IP Library Granted Patent US 8,726,095
Granted Patent B2
US 8,726,095 · App. 12/958,751 · Granted May 13, 2014

System and method for proactive management of an information handling system with in-situ measurement of end user actions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,726,095
App. No.
12/958,751
Granted
May 13, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Dissatisfaction variables track inputs made by an end user at an information handling system that are associated with end user dissatisfaction regarding the operation of the information handling system, such as corrective actions, so that an alert issues if a dissatisfaction variable changes by a predetermined amount over a predetermined time period. Dissatisfaction variables identify a pattern of a change in behavior by an end user rather than the operational status of system components. For example, an increase in end user forced shutdowns of the information handling system indicates end user dissatisfaction with the information handling system, such as repeated freezes of the operating system so that performing a timely diagnostics will improve end user satisfaction and proactively correct and impending system failure.

Claims (64)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

processing components disposed in the housing and operable to process information;

plural input devices interfaced with the processing components, each input device operable to detect one or more end user inputs;

a monitoring agent disposed in the housing and operable to track one or more predetermined of the end user inputs as one or more dissatisfaction variables, each dissatisfaction variable associated with a corrective action made by an end user input; and

a reporting agent interfaced with the monitoring agent and operable to report an alert for proactive diagnostics of the information handling system in response to detection of a change over a predetermined time period of the one or more dissatisfaction variables from a predetermined baseline by a predetermined amount;

wherein the dissatisfaction variable comprises restarts of the information handling system initiated through the operating system.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the dissatisfaction variable comprises shutdowns of the information handling system through the operating system.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the dissatisfaction variable comprises forced shutdowns of the information handling system.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the forced shutdown comprises pressing and holding a power switch of the information handling system.

5. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the forced shutdown comprises removal of a battery from the housing.

6. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the forced shutdown comprises removal of an external power source from the information handling system.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the dissatisfaction variable comprises turning a wireless network transceiver off and on.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the reporting agent is further operable to formulate a baseline by monitoring the dissatisfaction variable for a predetermined time and assess the change from the baseline.

9. A method for managing operation of an information handling system, the method comprising:

monitoring an end user input at the information handling system over a predetermined time to define a baseline number for the end user input over a predetermined time period;

detecting an increase of the end user input at the information handling system over the predetermined time period; and

issuing a dissatisfaction alert for the information handling system;

wherein the end user input comprises a forced power down.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the forced power down comprises pressing and holding a power button to command a power down.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the forced power down comprises removal of power from the information handling system.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the end user input comprises removing a component from the information handling system and replacing the same component in the information handling system.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the end user input comprises powering a display of the information handling system down and then up within a predetermined time.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising increasing the number of dissatisfaction variables monitored at the information handling system in response to the alert.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising responding to the dissatisfaction alert with a diagnostics associated with the end user input.

16. A system for managing operation of an information handling system, the system comprising:

a monitoring agent operable to track an end user input at the information handling system, the end user input associated with a corrective action made by an end user to correct improper operation of the information handling system; and

a reporting agent interfaced with the monitoring agent and operable to report an alert for the information handling system in response to detection of a change over a predetermined time period of the number of incidents of the end user input at the information handling systems;

wherein the corrective action made by an end user comprises a forced power down of the information handling system.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a diagnostics agent interfaced with the reporting agent and operable to initiate diagnostic at the information handling system in response to the alert.

18. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

processing components disposed in the housing and operable to process information;

plural input devices interfaced with the processing components, each input device operable to detect one or more end user inputs;

a monitoring agent disposed in the housing and operable to track one or more predetermined of the end user inputs as one or more dissatisfaction variables, each dissatisfaction variable associated with a corrective action made by an end user input; and

a reporting agent interfaced with the monitoring agent and operable to report an alert for proactive diagnostics of the information handling system in response to detection of a change over a predetermined time period of the one or more dissatisfaction variables from a predetermined baseline by a predetermined amount;

wherein the dissatisfaction variable comprises shutdowns of the information handling system through the operating system.

19. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

processing components disposed in the housing and operable to process information;

plural input devices interfaced with the processing components, each input device operable to detect one or more end user inputs;

a monitoring agent disposed in the housing and operable to track one or more predetermined of the end user inputs as one or more dissatisfaction variables, each dissatisfaction variable associated with a corrective action made by an end user input; and

a reporting agent interfaced with the monitoring agent and operable to report an alert for proactive diagnostics of the information handling system in response to detection of a change over a predetermined time period of the one or more dissatisfaction variables from a predetermined baseline by a predetermined amount;

wherein the dissatisfaction variable comprises forced shutdowns of the information handling system.

20. The information handling system of claim 19 wherein the forced shutdown comprises pressing and holding a power switch of the information handling system.

21. The information handling system of claim 19 wherein the forced shutdown comprises removal of a battery from the housing.

22. The information handling system of claim 19 wherein the forced shutdown comprises removal of an external power source from the information handling system.

23. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

processing components disposed in the housing and operable to process information;

plural input devices interfaced with the processing components, each input device operable to detect one or more end user inputs;

a monitoring agent disposed in the housing and operable to track one or more predetermined of the end user inputs as one or more dissatisfaction variables, each dissatisfaction variable associated with a corrective action made by an end user input; and

a reporting agent interfaced with the monitoring agent and operable to report an alert for proactive diagnostics of the information handling system in response to detection of a change over a predetermined time period of the one or more dissatisfaction variables from a predetermined baseline by a predetermined amount;

wherein the dissatisfaction variable comprises turning a wireless network transceiver off and on.

24. A method for managing operation of an information handling system, the method comprising:

monitoring an end user input at the information handling system over a predetermined time to define a baseline number for the end user input over a predetermined time period;

detecting an increase of the end user input at the information handling system over the predetermined time period; and

issuing a dissatisfaction alert for the information handling system;

wherein the end user input comprises removing a component from the information handling system and replacing the same component in the information handling system.

25. A method for managing operation of an information handling system, the method comprising:

monitoring an end user input at the information handling system over a predetermined time to define a baseline number for the end user input over a predetermined time period;

detecting an increase of the end user input at the information handling system over the predetermined time period; and

issuing a dissatisfaction alert for the information handling system;

wherein the end user input comprises powering a display of the information handling system down and then up within a predetermined time.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →