Todd Colby

US Patent:

6526529, Feb 25, 2003

Filed:

Jun 29, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/340715

Inventors:

Jan T. Miksovsky - Seattle WA
Todd M. Colby - Redmond WA
Warren G. Stevens - Issaquah WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1132

US Classification:

714 57, 717168

Abstract:

A method and system for dynamically updating the error messages corresponding to a shipped software product. The exiting generic error messages shipped with a software product are replaced or appended as errors are resolved or better understood, whereby a user who receives an error message will see the latest known information for that error message. A file of updated error messages is automatically downloaded when the user is connected to the Internet. Any time an error message is to be displayed, an error handling mechanism compares identifier information of the error message to the file of updated error messages, and if a match is found, overwrites or extends the existing error message that was shipped with the code for display to the user. If no match is found, the existing message is displayed. An updated error message can be changed or reset to the original message if a problem changes or goes away, and updated messages may include certain identifying information for the purpose of assisting product support personnel in resolving user problems.