Identifying, Correcting and Displaying Application Website and Device Compatibility Issues

• US 20080244519A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pang, Jee Fung, Morsi, Magdi, Chen, Chi F., SaganeGowda, Suma, Kreyenbuhl, Stephen Edward, Ross, Yevgeniya, Hua, Tri Minh, Sciacqua, Michael Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/694,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20080244519A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

A method of identifying, correcting and displaying application website and device compatibility issues is disclosed. An agent framework is started that host compatibility agents. The compatibility agents are used to analyze an operating system user such as a device, an application or an update. The results of the compatibility agents are communicated to a database and the results of the compatibility agents are displayed using a user interface.

Claims

1. A method of displaying the compatibility of an operating system user and an operating system comprising:

creating a data collection package to distribute compatibility agents;

starting an agent framework that host compatibility agents;

using compatibility agents to analyze an operating system user;

communicating results of the compatibility agents to a database; and

displaying the results of the compatibility agents using a user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing with a remote data source to obtain updated compatibility information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the compatibility information is provided by at least one of:

original software makers, third party vendors, users and other trusted parties.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating system user is one of an application, computer, a website, an update, and a device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility agents further comprise an agent that detects any applications that have user account control issues.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility agents further comprise an internet browser evaluator that detects whether web sites and applications will have issues when used on a new internet browser.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility agents further comprises an update impact monitor that detects whether there will be compatibility issues due to the installation of an operating system update.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the compatibility agents further comprises a device compatibility evaluator that detects whether there will be compatibility issues related to devices based on the drivers used on the devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data collection package further comprises a common framework service to schedule and manage the agents.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface reports all inventoried applications, computers, web sites, devices, and updates and whether there are compatibility issues with any of the above.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a selection is made of one of the applications, computers, web sites, devices and updates and additional information is displayed about the selection.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein symbols are used to display the compatibility of the all inventoried applications, computers, web sites, devices, and updates.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying reports which identify a computer that meets the minimum recommended system requirements to run the operating system.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying reports on applications potentially impacted by an operating system update.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a selection to attempt to fix the compatibility issues.

16. A user interface for displaying the compatibility of operating system users and an operating system comprising:

a first window for displaying a plurality of quick compatibility reports that are available related to operating system users wherein the operating system users are selectable;

a second window for displaying additional information about operating system users wherein the additional information includes compatibility information wherein the additional information is selectable; and

a third window that is displayed when additional information is selected that provides further detail about the additional information that is selected.

17. The user interface of claim 16, wherein the compatibility reports are created by:

starting an agent framework that host compatibility agents;

using compatibility agents to analyze an operating system user;

communicating results of the compatibility agents to a database; and

accessing the database to create the compatibility data that is displayed on the user interface.

18. The user interface of claim 16, wherein the compatibility agents further comprise at least one selected from the group comprising:

an agent that detects any applications that have user account control issues;

an internet browser evaluator that detects whether web sites and applications will have issues when used on a new internet browser;

an update impact monitor that detects whether there will be compatibility issues due to the installation of an operating system update; and

a device compatibility evaluator that detects whether there will be compatibility issues related to devices based on the drivers used on the devices.

19. A computer readable storage medium for storing computer executable code, the computer executable code comprising computer executable instruction for:

starting an agent framework that host compatibility agents;

using compatibility agents to analyze an operating system user, wherein the compatibility agents further comprise at least one selected from the group comprising;

an agent that detects any applications that have user account control issues;

an internet browser evaluator that detects whether web sites and applications will have issues when used on a new internet browser;

an update impact monitor that detects whether there will be compatibility issues due to the installation of an operating system update; and

a device compatibility evaluator that detects whether there will be compatibility issues related to devices based on the drivers used on the devices communicating results of the compatibility agents to a database; and

displaying the results of the compatibility agents using a user interface.

20. A computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the user interface further comprises at least one from the group comprising:

a window for displacing a plurality of quick compatibility reports that are available related to operating system users wherein the operating system users are selectable;

a window for displaying additional information about operating system users wherein the additional information includes compatibility information wherein the additional information is selectable;

a window that is displayed when additional information is selected that provides further detail about the additional information that is selected;

a window that is displayed when adding compatibility issues;

a window that is displayed when adding solutions to compatibility issues;

a window that is displayed for prioritizing at least one selected from the group comprising applications, devices and computers;

a window that is displayed for categorizing at least one selected from the group comprising applications, device and computers; and

a window that is displayed for designing a new report.