A method for analyzing and prioritizing changes to configuration parameters of applications in an information technology system, including collecting configuration parameters of applications executed on computer stations in a network, storing the collected configuration parameters in a database, comparing the configuration parameters of an application from a specific station with configuration parameters of the application at different stations, determining differences in the configuration parameters by the comparing, analyzing the determined differences according to a set of analysis dimensions that represent rules for evaluating the differences, assigning a score representing the level of conformity of the differences to each of the analysis dimensions, defining a context for reviewing the differences, assigning a weight to each analysis dimension representing the importance of the analysis dimension, adjusting the weights assigned to the analysis dimension based on the context, calculating a total risk for each analysis dimension for displaying to a user.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method for analyzing and prioritizing changes to configuration parameters of applications in an information technology system, comprising: collecting configuration parameters of applications executed on computer stations connected in a network implementing the information technology system; storing the collected configuration parameters in a database; comparing the configuration parameters of an application from a specific station with configuration parameters of the application at different stations; determining differences in the configuration parameters by said comparing; analyzing the determined differences according to a set of analysis dimensions that represent rules for evaluating the differences; assigning a score representing the level of conformity of the differences to each of the analysis dimensions; defining a context for reviewing the differences; assigning a weight to each analysis dimension representing the importance of the analysis dimension; adjusting the weights assigned to the analysis dimension based on the context; calculating a total risk for each analysis dimension by multiplying the analysis dimension scores for each difference with the weights and summating for each analysis dimension over all differences; displaying the calculated total risk. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the configuration parameters of an application from a specific station with the same configuration parameters stored at a later time. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the score is assigned to reflect inconsistencies between servers that are supposed to be identical. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the context is to investigate a problem occurring in the system. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the context is to check implementation of a new release of the application. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the context is to perform a periodic check to prevent the occurrence of problems. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein scores are assigned based on temporal factors related to the differences between configuration parameters. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein scores are assigned based on the role of the station executing the application. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein scores are assigned based on knowledge of the role of the configuration parameters. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said collecting is performed by local operating system routines on the computer station responsive to a request from a server. 11. A system for analyzing and prioritizing changes to configuration parameters of applications in an information technology system, comprising: an agent application for collecting configuration parameters of applications executed on computer stations connected in a network implementing the information technology system; a database for storing the collected configuration parameters; a server computer for comparing the configuration parameters of an application from a specific station with configuration parameters of the application at previous times or on different stations, determining differences in the configuration parameters by said comparing, analyzing the determined differences according to a set of analysis dimensions that represent rules for evaluating the differences; assigning a score representing the level of conformity of the differences to each of the analysis dimensions; defining a context for reviewing the differences; assigning a weight to each analysis dimension representing the importance of the analysis dimension; adjusting the weights assigned to the analysis dimension based on the context; calculating a total risk for each analysis dimension by multiplying the analysis dimension scores for each difference with the weights and summating for each analysis dimension over all differences; and a display for displaying the calculated total risk. 12. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing program code to execute the method according to claim 1.