Extensible and dynamically-configurable problem-reporting client
First Claim
1. A system for reporting information regarding use of one or more software products, comprising:
- a report user interface;
one or more sets of report user interface definition files, wherein a set of report user interface definition files customizes the report user interface for reporting information regarding a particular software product; and
a report client for presenting the report user interface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed for facilitating the reporting of information regarding a computer software product by way of a dynamically-configurable general report client. The general report client is used along with a set of report user interface definition files that is specific to each software product for which a report can be prepared. A set of report user interface definition files customizes the report user interface for reporting information relating to the software product with which it is associated. The invention provides for dynamic configurability in that, by entering certain values by way of the report user interface, the user may cause the client to load additional report user interface definition files and present additional user interface child screens accordingly. The invention provides methods by which software developers, software providers and others obtain user feedback for such purposes as beta-testing and debugging.
268 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A system for reporting information regarding use of one or more software products, comprising:
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a report user interface;
one or more sets of report user interface definition files, wherein a set of report user interface definition files customizes the report user interface for reporting information regarding a particular software product; and
a report client for presenting the report user interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for obtaining information regarding use of a software product, the method comprising:
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obtaining information reported by a user of the software product by way of a general report client and one or more report user interface definition files, wherein the report user interface definition files specify a user interface presented by the general report client and customized with respect to the software product; and
modifying the one or more report user interface definition files based on the information reported by the user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for debugging a computer program, the method comprising:
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obtaining bug information reported by a user of the computer program by way of a general report client and one or more report user interface definition files, wherein the one or more report user interface definition files specify a user interface that is presented by the general report client and customized for reporting on the computer program; and
modifying source code for the computer program based on the bug information. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for reporting, by a user, information regarding use of a software product, the method comprising:
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running a report client;
causing the client to load one or more report user interface definition files customized with respect to the software product;
entering information in a report user interface displayed by the client; and
uploading a completed report to a server. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for authenticating a user submitting a report on a software product, the method comprising:
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generating a report user identification for the user; and
generating an expiration date for the user. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for obtaining information regarding use of a software product, the method comprising:
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obtaining information reported by a user of the software product by way of a general report client and one or more report user interface definition files, wherein the report user interface definition files specify a user interface presented by the general report client and customized with respect to the software product; and
modifying the one or more report user interface definition files based on the information reported by the user.
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37. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for debugging a computer program, the method comprising:
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obtaining bug information reported by a user of the computer program by way of a general report client and one or more report user interface definition files, wherein the one or more report user interface definition files specify a user interface that is presented by the general report client and customized for reporting on the computer program; and
modifying source code for the computer program based on the bug information.
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38. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions and computer-readable data comprising an executable client for facilitating preparation of a report by a user on a software product, wherein the executable client implements a method comprising:
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loading and parsing one or more report user interface definition files associated with the software product; and
causing a display of a report user interface customized for reporting information regarding the software product. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A computer-readable medium storing computer-readable data comprising:
one or more report user interface definition files, wherein the one or more report user interface definition files specify a report user interface customized for reporting information regarding use of a particular software product, and wherein the one or more report user interface definition files are capable of being read by a general report client.
Specification