Automated Web Page Instrumentation via Intelligent Tag Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for instrumenting web pages, such as inserting web-analytics tags, are often manual and inefficient, requiring significant user intervention and lacking automation, which complicates the process of tracking user interactions and embedding advertising content across multiple pages without affecting page functionality or appearance.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for automatically instrumenting web pages by inserting customized executable code or content, utilizing a central tag repository for integrity and flexibility, allowing for smart validation, parameterization, and A/B testing, with the ability to minimize impact on page appearance and functionality, enabling efficient tracking and advertising integration across hundreds or thousands of pages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual methods are used to insert web-analytics tags into web pages, then the instrumentation can be performed with simple tools, but the process requires significant user intervention and is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrumentation efficiencyVSAvoiduser intervention requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service automation by allowing the instrumentation server to automatically analyze web pages, identify insertion points, and embed tags without requiring manual user intervention for each page, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplicity and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (cutting, pasting, saving files) with an automated electronic system that uses algorithms to analyze page structure, determine optimal insertion points, and embed tags programmatically, eliminating the need for repetitive manual user actions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If web-analytics tags are inserted into web pages, then user interactions can be tracked, but the process is complicated and time-consuming across multiple pages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction tracking capabilityVSAvoidinstrumentation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of web pages to automatically identify appropriate insertion points for tags before actual embedding occurs, and maintains a repository of pre-configured tag templates, which reduces the time required for instrumentation across multiple pages while ensuring proper tracking capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The instrumentation server provides universal functionality to handle multiple web pages with a single automated process, applying the same tag embedding logic across diverse page types (HTML, XML, WML, etc.), thereby reducing overall instrumentation time while maintaining comprehensive tracking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If advertising content is embedded into web pages, then revenue generation is enabled, but the page appearance and functionality may be negatively affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvertising content volumeVSAvoidimpact on page appearance and functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by embedding advertising content at specifically identified insertion points within the page structure that are least likely to disrupt the overall appearance or functionality, allowing advertising volume to increase while minimizing harmful effects on user experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The instrumentation server acts as an intermediary that intelligently selects optimal locations for ad embedding and can modify the embedding process based on page characteristics, mediating between the need for advertising content and the need to preserve page quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8996682B2Automatically instrumenting a set of web documents

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for automatically instrumenting a set of web documents, such as web pages, as well as embedding structures that present advertising content via the web pages. The instrumentation automatically embeds tags that enable usage information associated with the web documents to be tracked and recorded. Many hundreds or thousands of web pages can be automatically modified without user intervention, enabling comprehensive reporting and tracking to be performed on each page. The web pages are analyzed and insertion points intelligently located. Changes can be verified to ensure that no undesirable effects resulted from embedding the content. The tags can receive parameters customized to the level of users and pages. The tags, insertion information, and other configuration information can be stored in a central repository to make subsequent tagging easier.