Patent ID: 7386839
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for analyzing a software configuration on a computer system, the method comprising: tracing an execution of an application computer program on the computer system by attaching an application program interface tracer to the application; collecting trace data relating to the execution of the application and storing the trace data in a first application signature; generating reference data from at least one source selected from the group comprising, known computer system configuration errors, a second application signature corresponding to executing the application using a known software configuration, and a static configuration of a reference computer; selectively analyzing differences between the first application signature and the reference data, wherein selectively analyzing differences comprises distinguishing a first state for each of a plurality of first objects in the first application signature and a second state for each of a plurality of corresponding second objects in the reference data; and prioritizing a plurality of combinations of the first state and the second state to denote a likelihood, relative to the plurality of combinations, of causing the application to execute incorrectly.