Web Application Tracer for Inactivity-Aware Telemetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional tracer applications struggle to capture accurate telemetry data in web-page applications with dynamically-loaded elements, especially when user inactivity affects browser performance.
Innovation Solution
The method involves automatically instrumenting web-based applications by using a tracer application that logs tracing data, detects periods of user inactivity, and associates spans with these periods to adjust and compensate for telemetry data inaccuracies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional tracer applications are used to capture telemetry data in web-page applications with dynamically-loaded elements, then the implementation is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to capture accurate telemetry data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the web page application into multiple spans, where each span represents a discrete unit of work or operation. This segmentation allows the tracer application to track and measure specific operations individually, improving measurement precision for dynamically-loaded elements while maintaining manageable complexity through structured data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by detecting user inactivity periods and proactively adjusting or pausing telemetry data collection during these periods. This prevents inaccurate data from being captured when the browser is inactive, improving measurement precision without requiring continuous complex monitoring mechanisms.
2Reliability
If telemetry data collection continues during user inactivity periods, then continuous monitoring is maintained, but the reliability of performance evaluation deteriorates due to inaccurate telemetry data
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of user inactivity and takes preventive action by adjusting or pausing telemetry data collection before inaccurate data can be generated. This ensures reliable performance evaluation by excluding data from periods when the browser is not actively rendering or processing user interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the tracer application continuously monitors browser activity states and adjusts telemetry collection accordingly. When inactivity is detected, the system feedback loops to modify data collection behavior, ensuring that only reliable performance data is captured and evaluated.
3Measurement precision
If the tracer application adjusts for user inactivity periods, then measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional detection and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The tracer application is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a data collection mechanism and an activity detection system. By integrating multiple functions into a single unified tracer application, the patent improves measurement precision through activity-aware data collection while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from separate detection and adjustment systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed techniques relate to instrumenting applications. In an example, a method instantiates a tracer application based on a start of the web page application. The method automatically logs a start of a first span and executes first operations associated with the first span. The method automatically logs an end of the first span based upon a completion of the first operations. The method automatically logs a start of a second span based on an event initiated by an interaction with the web page application. The method detects, via the tracer application, that a period of inactivity of the web browser occurred and the second span was active before the period of inactivity. The method associates the second span with the period of inactivity based on the detecting. The method automatically logs an end of the second span.