Patent ID: 7188171

Claim:
An integrated hardware and software monitoring system for a remote computer, comprising: an event monitoring module loaded on the remote computer, wherein the event monitoring module includes: a hardware event detector that detects at least one hardware event that has occurred on the remote computer, and a software service detector that detects status of software running on the remote computer to determine if any of the software has failed or is not operating properly, and to output a software event as a result thereof; a transmission system for performing a data transmission to notify a support specialist over a network connection of a hardware event or software event detected by the event monitoring module; and a graphical user interface unit that provides a graphical user interface for allowing a user of the remote computer to make selections as to which software services and hardware events are to be detected, wherein the graphical user interface also allows the user to make selections as to which types of corrective actions to be taken for selected ones of the software services and hardware events, the type of corrective actions including at least one of: a) a reboot of the remote computer, and b) an audible or visible alert being made at the remote computer.