Cloud-Based Custom Metric Definition for Mobile Apps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for gathering business metrics from native mobile applications are cumbersome, requiring developers to write custom code, which leads to delayed data collection and potential irrelevance due to market changes, as updates need to be approved and deployed through app stores, taking several weeks.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based platform allows business managers to define custom metrics and timers using a graphical user interface, enabling immediate implementation on mobile apps without code changes, allowing real-time data collection from all active users worldwide, regardless of app version, through a special device agent mode that supports touch-based location of application elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If developers write custom code to extract and transmit metrics, then custom business metrics can be obtained, but the process takes several weeks due to App Store approval and update deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the metric collection functionality from the native app code itself and places it in a separate web view component. This allows the metric collection logic to be updated independently of the native app, enabling rapid deployment without App Store review. The web view acts as an independent container that can load updated JavaScript code directly from the server.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a web view as an intermediary layer between the native app and the metric collection logic. This web view loads JavaScript code that handles all metric extraction and transmission, acting as a mediator that can be updated independently. The native app merely provides the container, while the web view manages the actual metric collection and communication with the server.
2Reliability
If custom code is included in a new app version, then metrics can be collected, but the code must go through iterative fixes and re-submissions to App Store
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the metric collection functionality into a separate web-based component that can be independently updated. This segmentation allows the metric collection logic to be developed, tested, and deployed separately from the native app, eliminating the need for iterative App Store submissions. Each metric collection update becomes a simple web page deployment rather than a full app release.
3Measurement precision
If app updates are required for metric collection, then accurate metrics can be gathered, but by the time updates are deployed, the metrics may no longer be relevant due to market changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the metric collection system dynamic by allowing the web view to load updated JavaScript code from the server at any time without requiring app updates. This dynamic update capability enables the business to rapidly respond to market changes by modifying metric collection logic and having it immediately available to all users, maintaining both accuracy and business responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for real-time capture of analytics from real users of a native mobile application (app) includes storing a custom metric/timer definition for a native mobile application (app) in a configuration file on a server. The custom metric/timer definition includes one or more identifiers of an element or object of the native mobile app selected by touch gesture input via a user interface on a mobile device running the native mobile app in a special mode. The configuration file is downloaded from the server to real users running the native mobile app on associated mobile devices. Immediately thereafter, one or more collector servers receive data beaconed in real-time from the associated mobile devices of the real users. The beaconed data includes custom metric/timer data obtained from the custom metric/timer definition.