Staged release of updates with anomaly monitoring

Systems, devices, media, and methods are presented for releasing an application feature in incremental stages while monitoring the application for anomalies. The feature includes a package of code and an action setting. The methods in some implementations include identifying active devices on which the application has been installed, monitoring the application according to a set of metrics, activating the feature by changing its action setting for a first segment of the active devices, pausing the feature if an anomaly is detected among the set of metrics, and generating a repair ticket. As long as no anomaly is detected, the activating step proceeds for subsequent segments of the active devices, iteratively, until the release is completed. A feature rank may be used to process and release a plurality of features in order of priority.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Examples set forth in the present disclosure relate generally to the release of application updates and features. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present disclosure addresses systems and methods for releasing updates and features in stages while monitoring the application for anomalies.

BACKGROUND

Software applications, including both desktop and mobile applications, typically require the periodic installation of updates. An update may include a software patch intended to fix or repair a bug or other defect, a general update with new or improved features, or an entirely new version of an application. Updates to mobile applications are often made available through an application distribution platform, or app store, that is accessible from mobile devices. A mobile application is designed to run on a portable mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet, watch, media player, camera, or headset. Many mobile applications are configured to allow independent software developers to create new or improved features that are specifically designed to work with or otherwise enhance the mobile application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various implementations and details are described with reference to an example: a release monitoring system for controlling the staged release of a mobile application feature, while simultaneously monitoring the application for anomalies. Each feature is released to a subset of devices, in incremental stages, until the release is completed, unless an anomaly is detected. If the system detects an anomaly among a set of metrics about the application, the system pauses or disables the feature and generates a repair ticket. The system may control the release of a plurality of features from an ordered list according to a rank associated with each feature. If a feature is paused or disabled, the system may proceed to select the next feature from the ordered list and process its release. In addition to the example release monitoring system, the systems and methods described herein may be applied to and used with any of a variety of systems, especially those for which high availability and precise control is desired.

The following detailed description includes systems, methods, techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine program products illustrative of examples set forth in the disclosure. Numerous details and examples are included for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the disclosed subject matter and its relevant teachings. Those skilled in the relevant art, however, may understand how to apply the relevant teachings without such details. Aspects of the disclosed subject matter are not limited to the specific devices, systems, and method described because the relevant teachings can be applied or practice in a variety of ways. The terminology and nomenclature used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. In general, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

New or improved features become available for download frequently, especially for a popular or widely used mobile application. Some features are enabled, or turned on, as soon as the end user downloads the feature or updates the application. Updates and features sometimes cause application errors or other anomalies, which may cause inconvenience and irritation for end users. When application errors are observed after releasing an update or feature, the application's owner faces the difficult challenge of determining which feature is causing the errors. Searching for a solution is time consuming, labor intensive, and expensive because the search effort may include sending custom queries to gather data about the errors, evaluating the data, and reviewing the incoming error reports to try and identify the feature causing the errors.

FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating a system100, according to some examples, configured to automatically control the release of a new or improved feature. The system100includes one or more client devices such as client device110. The client device110may include, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop, portable digital assistant (PDA), smart phone, tablet, Ultrabook, netbook, laptop, multi-processor system, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronic device, game console, set-top box (STB), computer in a vehicle, or any other communication device that a user may utilize to access the system100. In some examples, the client device110includes a display module (not shown) to display information (e.g., in the form of user interfaces). In further examples, the client device110includes one or more of touch screens, accelerometers, gyroscopes, cameras, microphones, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and so forth. The client device110may be a device of a user that is used to access and utilize an online social platform. For example, the client device110may be used to open an application, to input information and create an account, and to execute any of a variety of application-driven tasks such as capturing images, creating and sending content, receiving and viewing content from others, and so forth.

For example, client device110is a device of a given user who would like to create an account on an online social platform. Client device110accesses a website of an online social platform (e.g., hosted by server system108). The user inputs login credentials associated with the user. Server system108receives the request and provides access to the online social platform.

As another example, client device110is a device that downloads an update from an application distribution platform for an application, such as an online social platform hosted by server system108. The update includes a feature having an action setting that has been changed from Disable to Enable by the server system108, which also monitors the performance and other metrics associated with the application. In use, the feature has a defect that causes the application to crash or exhibit some other anomaly. In response, the server system108changes the action setting from Enable to Pause (or to Disable) for the client device110as well as other devices110using the application, until the feature defect can be repaired or otherwise corrected.

One or more users may be a person, a machine, or other means of interacting with the client device110. In examples, the user may not be part of the system100but may interact with the system100via the client device110or other means. For instance, the user may provide input (e.g., touch screen input or alphanumeric input) to the client device110and the input may be communicated to other entities in the system100(e.g., third-party servers130, server system108, etc.) via the network102. In this instance, the other entities in the system100, in response to receiving the input from the user, may communicate information to the client device110via the network102to be presented to the user. In this way, the user interacts with the various entities in the system100using the client device110.

The system100further includes a network102. One or more portions of network102may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a WiFi network, a WiMAX network, a broadband cellular network (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, and the like) operated according to the LTE standard or otherwise, another type of network, or a combination of two or more such networks.

