Centralized Error Reporting for Distributed Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed computer/network systems, smaller organizations face challenges in troubleshooting and managing errors due to a lack of specialized system administrators, leading to delays in identifying and resolving issues affecting end-user tasks, as conventional error reporting systems are often complex and require in-depth knowledge of specific application programs.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects and interprets error reports from distributed application programs into a centralized location, associating them with generalized end-user tasks and providing a user-friendly dashboard to display system health information, allowing non-specialized administrators to quickly identify issues and take corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional error reporting systems are used in distributed application environments, then detailed application-specific error information can be generated, but the complexity of troubleshooting and identifying affected end-user tasks increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex error reporting system into multiple independent components: error collection module, task identification module, and status determination module. Each component handles a specific aspect of error processing separately, making the overall system more manageable and easier to troubleshoot while maintaining complete error information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary error reporting system that acts as a mediator between application programs and system administrators. This intermediary collects errors from multiple applications, identifies affected tasks, and presents simplified status information, thereby reducing troubleshooting complexity without losing error information completeness.
2Productivity
If specialized application administrators are hired to manage each application program, then error troubleshooting efficiency improves, but organizational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the error reporting system to perform self-service by automatically collecting errors, identifying affected tasks, and determining status without requiring specialized administrators. The system autonomously processes errors from multiple applications and presents actionable information, eliminating the need for expensive specialized staff while maintaining high resolution efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal error reporting system that can handle errors from multiple different application programs through a single interface. This multi-functional system serves all applications and administrators alike, eliminating the need for separate specialized administrators for each application while maintaining efficient error resolution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If system administrators are stretched thin managing multiple application programs, then generalization of skill sets is required, but error troubleshooting capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that translates complex application-specific errors into generalized task status information. This intermediary layer allows administrators with general skills to effectively troubleshoot errors without needing deep knowledge of specific applications, as the system automatically contextualizes errors within end-user task frameworks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of error information presentation from detailed application-specific technical data to generalized task-oriented status information. By transforming how error information is structured and presented, the system makes error troubleshooting easier for administrators with general skill sets while maintaining comprehensive error coverage.
4Loss of information
If centralized error collection is implemented, then error information accessibility improves, but interpretation difficulty for generalized administrators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that automatically interprets and contextualizes centralized error information. This intermediary translates raw error data into meaningful task status descriptions, making centralized error information accessible and easy to interpret for administrators with general skills rather than requiring specialized knowledge.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of presenting error information in its conventional detailed form and requiring administrators to interpret it, the patent inverts the approach by automatically interpreting the errors and presenting them in a simplified, task-oriented format. This inversion makes the system easier to operate for generalized administrators while maintaining complete information accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for reporting and/or displaying errors in a system that affect end-user tasks includes mechanisms for gathering, interpreting and displaying application status information in a convenient display. In one implementation, for example, distributed application programs in a system are configured to provide status reports (e.g., positive, negative, pending) to a centralized reporting service. The centralized service stores the status information in a database. An event interpreter module queries the database to identify the status of certain application components that affect or otherwise implicate performance of generalized end-user tasks, such as sending/receiving email, logging-in to the network, accessing the internet, remote computer management, or the like. A graphical user interface can then display this information to the administrator in a way that immediately indicates what end-user tasks might be affected by failure or correct execution of a given application component, as well as suggested corrective action as needed.