Method for providing feedback on windows, messages and dialog boxes

• US 7,562,297 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lupu, Corneliu I., Raj, Kiran, Carroll, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pesin; Boris
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIAU, SHEN C
• Application Number:
  US11/020,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 715/705, 715708-709, 715/764, 715/781, 715808-809, 715/840
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method to globally place a feedback button in every dialog box, message box, and top-level window in every application and message box in an operating system to provide a user with the opportunity to provide feedback for the dialog box, message box, or top-level window. The system checks a setting to determine if and what type of box/window that a feedback button will be placed and if the setting is enabled, a feedback button with customizable text will be placed on the box/window when the box/window is displayed if the type of window being displayed matches the type specified as having a feedback button. The system loads a program file that provides instructions to the user on how to provide feedback to a developer or system administrator when the user selects the feedback button. Once the user enters feedback, this feedback is sent to wherever the program file designated the information to be sent. Information about the box/window being displayed, including information about how the application got to the point of displaying the box/window, is sent along with the feedback. The user may also be sent to a website to allow the user to see what other people have reported about the box/window.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for providing feedback from an external user, the method comprising:

determining a type of top-level window to display a feedback button, wherein determining the type of top-level window to display said feedback button comprises;

determining if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each hard error message; and

determining if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each message box;

displaying a feedback button in the type of top-level window when said type of top-level window is being displayed;

detecting when the external user selects said feedback button;

if the external user selects said feedback button;

loading a library to instruct the external user on how to enter feedback;

loading an interface;

in response to the external user entering feedback, transferring information to the interface, wherein transferring information to the interface comprises;

transferring an identification of the external user;

transferring a stack trace; and

transferring the feedback entered by the external user; and

checking a system registry for the presence of a feedback setting to determine if a feedback button is to be displayed.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein if the top-level window is a top-level window of an existing application, displaying the feedback button comprises displaying the feedback button in said top-level window without changing the existing application.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the feedback setting is kept on a per user basis.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein determining a type of top-level window to display said feedback button comprises:

determining if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each dialog box; and

determining if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each top-level window.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 further comprising tracking functions called in response to actions taken by the external user.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein displaying a feedback button comprises displaying a feedback button within a caption bar of the at least one top-level window.

7. A method for providing feedback from an external user, the method comprising:

determining a type of top-level window to display a feedback button, wherein determining the type of top-level window to display said feedback button comprises;

determining if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each hard error message; and

determining if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each message box;

displaying a feedback button in the type of top-level window when said type of top-level window is being displayed;

detecting when the external user selects said feedback button;

if the external user selects said feedback button;

loading a library to instruct the external user on how to enter feedback;

loading an interface;

in response to the external user entering feedback, transferring information to the interface, wherein transferring information to the interface comprises;

transferring an identification of the external user;

transferring a stack trace; and

transferring the feedback entered by the external user; and

checking a system registry for the presence of a feedback setting to determine if a feedback button is to be displayed.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein if the top-level window is a top-level window of an existing application, displaying the feedback button comprises displaying the feedback button in said top-level window without changing the existing application.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the feedback setting is kept on a per user basis.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein determining a type of top-level window to display said feedback button comprises:

determining if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each dialog box; and

determining if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each top-level window.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising tracking functions called in response to actions taken by the external user.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein displaying a feedback button comprises displaying a feedback button within a caption bar of the at least one top-level window.

13. A system for providing feedback from an external user, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

determine a type of top-level window to display a feedback button, wherein the processing unit being operative to determine the type of top-level window to display said feedback button comprises the processing unit being operative to;

determine if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each hard error message; and

determine if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each message box;

display a feedback button in the type of top-level window when said type of top-level window is being displayed;

detect when the external user selects said feedback button;

if the external user selects said feedback button;

load a library to instruct the external user on how to enter feedback;

loading an interface;

in response to the external user entering feedback, transfer information to the interface, wherein the processing unit being operative to transfer information to the interface comprises the processing unit being operative to;

transfer an identification of the external user;

transfer a stack trace; and

transfer the feedback entered by the external user; and

check a system registry for the presence of a feedback setting to determine if a feedback button is to be displayed.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein when the top-level window is a top-level window of an existing application, the processing unit being operative to display the feedback button comprises displaying the feedback button in said top-level window without changing the existing application.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the feedback setting is kept on a per user basis.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the processing unit being operative to determine a type of top-level window to display said feedback button comprises the processing unit being operative to:

determine if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each dialog box; and

determine if feedback buttons are to be displayed on each top-level window.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising the processing unit being operative to track functions called in response to actions taken by the external user.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing unit being operative to display a feedback button comprises the processing unit being operative to display a feedback button within a caption bar of the at least one top-level window.