Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-06
2003-06-03
Shah, Sanjiv (Department: 2172)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06574615
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to the field of electronic devices. More particularly, this invention relates to the field of monitoring support activity within the computer industry.
BACKGROUND
Many computer manufacturers and software makers provide a variety of support services to their clients and customers. These support services often include local support utilities loaded on a client's computer including help programs, tutorial programs, and diagnostic programs to assist clients who purchase their systems. These support utilities are often designed to be user friendly; when a client experiences a problem or has questions, he can simply use one of these support utilities to find a solution to his problem or answers to his questions. Additionally, computer manufactures and software makers often provide more direct assistance to clients in the form of support centers. When a client experiences a problem or has questions relating to his computer system the client may contact a customer support center and communicate with a technical support representative. The technical support representative may then address the client's specific problems or concerns.
Maintaining a support center is often expensive and burdensome. A support center must be staffed with competent technical support representatives who have access to the appropriate support utilities. The staff must receive training to maintain competence with changing technology. Managing a support center is often challenging because the number of clients who contact the support center at any given time can be unpredictable. When a support center is understaffed, a client telephoning a support center may be left to wait for assistance for a lengthy period. This often leads to a client frustration and dissatisfaction. When a support center is overstaffed, valuable time and resources are wasted.
One way to reduce the expense of maintaining support operations is to increase the effectiveness of the support utilities maintained on the client's computer. Clearly, a customer who finds the answer to his question using one of the support utilities loaded in his computer will be less inclined to call a support center to speak with a technical support representative. However, maximizing the effectiveness of support utilities is hampered by the difficulty of measuring how a client or a group of clients make uses of the local support utilities loaded on their computers. A technical support representative may ask a client which local support utilities the client used before contacting the support center, however, this method of gathering data related to local client support activity is ineffective and the data collected may be inaccurate. Additionally, the data collected by this method will likely be limited to the client's present problem and will not delve into past use of local support utilities. Because the client's use of local support utilities takes place independent from the support center, computer and software makers generally have no efficient and reliable way of measuring this support activity.
SUMMARY
Therefore a need has arisen for a method and system for effectively and reliably measuring the use of local support utilities.
A further need exists for a method and system for efficiently gathering data related to local client support activity.
A further need exists for an efficient and reliable method to identify the support steps a particular client has taken prior to contacting a support center.
A further need exists for a method and system for evaluating the effectiveness of local support utilities.
In accordance with teachings of the present disclosure, a system and method are described for monitoring support activity. The system includes a local client support activity file which measures the use of local support utilities such as help programs, diagnostic programs, and tutorial programs. When a client uses one of the support utilities, the activity file records the service tag or another identifier of the computer, the date and time of the support utility use, and records what support utility activity transpired. When the client's computer contacts a support center computer, the local client support activity file may be uploaded into the support center computer and stored in database. Information within the database can then be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the support utilities.
In one aspect of the present invention, a computer system for measuring and monitoring local client support activity associated with servicing and supporting a computer by a client includes a local client support activity file in a local computer. The local client support activity file records local client support activity. Furthermore, the local client support activity file may be uploaded by a support center computer when the client contacts a support center using the local computer. More specifically, the local client support activity file records a service tag for identifying the local computer, a record of the date and time of the local support activity, and a record of the local support activity.
In another aspect of the present invention, a computer system for measuring and monitoring client service and support activity associated with a local computer includes an activity file maintained at the local computer and an activity file maintained at a support center. The computer system also includes a database which has combined information from the local client support activity file and the support center activity file. The support center activity file may comprise record of telephone support activity, a record of electronic support activity such email, or both.
In yet another aspect of the invention a method for tracking support activity associated with a local computer includes the step of recording local support activity at a local computer in a local client support activity file. The method also includes the step of uploading the local client support activity file. More specifically, the local client support activity file may be uploaded into a support center computer and stored in a support center database. More specifically, the support center database may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of local support utilities and support center activities.
The present invention provides a number of important technical advantages. One technical advantage is recording local client support activity in the local client support activity file. Recording the local client support activity provides effective and reliable measurement of the use of local support utilities.
Another technical advantage is the ability of the local client support activity file to be uploaded by a support center computer when the client contacts the support center. Uploading the local client support activity file provides an efficient method for gathering data related to local client support activity.
Another technical advantage is recording a service tag for identifying the local computer, the date and time of the local support activity, and a record of the local support activity. Recording these actions in a local activity file provides an efficient and reliable method of identifying the support steps a particular client took prior to contacting a support center.
Another technical advantage is using the support center database to evaluate the effectiveness of local support utilities. Effective local support utilities can then be expanded while ineffective or rarely used local support utilities may be revised or eliminated.
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Huber Gary D.
Lakshminarayanan Ganapathi S.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Dell USA L.P.
Shah Sanjiv
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