Centralized Bug Tracking System for Mobile App Developers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Software developers face challenges in obtaining and analyzing user feedback effectively, especially when distributing applications through third-party online app stores for wireless mobile devices, as existing solutions lack comprehensive and automated mechanisms for bug reporting and data management.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system that registers software developers, collects and correlates problem reports from mobile devices, and provides aggregated reports to developers, while maintaining user privacy and allowing for trust-level access control, enabling developers to diagnose and address issues within their applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If developers use email links for bug reporting, then users can provide feedback, but the feedback cannot be collected and analyzed effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized bug tracking system that acts as an intermediary between users and developers. Users report bugs through the system, which automatically collects, stores, and manages the feedback data, eliminating the information loss problem of email-based reporting while maintaining ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops where bug reports are systematically collected, analyzed, and fed back to developers in structured formats. This transforms the unmanageable email feedback into actionable, organized data that can be effectively analyzed and addressed.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive bug data is collected from all users, then diagnostic capabilities improve, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates personally identifiable information from bug report data. The system collects comprehensive diagnostic information while removing or anonymizing user identity data, allowing precise bug analysis without exposing user privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different data handling qualities to different parts of the bug report. Sensitive user information is processed with privacy protection (anonymization or removal), while technical diagnostic information is preserved in full detail for accurate bug analysis.
3Productivity
If individual developers manage bug reports manually, then they can track their applications, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bug tracking system operates autonomously to collect, categorize, and manage bug reports. It automatically processes incoming feedback, assigns priorities, and organizes data without requiring manual intervention from developers, significantly improving efficiency and reducing time investment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary processing of bug reports before they reach developers. It automatically categorizes bugs, extracts key information, and prepares structured summaries in advance, saving developers substantial time when they need to address the issues.
4Manufacturing precision
If detailed bug information is provided to developers, then application quality improves, but trust and privacy concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies selective information disclosure based on trust levels. For trusted developers, comprehensive detailed information is provided to maximize application quality. For less trusted developers, anonymized or aggregated data is provided, maintaining privacy while still enabling quality improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of information detail provided to developers based on trust parameters. As trust levels change, the granularity and sensitivity of shared bug information are modified accordingly, balancing quality improvement needs with privacy protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented system for managing software problem reports includes a registration sub-system to register software developers from multiple different developer organizations; an application store that makes a plurality of applications from a plurality of application developers available for acquisition by members of the public; an application bug tracker programmed to receive reports of problems with applications distributed using the application store, to receive data regarding the problems, and to associate the data with a particular application or developer of the particular application; and a report generator to produce one or more problem reports for a developer that has provided one or more applications, the problem reports including information about the data regarding the problems relating to particular applications submitted to the application store by the developer.