Application screen mapping for mobile analytics

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods that include receiving application source code of a mobile application, analyzing the application source code to generate screen metadata that represents screen images that will be generated by the mobile application upon execution of binary application code generated from the application source code, storing the screen metadata in a screen metadata file, and associating the screen metadata file with the mobile application. Other methods disclosed herein include analyzing operation of a mobile application during runtime execution of the mobile application, identifying a reportable runtime event during operation of the mobile application, and in response to identifying the reportable runtime event, generating screen data that describes a screen image generated by the mobile application and associated with the reportable runtime event, generating a runtime event report, wherein the runtime event report includes the screen data, and transmitting the runtime event report to an application analysis computer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by an application analysis computer operating in a communication network and in communication with a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
 receiving application source code of a mobile application executed by the mobile computing device;   analyzing the application source code to generate screen metadata that represents screen images that will be generated by the mobile application upon execution of binary application code generated from the application source code by the mobile computing device;   storing the screen metadata in a screen metadata file; and   associating the screen metadata file with the mobile application.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the screen metadata comprises generating a storyboard file that provides a schematic representation of the screen images that are generated by the mobile application upon execution of compiled code generated from the application source code at the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating the storyboard file comprises parsing a NIB or XIB file and building a map of the screen images generated by the mobile application showing transitions between the screen images. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the site map includes controls associated with the screen images generated by the mobile application. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving analytic code that analyzes activity of the mobile application during runtime execution of the mobile application at the mobile computing device; and   generating an application installation package including the analytic code, the screen metadata, and the binary application code.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the screen metadata comprises metadata characterizing the screen images generated by the mobile application at runtime. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating the screen metadata file with the mobile application comprises associating the screen metadata file with information identifying a particular version of the mobile application. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating the screen metadata file with the mobile application comprises associating the screen metadata file with information identifying a particular operating platform. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising providing the screen metadata file, excluding the screen images, to the mobile computing device in an application package for extraction at the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the screen metadata comprises generating screen IDs to associate with each of the screen images. 
     
     
         11 . A computer readable program product comprising executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium that when executed by a processer of an application analysis computer operating in a communication network and in communication with a mobile computing device causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving application source code of a mobile application executed by the mobile computing device;   analyzing the application source code to generate screen metadata that represents screen images that will be generated by the mobile application upon execution of binary application code generated from the application source code by the mobile computing device;   storing the screen metadata in a screen metadata file; and   associating the screen metadata file with the mobile application.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable program product of  claim 11 , wherein generating the screen metadata comprises generating a storyboard file that provides a schematic representation of the screen images that are generated by the mobile application upon execution of compiled code generated from the application source code at the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable program product of  claim 11 , wherein the executable instructions executed by the processor causes the processor to further perform operations comprising:
 receiving analytic code that analyzes activity of the mobile application during runtime execution of the mobile application at the mobile computing device; and   generating an application installation package including the analytic code, the screen metadata, and the binary application code.   
     
     
         14 . A method performed by an application analysis computer operating in a communication network and in communication with a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the mobile computing device, a runtime event report detailing a runtime event of a mobile application executed by the mobile computing device, the runtime event report including screen data that describes a screen image associated with the runtime event; and   generating a simulated screen image of the mobile application associated with the runtime event from the screen data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the runtime event report comprises user interaction data associated with the runtime event, the method further comprising:
 generating an animation of user interaction with the mobile application using the simulated screen image and the user interaction data.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the screen data comprises a screen name. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the screen data comprises metadata that describes a control, menu, controller and/or widget associated with the screen image. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the screen data excludes the screen image associated with the runtime event. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein generating the simulated screen image of the mobile application comprises generating the simulated screen image based on a screen ID included in the screen data associated with the runtime event. 
     
     
         20 . A computer readable program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium that when executed by a processer of an application analysis computer operating in a communication network and in communication with a mobile computing device causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from the mobile computing device, a runtime event report detailing a runtime event of a mobile application executed by the mobile computing device, the runtime event report including screen data that describes a screen image associated with the runtime event; and   generating a simulated screen image of the mobile application associated with the runtime event from the screen data.