METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR RECREATING EVENTS OCCURRING WITHIN A WEB APPLICATION

• US 20070271273A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Warren, John S., Cradick, Ryan K., Zosel, Timothy D., Morter, R. Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,805,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/366 using diagnostics G06F11/0703 takes precedence

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for re-creating events occurring within a Web application is provided. The method includes receiving a request to perform an action from a client system accessing the Web application over a network. The method also includes generating a log file for the client system and recording the request and a timestamp of the request in the log file. The method further includes collecting client system information, executing the request, and recording the client system information and request execution details in the log file. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the method includes generating scripts to re-create the request and the request execution details, executing the scripts within the Web application and the operating environment of the client system that is re-produced using the client system information, and recording and evaluating results of execution of the scripts to identify any issues or evaluate client system experiences with the Web application.

Claims

1. A method for re-creating events occurring within a Web application, comprising:

receiving a request to perform an action from a client system accessing the Web application over a network;

generating a log file for the client system;

recording the request and a timestamp of the request in the log file;

collecting client system information including Web browser type, Web browser version, operating environment of the client system, and timestamps corresponding to the operating environment;

executing the request;

recording the client system information and request execution details in the log file; and

upon the occurrence of a trigger event;

generating scripts to re-create the request and the request execution details;

executing the scripts within the Web application and the operating environment of the client system that is re-produced using the client system information; and

recording and evaluating results of execution of the scripts to identify any issues or evaluate client system experiences with the Web application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the log file includes client system-generated event fields for recording requests including the request received from the client system, the client system-generated event fields corresponding to functions available via the Web application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the client system-generated events include at least one of:

selecting a link;

changing HTML form elements;

user interface element selections;

submitting a form;

moving a mouse at the client system; and

multi-media selections.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating environment includes at least one of:

Internet connectivity status;

central processing unit usage;

memory usage;

running applications; and

system services.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request execution details include at least one of:

retrieving a Web page;

transmitting a Web page;

results of performing a search;

retrieving a Web form;

transmitting a Web form;

receiving a Web form; and

performing an algorithm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the issues include at least one of:

performance degradation of the client system;

failure of the Web application to successfully complete execution of the request; and

abnormal termination of the Web application; and

wherein the triggering event includes at least one of;

detection of an issue; and

a request to recreate the client system'"'"'s experience with the Web application.

7. A system for re-creating events occurring within a Web application, comprising:

a computer processing device executing a Web application, the computer processing device in communication with a client system over a network;

a storage device in communication with the computer processing device;

a recording module executing in conjunction and in communication with the Web application; and

a playback module executing in conjunction and in communication with the Web application and the recording module;

wherein

the recording module performs;

receiving a request to perform an action from the client system accessing the Web application over the network;

generating a log file for the client system, the log file stored in the storage device;

recording the request and a timestamp of the request in the log file;

collecting client system information including Web browser type, Web browser version, operating environment of the client system, and timestamps corresponding to the operating environment;

executing the request;

recording the client system information and request execution details in the log file; and

upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the playback module performs;

generating scripts to re-create the request and the request execution details;

executing the scripts within the Web application and the operating environment of the client system that is re-produced using the client system information; and

recording and evaluating results of execution of the scripts to identify any issues or evaluate client system experiences with the Web application.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the log file includes client system-generated event fields for recording requests including the request received from the client system, the client system-generated event fields corresponding to functions available via the Web application.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the client system-generated events include at least one of:

selecting a link;

changing HTML form elements;

user interface element selections;

submitting a form;

moving a mouse at the client system; and

multi-media selections.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the operating environment includes at least one of:

Internet connectivity status;

central processing unit usage;

memory usage;

running applications; and

system services.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the request execution details include at least one of:

retrieving a Web page;

transmitting a Web page;

results of performing a search;

retrieving a Web form;

transmitting a Web form;

receiving a Web form; and

performing an algorithm.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the issues include at least one of:

performance degradation of the client system;

failure of the Web application to successfully complete execution of the request; and

abnormal termination of the Web application.

13. A computer program product for re-creating events occurring within a Web application, the computer program product including instructions for implementing a method, comprising:

receiving a request to perform an action from a client system accessing the Web application over a network;

generating a log file for the client system;

recording the request and a timestamp of the request in the log file;

collecting client system information including Web browser type, Web browser version, operating environment of the client system, and timestamps corresponding to the operating environment;

executing the request;

recording the client system information and request execution details in the log file; and

upon the occurrence of a triggering event;

generating scripts to re-create the request and the request execution details;

executing the scripts within the Web application and the operating environment of the client system that is re-produced using the client system information; and

recording and evaluating results of execution of the scripts to identify any issues or evaluate client system experiences with the Web application.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the log file includes client system-generated event fields for recording requests including the request received from the client system, the client system-generated event fields corresponding to functions available via the Web application.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the client system-generated events include at least one of:

selecting a link;

changing HTML form elements;

user interface element selections;

submitting a form;

moving a mouse at the client system; and

multi-media selections.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the operating environment includes at least one of:

Internet connectivity status;

central processing unit usage;

memory usage;

running applications; and

system services.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the request execution details include at least one of:

retrieving a Web page;

transmitting a Web page;

results of performing a search;

retrieving a Web form;

transmitting a Web form;

receiving a Web form; and

performing an algorithm.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the issues include at least one of:

performance degradation of the client system;

failure of the Web application to successfully complete execution of the request; and

abnormal termination of the Web application.