Embedded Browser Gamification for SaaS Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Employee engagement with SaaS applications in a diversified workplace is variable, with users often preferring local applications over cloud-served ones due to lack of knowledge, past poor experiences, or inertia, leading to underutilization of SaaS tools and imbalances in system usage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an embedded browser within a client application that gamifies network applications by tracking user interactions, assigning scores, and displaying leaderboards, encouraging desired behavior and load balancing without the need for packet inspection or steering, thereby enhancing user engagement and utilization of distributed applications and services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional load balancers and packet inspection methods are used to achieve load balancing, then system usage balance can be improved, but resource consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to self-regulate their application usage through gamification elements (scores, badges, leaderboards) rather than requiring centralized load balancing control. Users autonomously adjust their behavior to optimize their gamification metrics, which indirectly achieves load balancing across the system without traditional load balancers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical load balancing system (load balancers, packet inspection hardware) with a software-based gamification layer that runs within the existing client application. This substitution eliminates the need for separate load balancing infrastructure while achieving similar or better distribution outcomes through user behavior modification.
2Productivity
If packet inspection and steering are implemented to balance system usage, then load balancing can be achieved, but processing intensity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the system actively inspecting and steering packets to achieve balance, the system passively provides gamification feedback that enables users to self-adjust their usage patterns. This eliminates the need for resource-intensive packet inspection and active steering operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops through scores, badges, and leaderboards that inform users about their usage patterns and encourage balanced behavior. This feedback mechanism achieves load balancing through information rather than through resource-intensive packet analysis and redirection.
3Reliability
If users are provided with detailed usage monitoring and load balancing control, then system balance can be improved, but system complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides users with simplified gamification metrics (scores, badges) that encapsulate complex usage patterns into intuitive indicators. Users self-regulate based on these simple metrics rather than requiring access to or understanding of complex monitoring data and control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The gamification layer acts as an intermediary between the complex backend monitoring systems and the end users. It translates complex system state into simple, actionable gamification elements while hiding the underlying complexity from both users and system infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for enhancing user engagement with network applications include client application executed by a client device, the client application comprising an embedded browser, in communication with one or more application servers providing a plurality of network applications. The embedded browser is configured to access a first network application and a second network application. The client application is configured to: track interactions of a user via the embedded browser with the first network application and the second network application, each interaction having a corresponding score; generate an aggregate score for the user from the scores of each tracked interaction; transmit, to a first application server, the aggregate score for the user; and receive, from the first application server, a score table comprising a plurality of scores of users including the aggregate score for the user. The embedded browser is further configured to display the score table to the user.