Method And System For Collecting Data to Support Installed Software Applications
A method and system for collecting data to support a software application are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving as an input a software application. Installation data is retrieved from the software application. The method further comprises encoding within the installation data a description of support data to be collected from a user of the software application.
1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
receiving as an input a software application;
retrieving installation data from the software application; and
encoding within the installation data a description of support data to be collected from a user of the software application.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the installation data includes a log file.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the installation data includes uninstall information of the software application.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
encoding within the installation data a description of a user interface to be provided to the user during collection of the support data.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
encoding within the installation data a logical process for collecting the support data.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the logical process is configured to automatically collect the support data from a computer system of the user.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the logical process is in a self-describing file format.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the support data includes a description of how one or more features of the software application are used by the user.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the software application encoded with the description of the support data to the user, wherein the software application is installed on a computer system of the user.
10 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, said plurality of instructions when executed by a computer, cause said computer to perform:
receiving as an input a software application;
retrieving installation data from the software application; and
encoding within the installation data a description of support data to be collected from a user of the software application.
11 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the installation data includes uninstall information of the software application.
12 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the installation data includes uninstall information of the software application.
13 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:
encoding within the installation data a description of a user interface to be provided to the user during collection of the support data.
14 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:
encoding within the installation data a logical process for collecting the support data.
15 . The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the logical process is configured to automatically collect the support data from a computer system of the user.
16 . The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the logical process is in a self-describing file format.
17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the support data includes a description of how one or more features of the software application are used by the user.
18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of instructions cause the computer to perform:
providing the software application encoded with the description of the support data to the user, wherein the software application is installed on a computer system of the user.
19 . A computer system, comprising:
a processor; and
memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions;
wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to:
receive as an input a software application;
retrieve installation data from the software application; and
encode within the installation data a description of support data to be collected from a user of the software application.
20 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the installation data includes uninstall information of the software application.
21 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the installation data includes uninstall information of the software application.
22 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to:
encode within the installation data a description of a user interface to be provided to the user during collection of the support data.
23 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to:
encode within the installation data a logical process for collecting the support data.
24 . The computer system of claim 23 , wherein the logical process is configured to automatically collect the support data from a computer system of the user.
25 . The computer system of claim 23 , wherein the logical process is in a self-describing file format.
26 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the support data includes a description of how one or more features of the software application are used by the user.
27 . The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to:
provide the software application encoded with the description of the support data to the user, wherein the software application is installed on a computer system of the user.