System and method for gathering and automatically processing user and debug data for mobile devices

• US 6,910,159 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Doggett, John D., Cui, Hai, Phillips, Marc B.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US10/137,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 714/38, 714/39, 714 46- 47, 455/67.11, 455418-419, 455/423, 455/425, 379/1.01, 379/9.04, 379/15.05
• US Class Current: 714/38.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0742 in a data processing system embedded in a mobile device, e.g. mobile phones, handheld devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0775 Content or structure details of the error report, e.g. specific table structure, specific error fields
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0781 Error filtering or prioritizing based on a policy defined by the user or on a policy defined by a hardware/software module, e.g. according to a severity level
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence

Abstract

A system and method for tracking user patterns, getting debug information from retail devices in use, and gathering data automatically into a central location where it is processed automatically. Information pertaining to the state of the system at the time a failure occurred on a mobile device is accessible by a developer in a disconnected mode. In addition, usage patterns are ascertainable from the data gathered.

Claims

1. A computer program product comprises a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied on said medium for a log file from an application program module, comprising:

a first data field containing data representing usage patterns of a mobile device;

a second data field containing data representing the occurrence of an error on the mobile device;

a third data field containing a sequence identifier that identifies the log file with a specified interval of time;

a fourth data filed containing a size label that identifies the size of the log file;

a fifth data field containing a run identifier that identifies the log file as a log file generated during an interval of time between a first reset of the mobile device and a second reset of the mobile device; and

a sixth data field containing a typo identifier that identifies the log file as contain error data when an error has occurred on the mobile device.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first data field contains at least one of keystroke entries, stylus entries, button press entries, and keyed entries made on the mobile device by a user.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the second data field contains data sufficient to recreate, in a disconnected mode, the state existing on the mobile device at the time die error occurred.

4. A method for storing and transporting data representing usage patterns and error occurrences on a mobile device from the mobile device, comprising:

receiving data by monitoring user interface entries and error occurrences of the mobile device;

parceling the data as a sequence of log files;

temporarily storing the log files on the mobile device;

transporting each log file to one of a server and a user computer when a connection is established to the mobile device;

deleting the successfully transported files from the mobile device;

incorporating a sequence identifier into each log file such that each log file is identified according to a specified interval of time corresponding to operation of the mobile device; and

incorporating a run identifier into each log file such that each log file is identified as being generated during an interval of time between a first reset of the mobile device and a second reset of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising filtering the log files according to their sequence identifier and run identifier in a disconnected mode.