Automated Software Error Correction via Signature Matching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional maintenance and support mechanisms for computer applications require manual intervention and do not provide reliable solutions for specific software errors, risking the integrity of operations.

Innovation Solution

Automated systems and methods that detect software errors, generate error messages with error signatures, compare these signatures with a patch library database to identify and apply corresponding correction patches, reducing the need for manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If conventional maintenance and support mechanisms are used (manual error reporting and correction), then error correction can be performed, but the process requires manual intervention and is resource intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of error correctionVSAvoidcomplexity of maintenance system

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically detecting software errors, generating error messages with signatures, comparing signatures against a database of known errors, and applying correction patches without requiring manual user intervention or technician involvement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-populating a database with error signatures and corresponding correction patches before runtime, allowing the error correction process to proceed automatically by simply matching detected errors against pre-prepared solutions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If automatic maintenance techniques (rebooting, updating, restarting) are implemented, then manual intervention is reduced, but the solutions are less precise and risk integrity of operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of error correctionVSAvoidlevel of automated intervention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by generating specific error signatures that uniquely identify the location and nature of each software error, then matching these signatures to corresponding correction patches that are specifically tailored to fix only the detected error without affecting other system components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by detecting software errors during operation, generating error messages with signatures, comparing these signatures against a database of known errors, and automatically applying the appropriate correction patch based on the match, creating a closed-loop error correction process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If manual error correction processes are used, then specific errors can be addressed, but the process is resource intensive and requires technician intervention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of error correctionVSAvoidtime for error detection and correction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical system of manual error detection and correction with an automated information processing system that uses error signature generation, database comparison, and automatic patch application, eliminating the need for human technicians to manually diagnose and fix errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8296605B2Systems and methods for correcting software errors

Publication Date: 2012.10.23 SAP SE

AI summary

Systems and methods consistent with the invention may include receiving an indication that a software error was detected during operation of the application program, generating an error message based on the software error, the error message including an error signature, comparing the error signature with information stored in a patch library database to identify a corresponding correction patch, and correcting, when the corresponding correction patch is identified, the software error by applying the corresponding correction patch.