The present invention enables a software manufacturer to gain prompt, precise
and comprehensive knowledge about how customers actually use a software program.
The present invention is accomplished by using an instrumented application, or
software program that has been adapted to measure predetermined parameters about
the usage, performance or status of a local computer system while in operation.
Upon execution, the instrumented application initiates an instrumentation session,
measures predetermined parameter(s), obtains a value and stores the parameter(s)
and the value as a data point on the computer system. All of the data points collected
within a session are saved in a session file on the computer when the instrumentation
session ends. The invention then attempts to transmit the session file to a server
environment for further processing to summarize the statistical information received
so that the software manufacturer can better know how its software product are
actually used across a user population potentially numbering in the millions.
