagnosing problems in a networked computer system, comprising:

an interface component adapted to launch the software tool; and

a diagnostic component associated with a local host computer in the networked computer system;

wherein the diagnostic component is adapted to obtain first information related to the local host computer when the software tool is launched, to selectively perform at least one test associated with the local host computer in order to obtain at least one test result according to the first information, and to determine at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system according to at least one of the first information and the at least one test result, and wherein the software tool is adapted to selectively provide the at least one attribute to at least one of a transferable file in the local host computer and the interface component.

2. The software tool of claim 1, wherein the software tool is adapted to selectively provide the at least one attribute to the interface component, and wherein the interface component is adapted to render the at least one attribute to a user.

3. The software tool of claim 1, wherein the at least one attribute comprises at least one of a first data set corresponding to services associated with the local host computer, a second data set corresponding to computer information, and a third data set corresponding to modems and network adapters associated with the local host computer.

4. The software tool of claim 3, wherein the first data set comprises information related to at least one of mail service, news service, Internet service, and loopback.

5. The software tool of claim 3, wherein the second data set comprises information related to an operating system.

6. The software tool of claim 3, wherein the third data set comprises information related to at least one of a modem, a network adapter and an installed client.

7. The software tool of claim 3, wherein the diagnostic component is adapted to perform one of querying a data store and verifying a connection.

8. The software tool of claim 7, wherein the diagnostic component is adapted to query a registry associated with the local host computer.

9. The software tool of claim 7, wherein the diagnostic component comprises a ping utility adapted to test a network by sending out a packet and waiting for a response.

10. The software tool of claim 9, wherein the ping utility is adapted to determine whether a particular IP address is online.

11. The software tool of claim 9, wherein the ping utility is adapted to determine an IP address from the response.

12. The software tool of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic component and the interface component reside on the local host computer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein selectively providing the at least one attribute to at least one of a transferable file associated with the local host computer and the interface component comprises providing the at least one attribute to the interface component, further comprising rendering the at least one attribute to a user using the interface component.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein selectively providing the at least one attribute to at least one of a transferable file associated with the local host computer and the interface component comprises providing the at least one attribute to a transferable file associated with the local host computer, further comprising sending the transferable file to another computer associated with the networked computer system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system comprises obtaining a first data set comprising information related to at least one of mail service, news service, Internet service, and loopback.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system comprises obtaining a second data set comprising information related to an operating system.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system comprises obtaining a third data set comprising information related to at least one of a modem, a network adapter and an installed client.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system comprises one of querying a data store and verifying a connection.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein querying a data store comprises querying a registry associated with the local host computer.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein verifying a connection comprises sending out a packet and waiting for a response.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein verifying a connection comprises determining an IP address from the response.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein verifying a connection comprises determining whether a particular IP address is online.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer-executable instructions for providing the at least one attribute to the interface component comprises computer-executable instructions for rendering the at least one attribute to a user using the interface component.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer-executable instructions for providing the at least one attribute to a transferable file associated with the local host computer comprises comprising computer-executable instructions for sending the transferable file to another computer associated with the networked computer system.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining at least one attribute comprises computer-executable instructions for obtaining a first data set comprising information related to at least one of mail service, news service, Internet service, and loopback.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining at least one attribute comprises computer-executable instructions for obtaining a second data set comprising information related to an operating system.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining at least one attribute comprises computer-executable instructions for obtaining a third data set comprising information related to at least one of a modem, a network adapter and an installed client.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the computer-executable instructions for determining at least one attribute comprises computer-executable instructions for one of querying a data store and verifying a connection.

13. A method of diagnosing problems in a networked computer system, comprising:

launching a diagnostic software tool using an interface component associated with the diagnostic software tool;

obtaining first information related to a local host computer in the networked computer system;

selectively performing at least one test associated with the local host computer according to the first information;

obtaining at least one test result associated with the at least one test;

determining at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system according to at least one of the first information and the at least one test result; and

selectively providing the at least one attribute to at least one of a transferable file associated with the local host computer and the interface component.

24. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for:

launching a diagnostic software tool using an interface component associated with the diagnostic software tool;

obtaining first information related to a local host computer in the networked computer system;

selectively performing at least one test associated with the local host computer according to the first information;

obtaining at least one test result associated with the at least one test;

determining at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system according to at least one of the first information and the at least one test result; and

selectively providing the at least one attribute to at least one of a transferable file associated with the local host computer and the interface component.

31. A software tool for diagnosing problems in a networked computer system, comprising:

means for launching a diagnostic software tool using an interface component associated with the diagnostic software tool;

means for obtaining first information related to a local host computer in the networked computer system;

means for selectively performing at least one test associated with the local host computer according to the first information;

means for obtaining at least one test result associated with the at least one test;

means for determining at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system according to at least one of the first information and the at least one test result; and

means for according to at least one of the first information and the at least one test result.

32. A self-healing networked computer system, comprising:

a diagnostic component adapted to obtain first information related to a local host computer, to selectively perform at least one test associated with the local host computer in order to obtain at least one test result according to the first information, and to determine at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system according to at least one of the first information and the at least one test result; and

a remedial object adapted to perform at least one remedial action according to the at least one attribute.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the diagnostic component is adapted to selectively provide the at least one attribute to at least one of a transferable file in the local host computer and an interface component associated with the local host computer.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one remedial action comprises determining another attribute associated with the networked computer system according to the at least one attribute using the diagnostic component.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the diagnostic component is further adapted to determine another attribute associated with the networked computer system after performance of the at least one remedial action.

36. The system of claim 32, further comprising an interface component adapted to render the at least one attribute to a user.

37. The system of claim 32, further comprising an interface component adapted to launch the diagnostic component.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the interface component is further adapted to render information related to the at least one remedial action to the user.

40. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the second component is graphical.

41. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the second component is adapted to render the attribute information to the user in a hierarchical fashion.

42. The user interface of claim 39, wherein the attribute information comprises at least one of a first data set corresponding to services associated with a local host computer, a second data set corresponding to computer information, and a third data set corresponding to modems and network adapters associated with the local host computer.

43. The user interface of claim 42, wherein the second component is adapted to render the attribute information to the user in a hierarchical fashion.

39. A user interface associated with a networked computer system, comprising:

a first component adapted to launch a diagnostic tool; and

a second component adapted to render attribute information related to an attribute associated with the networked computer system to a user.

44. A software diagnostic tool for diagnosing problems in a networked computer system, comprising:

a diagnostic object adapted to determine an attribute associated with the computer system;

wherein the diagnostic object is adapted to provide the attribute to at least one of a file in the computer system and an interface.

45. A data packet for transmission between at least two processes, comprising:

a diagnostic component adapted to determine at least one attribute associated with a networked computer system; and

an interface component adapted to launch the diagnostic component and to render the at least one attribute to a user.

46. A software tool for diagnosing problems in a networked computer system, comprising:

a diagnostic component adapted to determine at least one attribute associated with the networked computer system; and

a client side computer having an interface component adapted to launch the diagnostic component and to render the at least one attribute to a user.