Uniquely identifying a crashed application and its environment

In a client-server computing environment, a method for collecting data to identify an application whose executable file is stored in a directory on a client computer, the data being for transmission to a server computer after the occurrence of a reporting event, comprising:

• generating an inventory of selected files stored in the directory containing the application executable file;
• generating an inventory of system properties for the client computer;
• and
• preparing the inventory of selected files and the inventory of system properties for transmission to the server computer after the occurrence of the reporting event.

In a client-server computing environment, a method for collecting data to identify an application whose executable file is stored in a directory on a client computer, the data being for transmission to a server computer after the occurrence of a reporting event, comprising:

• generating an inventory of selected files stored in the directory containing the application executable file, wherein the selected files include executable files stored in the directory and wherein the inventory of selected files includes for each file included therein at least a file name, a file size and a checksum;
• generating an inventory of system properties for the client computer;
• and
• preparing the inventory of files and the inventory of system properties for transmission to the server computer in the Extensible Markup Language (XML) format after the occurrence of the reporting event.

In a networked client-server computing environment having a server computer and a database containing application identification information, a method for identifying an application on a client computer after the occurrence of a reporting event, comprising:

• receiving on the server computer an inventory of selected files stored in at least one directory on the client computer;
• receiving on the server computer an inventory of system properties for the client computer;
• and
• comparing data from the inventory of selected files and data from the inventory of system properties with corresponding data in the database to identify the application.

In a networked client-server computing environment having a server computer and a database containing application identification information, a method for identifying an application on a client computer after the occurrence of a reporting event, comprising:

• receiving on the server computer an inventory of files stored in a directory on the client computer containing the application executable file wherein the inventory of files includes file properties for each file included therein and wherein the file properties include at least a file name, a file size and a checksum;
• receiving on the server computer an inventory of system properties for the client computer;
• comparing data from the inventory of files, including the file name, the file size and the checksum, and data from the inventory of system properties with corresponding data in the database to identify the application;
• and
• determining, upon identification of the application, whether a response to the reporting event exists for the application and, if so, transmitting the response to the client computer.

In a networked client-server computing environment having a server and a plurality of databases each containing application identification information, a method for identifying an application on a client computer after the occurrence of a reporting event, comprising:

• receiving on the server computer an inventory of files stored in a directory on the client computer containing the application executable file;
• receiving on the server computer an inventory of system properties for the client computer;
• and
• executing a search service that compares data from the inventory of files and data from the inventory of system properties with corresponding data in at least one of the plurality of databases to identify the application.