Remote Client Monitoring via Server Response Duplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Debugging and customer support for complex software applications deployed on client-server systems are hindered by intermittent bugs that cannot be reproduced in the developer's laboratory, leading to inefficient and time-consuming troubleshooting processes, especially in distributed applications where remote access and data visibility are limited.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a server remote monitoring module that sends duplicate server responses to both the customer site and a developer site, allowing for remote data monitoring and debugging by replicating the client-server interactions, enabling developers to diagnose and solve issues remotely without direct access to the customer's system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If developers remotely access customer systems to debug issues, then they can directly observe and analyze the problem, but customer data security is compromised and system stability is at risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the debugging functionality by creating a virtual copy of the client application that runs independently at the developer's site. This virtual copy receives duplicate server responses, allowing developers to analyze issues without accessing the actual customer system, thus maintaining data security while enabling effective debugging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a copying mechanism where the server sends duplicate responses to both the original client and a virtual copy of the client application. This copy allows developers to reproduce and analyze issues remotely without touching the customer's actual system, eliminating security risks associated with remote access while preserving full debugging capability.
2Productivity
If developers reproduce bugs in their laboratory, then they can efficiently debug the issue, but intermittent bugs that occur only at customer sites cannot be reproduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a virtual copy of the client application that acts as a bridge between the customer's actual system and the developer's analysis environment. This intermediary receives duplicate server responses, allowing developers to reproduce bugs in their laboratory with the same data the customer experiences, thereby achieving both high debugging efficiency and reliable bug reproduction for intermittent issues.
3Loss of information
If remote control applications are used to view the customer's desktop, then developers can see the user interface, but they only have access to displayed information not underlying data and objects
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by having the virtual copy of the client application receive and process duplicate server responses before the developer needs to analyze them. This allows developers to access complete underlying data and objects in their laboratory environment, not just displayed information, enabling comprehensive debugging without increasing system complexity at the customer site.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments consistent with the principles of the invention provide client-server application problem-solving capabilities at sites remote from the operational site by supplying server response data to a copy of the client-side application running at the remote site. The client-side application running at the remote site receives the same inputs as the operational site application, allowing application problems and behavior to be reproduced at the remote site. Debugging tools, expertise, and other resources may be more efficiently applied at the remote site to solve problems and explain behavior than would be the case at the operational site.