Synthetic Transaction Script Migration via Network Traffic Analysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current application performance monitoring (APM) solutions face challenges in migrating synthetic transaction scripts between different vendors due to proprietary scripting languages, requiring manual re-writing of code and lacking a generic approach for correlating requests, especially with complexities like custom authentication, CSRF protection, and CORS features.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that executes synthetic transactions, monitors network traffic, extracts parameters, and generates a new script using a template to replicate the transaction, thereby automating the migration process and reducing vendor lock-in.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If proprietary scripting languages are used for synthetic transactions in APM solutions, then vendor-specific functionality is achieved, but migration between vendors requires manual re-writing of code

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevendor-specific functionalityVSAvoidscript migration effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer that converts proprietary scripting languages into a standardized format. This intermediary system captures network traffic, extracts parameters, and generates portable scripts that can execute across different APM vendors without manual re-writing, thus resolving the contradiction between vendor-specific functionality and migration ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a universal script format that can function across multiple APM vendors. By standardizing the transaction definition language and parameter extraction methods, the system achieves multi-vendor compatibility while maintaining the ability to execute synthetic transactions across different platforms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual re-writing of synthetic transaction scripts is performed during migration, then compatibility with the new vendor's proprietary language is achieved, but time and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevendor compatibilityVSAvoidmigration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and analyzing network traffic during the transaction execution phase. By pre-extracting parameters and generating the standardized script format before migration is needed, the system eliminates the time-consuming manual re-writing process and enables rapid vendor transitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates accurate copies of the original synthetic transaction behavior through network traffic analysis. By copying the actual network requests, responses, and parameters during execution, the system reproduces the transaction semantics in the target vendor's environment without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If proprietary scripting languages are used, then vendor lock-in is maintained, but automation of migration processes is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevendor-specific capabilitiesVSAvoidmigration automation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediary translation system automatically bridges proprietary scripting languages by intercepting network traffic, extracting parameters programmatically, and generating standardized scripts. This automation eliminates the need for manual script rewriting while preserving vendor-specific capabilities through accurate traffic capture and parameter extraction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service migration by automatically performing the translation process without human intervention. The synthetic transaction execution, network traffic capture, parameter extraction, and script generation all occur autonomously, allowing organizations to migrate between vendors by simply initiating the translation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12126505B2Data migration in application performance monitoring

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

In an approach to improve data migration in application performance monitoring, embodiments execute a synthetic transaction to monitor an application, and monitor network traffic during the execution of the synthetic transaction. Further, embodiments extract a plurality of parameters indicative of the synthetic transaction from the network traffic, and generate a script, based on the extracted plurality of parameters and a predetermined template, that generates the synthetic transaction.