Apparatus and method for context-sensitive error event notification

• US 20050188273A1
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Angelo, Dario D', Smith, Alan Ray, Stewart, Kevin Richard, Sullivan, Thomas Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,290,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0715 in a system implementing multitasking multitasking per se G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0775 Content or structure details of the error report, e.g. specific table structure, specific error fields

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for context-sensitive error event notification. The apparatus and method include a monitor to detect an error event within a computer application, an analysis module to determine characteristics of the error event, an assembler to compose a context-sensitive message comprising a context-sensitive resource relating to the event characteristics, and a transmission module to transmit the message to a set of addressees. The context-sensitive message may include error characteristics, error-specific information from reference materials, error-specific links to related information repositories, and an error-associated search. The context-sensitive message is automatically transmitted to a set of addressees that are associated with the error event. The invention provides for faster error recovery and more effective problem resolution by automatically transmitting an error notification message that is timely, informative, and includes resources associated with the error event such that people can solve the problem.

Claims

1. An apparatus for context-sensitive error event notification, the apparatus comprising:

a monitor configured to detect an error event within a computer application;

an analysis module configured to determine characteristics for the error event;

an assembler configured to compose a context-sensitive message comprising at least one context-sensitive resource relating to the determined error event characteristics; and

a transmission module configured to transmit the message to a set of addressees.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the error event comprises an abnormal condition for the computer application.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the context-sensitive message is generated from a user configurable template.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of addressees comprises a configurable addressee repository that associates characteristics of the error event with one or more addressees.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of addressees is selected from the group consisting of system administrators, system programmers, application programmers, users, and Information Technology (IT) support personnel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource comprises an excerpt from a reference repository associated with the error event, the reference repository selected from the group consisting of computer system documentation, exception codes, previously reported problems, solutions to previously identified problems, and frequently asked questions.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource comprises a pointer to a reference repository associated with the error event, the reference repository selected from the group consisting of computer system documentation, exception codes, previously reported problems, solutions to previously identified problems, and frequently asked questions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the pointer is configurable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource is configured to automatically conduct a search based at least in part on at least one characteristic of the error event.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the context-sensitive message is transmitted using a communication method selected from the group consisting of e-mail, instant messaging, voice-over-IP, paging, audio messaging, and short message service (SMS).

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the context-sensitive message is generated from a user configurable template.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource is configured to automatically conduct a search based at least in part on at least one characteristic of the error event.

11. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable code configured to carry out a method for context sensitive error event notification, the method comprising:

detecting an error event within a computer system;

determining characteristics for the event;

composing a context-sensitive message comprising at least one context-sensitive resource relating to the determined error event characteristics; and

transmitting the message to a context-sensitive list of addressees.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the error event comprises an abnormal condition for the computer application.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the context-sensitive set of addressees comprises a configurable addressee repository that associates the error event with one or more addressees.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the context-sensitive sensitive set of addressees is selected from the group consisting of system administrators, system programmers, application programmers, users, software support personnel, and Information Technology (IT) support personnel.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource comprises an excerpt from a reference repository associated with the error event, the reference repository selected from the group consisting of user documentation, solutions to previously identified problems, previously reported problems, and frequently asked questions.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource comprises a pointer to a reference repository associated with the error event, the reference repository selected from the group consisting of user documentation, solutions to previously identified problems, previously reported problems, and frequently asked questions.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the pointer is configurable.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the context-sensitive message is transmitted using a communication method selected from the group consisting of e-mail, instant messaging, voice-over-IP, paging, and short message service (SMS).

21. A method for context sensitive error event notification, the method comprising:

detecting an error event within a computer application;

determining characteristics of the error event;

composing a context-sensitive message comprising at least one context-sensitive resource relating to the determined error event characteristics; and

transmitting the message to a set of addressees.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the error event comprises an abnormal condition for the computer application.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the context-sensitive message is generated from a user configurable template.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of addressees comprises a configurable addressee repository that associates characteristics of the error event with one or more addressees.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of addressees is selected from the group consisting of system administrators, system programmers, application programmers, users, software support personnel, and Information Technology (IT) support personnel.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource comprises an excerpt from a reference repository associated with the error event, the reference repository selected from the group consisting of computer system documentation, solutions to previously identified problems, previously reported problems, and frequently asked questions.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource comprises a pointer to a reference repository associated with the error event, the reference repository selected from the group consisting of computer system documentation, solutions to previously identified problems, previously reported problems, and frequently asked questions.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the pointer is configurable.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one context-sensitive resource is configured to-automatically conduct a search based at least in part on at least one characteristic of the error event.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the context-sensitive message is transmitted using a communication method selected from the group consisting of e-mail, instant messaging, voice-over-IP, paging, audio messaging, and short message service (SMS).