Patent ID: 7697472
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for collecting device usage information from a plurality of portable devices having an internal memory, said method comprising: enabling at least a portion of said plurality of portable devices to maintain stored data containing one or more device operation parameters, including error data indicating occurrences of detected errors or failures, wherein said one or more device operation parameters are stored on said internal memory of at least a portion of said plurality of portable devices; detecting a wired connection between at least one of said plurality of portable devices and a host computer, wherein said host computer is connected to a network; incident to said detecting, receiving by said host computer at least a portion of said one or more device operation parameters from the internal memory of at least one of said plurality of portable devices; communicating via said network at least a portion of said one or more device operation parameters, including at least a portion of said error data, to a database for consolidation; and utilizing the consolidation of said error data in said database to identify frequent errors or failures occurring on said plurality of portable; wherein said enabling utilizes one or more privacy selections associated with a user to store said one or more device operation parameters in accordance with said one or more privacy selections.