Distributed Application Usage Logging via Hosted Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software development processes lack effective methods to track application usage information independently of platform, location, and number of deployed instances, leading to uninformed resource allocation and poor decision-making due to inadequate metrics and feedback from users.
Innovation Solution
A hosted service-based platform that monitors and aggregates application usage information, integrating a usage monitoring API into applications to collect and transmit feature, fault, and failure data, regardless of platform or location, using a scalable and efficient logging system that exports data for analysis and reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional centralized logging techniques are used, then error and trace information can be collected from homogeneous computer environments, but the system cannot effectively track application usage information across distributed platforms, locations, and numbers of deployed instances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal logging service layer that operates across heterogeneous computer environments (mainframes, personal computers, workstations) using a standardized API interface. This logging service collects usage information from applications regardless of platform, location, or deployment instance, enabling centralized aggregation of data from diverse sources while maintaining platform independence through the common logging service abstraction layer
2Measurement precision
If user surveys and focus groups are used to gather feedback, then some user opinions can be obtained, but the data is inaccurate, untimely, and represents only a small sampling of the customer base
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated logging services within applications that continuously collect usage information without requiring manual user participation in surveys or focus groups. The system self-records feature usage, faults, and failures directly from application execution, providing accurate, timely, and comprehensive data covering the entire customer base rather than small samples, eliminating the need for manual feedback collection methods
3Productivity
If application logging is implemented across distributed global development teams, then more comprehensive coverage is achieved, but the complexity of coordinating and evaluating usage information increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the logging system into independent logging service layers deployed at each development location and organization, with each instance collecting and pre-processing usage information locally. These distributed logging services then communicate with a centralized logging facility through standardized interfaces, allowing comprehensive global coverage while managing complexity through modular, distributed architecture rather than centralized coordination of all activities
Data Source
AI summary
A web-based hosted solution through which application developers create, manage and monitor application usage analytics in an online manner. During the development process, a usage monitoring API is integrated into the application and the application is deployed. As users interact with the application, a log file is generated. If the application is able to write to a local file system, usage information is gathered in a log file local to the deployed application and then dispatched to an upload server for processing in a batch manner. If the application is not able to write to the user machine's local file system, the usage information is sent to a remote logging server, preferably on a just-in-time basis, and then the log file is generated on the logging server. The usage information tracked comprises “features,”“faults” and “failures” of the application, independent of platform, location, and number of deployed application instances.