Product support of computer-related products using intelligent agents

A program product, comprising:

• (a) first and second product support intelligent agents configured to perform product support operations in connection with a computer-related product;
• (b) a first agent platform configured to execute on a customer computer that utilizes the computer-related product;
• (c) a product support program configured to reside on a product support computer used in providing product support for the computer-related product, the product support program including a second agent platform, and the product support program configured to dispatch the first product support intelligent agent to the customer computer for execution by the first agent platform, and to initiate execution of the second product support intelligent agent by the second agent platform;
• and
• (d) a signal bearing medium bearing the first and second product support agents, the first agent platform, and the product support program.

A method of providing product support for a computer-related product, the method comprising:

• (a) collecting operational data from a plurality of customer computers that utilize the computer-related product during operation of the plurality of customer computers;
• (b) identifying an undesirable operational condition associated with the computer-related product from the collected operational data;
• (c) creating a product support intelligent agent configured to remedy the undesirable operational condition;
• and
• (d) distributing the product support intelligent agent to at least first and second customer computers from the plurality of customer computers to remedy the undesirable operational condition in the first and second customer computers.

A method of providing product support for a computer-related product, the method comprising:

• (a) collecting operational data from a plurality of customer computers that utilize the computer-related product during operation of the plurality of customer computers;
• (b) analyzing the operational data from the plurality of customer computers using at least one intelligent agent;
• and
• (c) identifying as a result of the analysis an undesirable operational condition associated with the computer-related product in at least one of the customer computers.

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a memory;
• (b) an intelligent agent resident in the memory and configured to analyze operational data from a plurality of customer computers that utilize a computer-related product during operation of the plurality of customer computers;
• and
• (c) program code configured to identify as a result of the analysis an undesirable operational condition associated with the computer-related product in at least one of the customer computers.

A program product, comprising:

• (a) an intelligent agent configured to analyze operational data from a plurality of customer computers that utilize a computer-related product during operation of the plurality of customer computers;
• (b) program code configured to identify as a result of the analysis an undesirable operational condition associated with the computer-related product in at least one of the customer computers;
• and
• (c) a signal bearing medium bearing the intelligent agent and program code.

A program product, comprising:

• (a) an intelligent agent;
• (b) a header associated with the intelligent agent, the header including distribution control information that defines distribution rights to the intelligent agent;
• and
• (c) a signal bearing medium bearing the header and the intelligent agent.

An apparatus, comprising:

• (a) at least one memory;
• (b) a first intelligent agent resident in the memory and configured to perform a first task associated with remedying an undesirable operational condition associated with a customer computer that utilizes the computer-related product, wherein the first intelligent agent is provided by a first vendor that supplies a first component associated with the computer-related product;
• and
• (b) a second intelligent agent resident in the memory and configured to perform a second task associated with remedying the undesirable operational condition, wherein the second intelligent agent is provided by a second vendor that supplies a second component associated with the computer-related product.

A program product, comprising:

• (a) a first intelligent agent configured to perform a first task associated with remedying an undesirable operational condition associated with a customer computer that utilizes the computer-related product, wherein the first intelligent agent is provided by a first vendor that supplies a first component associated with the computer-related product;
• (b) a second intelligent agent configured to perform a second task associated with remedying the undesirable operational condition, wherein the second intelligent agent is provided by a second vendor that supplies a second component associated with the computer-related product;
• and
• (c) a signal bearing medium bearing the first and second intelligent agents.