Computer hardware and software diagnostic and report system

• US 20060224545A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maxsp Corporation
• Inventors: Keith, Robert O. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,512,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models

Abstract

The present invention tests computer systems for defects that are able to cause performance and functional problems. An agent application is first installed on a user'"'"'s system. The agent application then retrieves problem data from the expert system library pertinent to the user'"'"'s operating environment. The agent application tests the user'"'"'s system for each problem description within a downloaded data structure from the expert system library. If a problem is discovered, a script attempts to remediate the problem and/or notifies the user, describing the issue. If an unknown problem arises, a feedback mechanism sends a notification to the expert system library that a problem was discovered. The feedback is then utilized to increase the total knowledge in the expert system library. Then when another user with a similar or the same setup is tested, the agent application will recognize the issue and will take the appropriate remedial actions.

Claims

1. A system for detecting problems within a computer system comprising:

a. an expert system library for storing information including system data; and

b. an agent coupled to the expert system library for using the information stored in the expert system library to detect and resolve one or more problems.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a feedback mechanism for sending feedback to the expert system library.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the feedback is data related to a conflict.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system data relates to one or more software packages, hardware devices and operating systems.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the system data further relates to one or more conflicts between the software packages, hardware devices or operating systems.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising one or more scripts for remedying the one or more problems.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a reporting mechanism to report the one or more problems.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expert system library receives input from multiple sources.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system is implemented on an application service provider infrastructure.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein business enterprise applications are implemented on the system.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system functions offline.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system is scaleable to support large application service provider bases.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system is implemented on disparate network topologies.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a license/subscription scheme.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expert system library is contained on one or more servers.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the one or more servers are selected from the group consisting of entry-level servers, mid-range servers, enterprise servers, personal computers, Apple computers, thin clients, laptops, cell phones and PDAs.

17. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent is contained on one or more computing devices.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the computing devices are selected from the group consisting of personal computers, Apple computers, thin clients, laptops, cell phones and PDAs.

19. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the agent functions on an operating system selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows®

, Microsoft®

CE, Unix, Linux, handheld operating systems and cell phone operating systems.

20. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system is implemented on a network.

21. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the expert system library and the agent are not on the same computing device or server.

22. A system for detecting problems within a computer system comprising:

a. one or more servers;

b. one or more computing devices coupled to the one or more servers for computing data;

c. an expert system library contained within the one or more servers for storing information including system data;

d. an agent contained within the one or more computing devices for using the information stored in the expert system library to check for and resolve problems; and

e. a feedback mechanism contained within the one or more computing devices for sending feedback to the expert system library.

23. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the feedback is information related to a conflict.

24. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the system data relates to one or more software packages, hardware devices and operating systems.

25. The system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the system data further relates to one or more conflicts between the software packages, hardware devices or operating systems.

26. The system as claimed in claim 22 further comprising one or more scripts for remedying the one or more problems.

27. The system as claimed in claim 22 further comprising a reporting mechanism to report the one or more problems.

28. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the expert system library receives input from multiple sources.

29. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the system is implemented on an application service provider infrastructure.

30. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein business enterprise applications are implemented on the system.

31. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the system functions offline.

32. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the system is scaleable to support large application service provider bases.

33. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the system is implemented on disparate network topologies.

34. The system as claimed in claim 22 further comprising a license/subscription scheme.

35. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the one or more computing devices are selected from the group consisting of personal computers, Apple computers, thin clients, laptops, cell phones and PDAs.

36. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the one or more servers are selected from the group consisting of entry-level servers, mid-range servers, enterprise servers, personal computers, Apple computers, thin clients, laptops, cell phones and PDAs.

37. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the agent functions on an operating system selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows®

, Microsoft®

CE, Unix, Linux, handheld operating systems and cell phone operating systems.

38. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the system is implemented on a network.

39. The system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the expert system library and the agent are not on the same computing device or server.

40. A method of detecting problems within a computer system comprising:

a. interrogating a computing device for environment information;

b. retrieving data from an expert system library related to the environment information; and

c. testing the computing device for one or more problems.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40 further comprising reporting the one or more problems to a user.

42. The method as claimed in claim 40 further comprising initiating one or more remediation scripts if the one or more problems are detected.

43. The method as claimed in claim 40 further comprising sending feedback to the expert system library.

44. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the expert system library receives input from multiple sources.

45. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the method is implemented on an application service provider infrastructure.

46. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein business enterprise applications are implemented on the computing device.

47. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the method functions offline.

48. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the method is scaleable to support large application service provider bases.

49. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the method is implemented on disparate network topologies.

50. The method as claimed in claim 40 further comprising implementing a license/subscription scheme.

51. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the expert system library is contained on one or more servers.

52. The method as claimed in claim 51 wherein the one or more servers are selected from the group consisting of entry-level servers, mid-range servers, enterprise servers, personal computers, Apple computers, thin clients, laptops, cell phones and PDAs.

53. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, an Apple computer, a thin client, a laptop, a cell phone and a PDA.

54. The method as claimed in claim 40 wherein the method is implemented on a network.

55. A network of devices for detecting problems within a computer system comprising:

a. one or more servers;

b. one or more computing devices coupled to the one or more servers for computing data;

c. an expert system library contained within the one or more servers for storing information including system data;

d. an agent contained within the one or more computing devices for using the information stored in the expert system library to check for and resolve problems; and

e. a feedback mechanism contained within the one or more computing devices for sending feedback to the expert system library.

56. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the feedback is information related to a conflict.

57. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the system data relates to one or more software packages, hardware devices and operating systems.

58. The network of devices as claimed in claim 57 wherein the system data further relates to one or more conflicts between the software packages, hardware devices or operating systems.

59. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 further comprising one or more scripts for remedying the one or more problems.

60. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 further comprising a reporting mechanism to report the one or more problems.

61. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the expert system library receives input from multiple sources.

62. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the network of devices is implemented on an application service provider infrastructure.

63. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein business enterprise applications are implemented on the network of devices.

64. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the network of devices functions offline.

65. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the network of devices is scaleable to support large application service provider bases.

66. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the network of devices is implemented on disparate network topologies.

67. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 further comprising a license/subscription scheme.

68. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the one or more computing devices are selected from the group consisting of personal computers, Apple computers, thin clients, laptops, cell phones and PDAs.

69. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the one or more servers are selected from the group consisting of personal computers, Apple computers, thin clients, laptops, cell phones and PDAs.

70. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the agent functions on an operating system selected from the group consisting of Microsoft®

Windows®

, Microsoft®

CE, Unix, Linux, handheld operating systems and cell phone operating systems.

71. The network of devices as claimed in claim 55 wherein the expert system library and the agent are not on the same computing device or server.