A Logging Framework for the On-Line Failure Analysis of Android Smart Phones

This paper introduces the design of a logging framework for the on-line failure analysis of Android Smart Phones. The framework enables the collection of failure data at runtime, useful to assess the dependability of smart phones, to deeply investigate the causes of failures, and to reduce maintenance efforts. Existing tools mainly focus on the collection of failure data about application crashes. The aim of the proposed framework is to extend the collection to other types of failures, such as, application hang, phone freeze and phone self-reboot. The paper describes the main design choices behind the components of the framework, and investigates advantages and disadvantages of different solutions.