Web Application Usage History Tracking for Error Diagnosis

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing software error diagnosis tools are inefficient and lack sufficient information for effective resolution, especially in complex computing environments like Service Oriented Architectures, where error information is dispersed and difficult to ascertain.

Innovation Solution

A method that tracks and stores usage history information of web applications, including user interactions, and outputs this information to an incident file accessible by error analysis software, using a configurable buffer to correlate with additional diagnostics data for efficient error diagnosis and correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional error diagnosis tools are used, then the system structure remains simple, but the information completeness and diagnosis efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror information completenessVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically tracking, recording, and storing usage history information before errors occur. The buffer continuously captures user interactions, navigation paths, and system state, ensuring that complete error context is available when errors are detected, eliminating information loss without requiring complex manual data collection systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary buffer component that mediates between the web application and the error diagnosis system. This buffer automatically collects and stores usage history information, acting as an intermediary data repository that provides complete error context while maintaining system simplicity through automated information gathering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If manual error description by users is used, then the system complexity remains low, but the time consumption and information accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror diagnosis timeVSAvoidautomation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically tracking and recording its own usage history without requiring external intervention. The buffer continuously monitors and stores user interactions, navigation paths, and system state automatically, providing complete error context without manual user input or complex diagnostic procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically tracking, recording, and storing usage history information before errors occur. The buffer continuously captures user interactions, navigation paths, and system state, ensuring that complete error context is available when errors are detected, eliminating information loss without requiring complex manual data collection systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If detailed usage history tracking is implemented, then the error diagnosis information completeness improves, but the storage requirements and system resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage history information completenessVSAvoiddata storage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by tracking and storing only the specific usage history information relevant to error diagnosis contexts. The buffer selectively captures navigation paths, user interactions, and system state only when and where they are pertinent to potential errors, providing complete diagnostic information while minimizing unnecessary data storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically tracking, recording, and storing usage history information before errors occur. The buffer continuously captures user interactions, navigation paths, and system state, ensuring that complete error context is available when errors are detected, eliminating information loss without requiring complex manual data collection systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9009544B2User operation history for web application diagnostics

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

A system and method for diagnosing an error during a user operation in a web application. An example method is executed, at least in part, by a server system, wherein the server system also executes, at least in part, a web application. The example method includes recording user operations during a user's interaction with the web application; storing the user operations in a click history record in a primary memory device; determining that an error has occurred during the user's interaction with the web application; in response to the determining, transferring at least a portion of the click history record to a secondary memory device; including correlation information in association with the click history; identifying at least one other record by using the correlation information; and providing the click history record and the at least one other record to analysis software and accompanying user interface display screen so that the error can be diagnosed.