Computer hardware and software diagnostic and report system

• US 8,234,238 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maxsp Corporation
• Inventors: Keith, Jr., Robert O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Mai T
• Application Number:
  US11/440,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,260 Days
• Field of Search: 706/60
• 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 expands the expert system library by sending a notification 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 monitoring a computing device comprising:

a. a server device in communication with the computing device, the server device including a memory device containing an expert system library;

b. a plurality of programs stored on the computing device for interacting with the computing device to gather information;

c. a plurality of scripts coupled to the plurality of programs for initiating the plurality of programs, wherein the plurality of scripts are stored within the expert system library, wherein the system runs in the background of the computing device; and

d. a feedback mechanism stored on the computing device for sending feedback to the expert system library, wherein the feedback mechanism expands the expert system library, wherein the expert system library comprises a plug-in architecture, wherein the plug-in architecture comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a program that is functionally discrete from the program of other entries, wherein the expert system library comprises a dependency, a confidence and a health index.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein interacting with the computing device further comprises:

a. determining a setup of the computing device;

b. gathering information related to configuration of the computing device; and

c. analyzing the computing device.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein gathering information includes discovering one or more problems.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of scripts are less complex than the plurality of programs.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of scripts return a condition status.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the condition status is a binary-type value.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of scripts run in a specified order.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the plurality of scripts for interacting with a user.

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

10. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of scripts are embedded within an extensible markup language (XML) structure.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the computing device is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, an Apple computer, a thin client, a laptop, a cell phone and a PDA.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plug-in architecture of the expert system library allows a plurality of authors to independently and simultaneous modify one or more of the entries.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the expert system library comprises a data structure including one or more of Boolean logic, string manipulation, flow control verbs and simple match functions.

14. A system for monitoring a computing device while running in the background of the computing device comprising:

a. a server device in communication with the computing device, the server device including a memory device containing an expert system library;

b. a plurality of programs stored on the computing device for

i. determining a setup of the computing device;

ii. gathering information related to configuration of the computing device; and

iii. analyzing the computing device for one or more problems;

c. a user interface stored on the computing device coupled to the plurality of programs, the user interface for interacting with a user;

d. a plurality of scripts coupled to the plurality of programs and to the user interface for acting as an intermediary between the plurality of programs and the user interface, wherein each of the plurality of scripts return a condition status, wherein the plurality of scripts are stored within the expert system library, wherein the system runs in the background of the computing device; and

e. a feedback mechanism stored on the computing device for sending feedback to the expert system library, wherein the feedback mechanism expands the expert system library;

wherein the expert system library comprises a plug-in architecture, wherein the plug-in architecture comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a program that is functionally discrete from the program of other entries, wherein the expert system library comprises a dependency, a confidence and a health index.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the condition status is a binary-type value.

16. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the plurality of scripts are less complex than the plurality of programs.

17. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the plurality of scripts run in a specified order.

18. The system as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a reporting mechanism to report the one or more problems.

19. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the plurality of scripts are embedded within an extensible markup language (XML) structure.

20. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the computing device is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, an Apple computer, a thin client, a laptop, a cell phone and a PDA.

21. A method of monitoring a computing device to gather information comprising:

a. providing a server device in communication with the computing device, the server device including a memory device containing an expert system library;

b. determining a setup of the computing device;

c. gathering information related to configuration of the computing device;

d. analyzing the computing device;

e. sending feedback to the expert system library; and

f. expanding the expert system library using a feedback mechanism stored on the computing device;

wherein the method of monitoring is performed while running in the background of the computing device, and further wherein the expert system library comprises a plug-in architecture, wherein the plug-in architecture comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a program that is functionally discrete from the program of other entries, wherein the expert system library comprises a dependency, a confidence and a health index.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein analyzing the computing device further comprises querying the computing device for one or more problems.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21 further comprising initiating one or more remediation scripts if one or more problems are detected.

24. The method as claimed in claim 21 further comprising reporting one or more problems.

25. The method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the computing device is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, an Apple computer, a thin client, a laptop, a cell phone and a PDA.

26. A method of monitoring a computing device to gather information comprising:

a. providing a server device in communication with the computing device, the server device including a memory device containing an expert system library;

b. determining a setup of the computing device;

c. gathering information related to configuration of the computing device;

d. analyzing the computing device;

e. reporting analysis on the computing device;

f. sending feedback to the expert system library; and

g. expanding the expert system library using a feedback mechanism stored on the computing device;

wherein the method of monitoring is performed while running in the background of the computing device, and further wherein the expert system library comprises a plug-in architecture, wherein the plug-in architecture comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a program that is functionally discrete from the program of other entries, wherein the expert system library comprises a dependency, a confidence and a health index.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein analyzing the computing device further comprises querying the computing device for one or more problems.

28. The method as claimed in claim 26 further comprising initiating one or more remediation scripts if one or more problems are detected.

29. The method as claimed in claim 26 wherein the computing device is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, an Apple computer, a thin client, a laptop, a cell phone and a PDA.

30. A method of continuously monitoring a computing device to gather information comprising:

a. providing a server device in communication with the computing device, the server device including a memory device containing an expert system library;

b. determining a setup of the computing device;

c. gathering information related to configuration of the computing device;

d. querying the computing device for one or more problems wherein a broadest issue is queried first and the query is narrowed until a specific component that is causing the one or more problems problem is found;

e. reporting analysis on the computing device;

f. sending feedback to the expert system library; and

g. expanding the expert system library using a feedback mechanism stored on the computing device;

wherein the method of monitoring is continuously performed during the operation of the computing device while running in the background of the computing device, and further wherein the expert system library comprises a plug-in architecture, wherein the plug-in architecture comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a program that is functionally discrete from the program of other entries, wherein the expert system library comprises a dependency, a confidence and a health index.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising assigning the one or more problems a priority level.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising assigning the one or more problems a health risk value based on a severity of future potential harm to the computing device if the one or more problems are not corrected.