ActionScript Presentation Analytics Engine for Flash Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking Flash presentation usage rely on JavaScript, which can be complex, performance-hampering, and limited in data transfer, especially in Internet Explorer, and require object-specific code for each tracked object, making it difficult to implement and test effectively.
Innovation Solution
A presentation analytics engine that operates independently of web page scripts, using ActionScript to capture and send analytics data without relying on getURL() invocation or object-specific tracking code, enabling autotracking and visual analytics overlay reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If JavaScript code is used for Flash tracking, then web page usage data can be tracked and analyzed, but the Flash developer must understand JavaScript nuances and the implementation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tracking functionality from JavaScript and implements it directly in ActionScript within the Flash presentation. This eliminates the need for Flash developers to understand JavaScript nuances while maintaining complete tracking data collection. The tracking code is self-contained within the Flash environment, using ActionScript's native capabilities to collect and send tracking information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal tracking solution that works within the Flash environment regardless of the web page's JavaScript implementation. By using ActionScript's getURL() function and FSCommand, the tracking system becomes independent of specific JavaScript frameworks or implementations, making it universally applicable to any Flash presentation while simplifying the developer's task.
2Loss of information
If JavaScript code is invoked via getURL() for tracking, then usage data can be transmitted to analytics server, but Flash animation performance is delayed and user experience is harmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic batch transmission of tracking data instead of continuous JavaScript invocations. Tracking data is collected during Flash animation execution and transmitted periodically using ActionScript's getURL() function, reducing the frequency of performance-impacting operations while ensuring complete data transmission to the analytics server.
3Loss of information
If JavaScript code is used for tracking, then web page analytics can be collected, but data transfer is limited to 508 characters per request in Internet Explorer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments large volumes of tracking data into smaller chunks that fit within the 508 character limit of Internet Explorer's getURL() function. The ActionScript code divides comprehensive tracking information including Flash presentation data, web page data, and user interaction data into multiple transmitable segments, ensuring complete data collection despite browser limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimension of data transmission by using Flash's local shared objects (LSO) to store tracking data locally before transmission. This bypasses the immediate 508 character limitation by accumulating data in a different storage dimension (local storage) and transmitting in batches, effectively overcoming the browser's request size constraints.
4Measurement precision
If object-specific tracking code is added for each tracked object, then detailed interaction data can be captured, but implementation and testing become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service tracking where the Flash presentation automatically generates and transmits tracking data without requiring manual addition of object-specific code. The ActionScript tracking system automatically monitors user interactions with Flash objects and web page elements, collecting precise interaction data through event listeners and automatic tracking mechanisms that eliminate manual coding requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Tools and techniques are provided to support presentation analytics, such as Flash or Flex analytics, independently of embedded JavaScript web analytics code used in web pages. A presentation analytics engine, which may be implemented in ActionScript, includes code for capturing information about user interaction with a multimedia presentation, code for dynamically generating a string or other data structure reflecting such captured information, and code for sending the data structure to an analytics server without using a getURL( ) call or embedded JavaScript. Functionality is also provided for tracking objects without object-specific code, for dynamically sending such tracking information, and for supporting a visual presentation analytics overlay report illustrating such information. The Flash presentation analytics may use the same visitor ID as standard JavaScript analytics, without synchronizing the two analytics codes.