Obtaining user feedback in a networking environment

1 . In a networking environment that includes a computer system for collecting data from a plurality of sources and a computer associated with a user, a computer-implemented method of obtaining feedback from the user, the method comprising:

(a) allowing the user to generate an event while using a program to provide feedback;

(b) in response to the event being generated, collecting a set of data that includes:

(i) contextual data from which the source of the content may be identified;

(ii) content selected by the user;

(iii) user-generated feedback that describes an issue with the content selected by the user; and

(c) communicating the set of data from the computer associated with the user to the computer system that collects data from a plurality of sources.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

(a) receiving the set of data at the computer system that collects data obtained from a plurality of sources; and

(b) providing a network location where the user may track the status of the issue.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the event is generated when the user activates a GUI object presented in the program; and

wherein allowing the user to generate an event includes providing a class from which the GUI object may be instantiated.

4 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the program is a Web browser and the user generates the event by activating a GUI object presented on a hypertext document.

5 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein collecting a set of data includes identifying a string of text selected by the user with an input device.

6 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein collecting the set of data includes presenting a menu that contains selectable menu items for categorizing the issue.

7 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising using the contextual data to identify an entity that is responsible for the content selected by the user.

8 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the contextual data collected includes a resource identifier for the content selected by the user.

9 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the contextual data collected includes:

(a) the identity and version of the operating system installed on the computer associated with the user; and

(b) the identity of the program and version that presented the content that was selected by the user.

10 . The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the contextual data collected includes files, dialogs, or strings that are associated with the content selected by the user.

11 . In a networking environment with a central server computer that is communicatively connected to a plurality of client computers, a software system that aggregates feedback generated at the client computers in a central location, the software system comprising:

(a) a feedback routine associated with the client computers that is operative to:

(i) obtain feedback data that describes an issue with content presented to the user;

(ii) cause the feedback data to be communicated from a client computer to the central server computer;

(b) a backend database associated with the central server computer that stores data obtained from the client computers; and

(c) a database application associated with the central server computer operative to manage and filter data stored in the backend database.

12 . The software system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising an operating system associated with the client computers that are operative to:

(a) manage the execution of a program; and

(b) allow the program to instantiate a selectable GUI object that initiates execution of the feedback routine when selected.

13 . The software system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the operating system includes a transport level communication system; and

wherein the feedback routine uses the transport level communication system to cause the feedback data to be communicated from a client computer to the central server computer.

14 . The software system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a Web portal associated with the central server computer that is operative to:

(a) receive feedback data from the client computer and store the feedback data in the backend database; and

(b) provide a network location where the user may track the status of the issue.

15 . The software system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the feedback routine is further configured to collect data that:

(a) identifies the content selected by the user; and

(b) describes a software state of a client computer.

16 . The software system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the database application is further configured to map the content selected by the user to an entity that is responsible for the content.

17 . A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions that when executed in a computer networking environment with a computer system that collects data from a plurality of sources and a computer associated with a user, performs a method of obtaining feedback from the user, the method comprising:

(a) receiving notice that a GUI object was selected;

(b) causing the user to identify the content in which feedback will be provided;

(c) obtaining a description of the issue from the user regarding the content;

(d) communicating a set of data from the computer associated with the user to the computer system that collects data from a plurality of sources; and

(e) wherein the set of data includes:

(i) contextual data from which the source of the content may be identified;

(ii) content identified by the user; and

(iii) description of the issue.

18 . The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17 , further comprising:

(a) receiving the set of data at the computer system that collects the data from a plurality of sources; and

(b) providing a network location where the user may track the status of the issue.

19 . The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 18 , wherein the contextual data communicated from the computer associated with the user to the computer system that collects data from a plurality of sources further includes:

(a) a resource identifier for the content selected by the user.

(b) the identity and version of the operating system installed on the computer associated with the user;

(c) the identity of the program and version that presented the content that was selected by the user; and

(d) the identity of files, dialogs, or strings that are associated with the content selected by the user.

20 . The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 17 , wherein the GUI object is presented on a Web page and the user generates the event by performing a pointer activation event on the GUI object.