Composition of error messages in an error message system based upon non-local contextual information

Claim 2

In a computer system, a method comprising the steps of: associating non-local contextual information with a triggering error event, wherein the non-local contextual information defines a first error condition and an associated first error message; detecting a current error event, wherein the current error event has an associated current error event message; if the current error event is the triggering error event, determining whether the first error condition is met, wherein the first error condition is met by an occurrence or operating state other than the current error event message; and composing an output error message from the first error message if the first error condition is met.

Claim 3

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the first error condition is given number of repetitions of the current error event.

Claim 4

The method as described in claim 2 wherein the given number is selectable.

Claim 5

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the first error condition is a prior error event having a given relationship to the current error event.

Claim 6

The method as described in claim 4 wherein the given relationship is that the current error event occurs within a predetermined number of errors of the prior error event.

Claim 7

The method as described in claim 5 wherein the predetermined number of errors is selectable.

Claim 8

The method as described in claim 4 wherein the prior error event is selectable.

Claim 9

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the output error message is a composite of a first portion and a second portion.

Claim 10

The method as described in claim 8 wherein the first portion is an error message normally associated with the current error event and the second portion is given information to assist a user to address the current error event.

Claim 11

The method as described in claim 1 further including the step of displaying the output error message to a user of the computer system.

Claim 12

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the non-local contextual information includes historical information about the triggering error event.

Claim 13

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the non-local contextual information includes historical information about the triggering error event and at least one other error event.

Claim 14

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the non-local contextual information includes information about a configuration of the computer system.

Claim 15

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the non-local contextual information includes time-of-day information.

Claim 16

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the non-local contextual information further defines a second error condition and an associated second error message; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of: determining whether the second error condition is met if the first error condition is not met; and composing an output error message from the second error message if the second error condition is met.

Claim 17

The method as described in claim 1 wherein the associating step includes receiving input from a user interface for mapping the triggering error event to a set of one or more conditions and associated error messages.

Claim 18

A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for composing error messages in a data processing system having a display, comprising: means for associating non-local contextual information with a triggering error event, wherein the non-local contextual information defines a first error condition and an associated first error message; means for determining whether a current error event is the triggering error event, wherein the current error event has an associated current error event message; means for determining whether the first error condition is met if the current error event is the triggering error event, wherein the first error condition is met by an occurrence or operating state other than the current error event message; and means for composing an output error message from the first error message if the first error condition is met.

Claim 19

A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for composing error messages in a data processing system having a display, comprising: means for associating non-local contextual information with a triggering error event, wherein the non-local contextual information defines a first error condition and an associated first error message; means for determining whether a current error event is the triggering error event, wherein the current error event has an associated current error event message; means for determining whether the first error condition is met if the current error event is the triggering error event, wherein the first error condition is met by an occurrence or operating state other than the current error event message; and means for composing an output error message from the first error message if the first error condition is met.

Claim 20

The computer program product as described in claim 17 further including means for creating an association between the current error event and a prior error event.

Claim 21

The computer program product as described in claim 17 wherein the means for associating includes a user interface for mapping the triggering error event to a set of one or more conditions and associated error messages.

Claim 22

The computer program as described in claim 17 wherein the non-local contextual information includes historical information about the triggering error event.

Claim 23

The computer program product as described in claim 17 wherein the non-local contextual information includes historical information about the triggering error event and at least one other error event.

Claim 24

The computer program product as described in claim 17 wherein the non-local contextual information includes information about a configuration of the computer system.

Claim 25

The computer program product as described in claim 17 wherein the non-local contextual information includes time-of-day information.

Claim 26

The computer program product as described in claim 17 wherein the non-local contextual information further defines a second error condition and an associated second error message; and wherein the application further comprises: means for determining whether the second error condition is met if the first error condition is not met; and means for composing an output error message from the second error message if the second error condition is met.

Claim 27

A computer, comprising: a processor; an operating system; an application for composing and displaying error messages on a display, comprising: means for associating non-local contextual information with a triggering error event, wherein the non-local contextual information defines a first error condition and an associated first error message; means for determining whether a current error event is the triggering error event, wherein the current error event has an associated current error event message; means for determining whether the first error condition is met if the current error event is the triggering error event, wherein the first error condition is met by an occurrence or operating state other than the current error event message; and means for composing an output error message from the first error message if the first error condition is met.

Claim 28

A computer, comprising: a processor; an operating system; an application for composing and displaying error messages on a display, comprising: means for associating non-local contextual information with a triggering error event, wherein the non-local contextual information defines a first error condition and an associated first error message; means for determining whether a current error event is the triggering error event, wherein the current error event has an associated current error event message; means for determining whether the first error condition is met if the current error event is the triggering error event, wherein the first error condition is met by an occurrence or operating state other than the current error event message; and means for composing an output error message from the first error message if the first error condition is met.

Claim 29

The computer as described in claim 25 wherein the associating means includes a user interface for mapping the triggering error event to a set of one or more conditions and associated error messages.

Claim 30

The computer as described in claim 25 further including the step of displaying the output error message to a user of the computer.

Claim 31

The computer as described in claim 25 wherein the non-local contextual information includes historical information about the triggering error event.

Claim 32

The computer as described in claim 25 wherein the non-local contextual information includes historical information about the triggering error event and at least one other error event.

Claim 33

The computer as described in claim 25 wherein the non-local contextual information includes information about a configuration of the computer system.

Claim 34

The computer as described in claim 25 wherein the non-local contextual information includes time-of-day information.