The client device110may access the various data and applications provided by other entities in the system100via web client112(e.g., a browser) or one or more client applications114. The client device110may include one or more client application(s)114(also referred to as “apps”) such as, but not limited to, a web browser, messaging application, electronic mail (e-mail) application, an e-commerce site application, a mapping or location application, an online home buying and selling application, a real estate application, and the like.

In some examples, one or more client application(s)114are included in a given one of the client device110, and configured to locally provide the user interface and at least some of the functionalities, with the client application(s)114configured to communicate with other entities in the system100(e.g., third-party server(s)128, server system108, etc.), on an as-needed basis, for data processing capabilities not locally available (e.g., to access location information, to authenticate a user, etc.). Conversely, one or more client application(s)114may not be included in the client device110, and then the client device110may use its web browser to access the one or more applications hosted on other entities in the system100(e.g., third-party server(s)128, server system108, etc.).

A server system108provides server-side functionality via the network102(e.g., the Internet or wide area network (WAN)) to: one or more third party server(s)128, and one or more client devices110). The server system108includes an application server104including an application program interface (API) server120, a web server122, and a release monitoring system124, that may be communicatively coupled with one or more database(s)126. The one or more database(s)126may be storage devices that store data related to (a) users of the server system108, (b) applications associated with the server system108, (c) cloud services, (d) data, identifiers, settings, and other characteristics associated with updates and features, and (e) any of a variety of other types of data. The one or more database(s)126may further store information related to third party server(s)128, third-party application(s)130, client device110, client application(s)114, users, and so forth. In one example, the one or more database(s)126may be cloud-based storage.

The server system108may be a cloud computing environment, according to some examples. The server system108, and any servers associated with the server system108, may be associated with a cloud-based application, in one example.

The server system108in some implementations includes a release monitoring system124that may be associated with a cloud-based application. The release monitoring system124may obtain user data, event logs, system metrics, data about updates and features, and the like, which are associated with a particular application, such as an online social platform, from the one or more databases126, as described herein.

The system100further includes one or more third party server(s)128. The one or more third-party server(s)128may include one or more third party application(s)130. The one or more third party application(s)130, executing on third party server(s)128may interact with the server system108via API server120via a programmatic interface provided by the API server120. For example, one or more the third-party applications132may request and utilize information from the server system108via the API server120to support one or more features or functions on a website hosted by the third party or an application hosted by the third party. The third-party application(s)130, for example, may provide software version analysis functionality that is supported by relevant functionality and data in the server system108.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of an example release monitoring system124. The release monitoring system124includes a staged release engine202, an anomaly detector204, and a ticket generator206. The staged release engine202is implemented in the application server104and is configured to engage a monitoring operation, release a feature in incremental stages, and pause or disable the release in response to a detected anomaly. The release engine202in some implementations controls a plurality of features, stored by rank in an ordered list or database. The anomaly detector204is implemented in the server104and is configured to evaluate a set of metrics about the application and its operation as gathered by the monitoring operation and, when an anomaly is detected, to direct the staged release engine202to Pause or Disable the release. The release engine202pauses the feature in order to minimize application crashes or other interruptions related to the anomaly. If no anomaly is detected, the release proceeds in stages until completed. After a release is completed, in implementations where the release engine202controls a plurality of features, stored by rank in an ordered list, the release engine202selects and executes the staged release of the next feature in the list. The ticket generator206is implemented in the server104and is configured to generate and send a repair ticket to the developer or team responsible for the feature that caused the anomaly. The ticket may include a message, a priority for the action, and any of a variety of data about the anomaly detected.

Although the one or more flowcharts may depict the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed. The term process may correspond to method, procedure, and the like. The steps of a process or method may be performed in whole or in part, may be performed in conjunction with some or all of the steps in the same or other methods, and may be performed by or in conjunction with any of a variety of different systems, such as the systems described herein.

FIG. 3is a flow diagram illustrating an example method of activating the release of a feature while monitoring the application for anomalies, in accordance with some example implementations. The feature may include a package of code and an action setting. The feature may also include a unique identifier and a rank. These and other characteristics of the feature may be organized and stored in one or more databases126.

As used herein, the feature may be an entirely new feature or include improvements or updates to an existing feature. The feature may be one developed by the owner of the application or by a third-party developer with access to a toolkit, instructions, guidelines, a portal, or other resource for use when developing compatible features.

The unique identifier may include a number, code, or other indicia unique to each particular feature in order to differentiate it from other features.

The rank associated with each feature may indicate its priority relative to other features. The rank of a feature that includes a security fix, for example, may be higher than the rank for a less important feature. The rank may also be used to define an order of release for a set of features in which one must be installed before the others, in an ordered list. Any of a variety of criteria, ranging from importance or urgency to mere convenience or no reason at all, may be used to assign a rank to a feature. The ranks assigned to a set of features creates a stack rank (0, 1, . . . n) which the system may use to access, prepare, release, or otherwise process the features in rank order.

The set of possible action settings may include Disable, Enable, and Pause. In some implementations, Disable is the default action setting for a new or improved feature when it is received from a developer for review. For example, a proposed feature may have an action setting of Disable until the feature is reviewed and approved. The setting for the feature may remain on Disable until features having a higher rank are processed by the system. For example, according to rank, the system may activate the feature by changing its action setting from Disable to Enable. If an anomaly is detected, for example, the action setting may be changed to Disable or to Pause.

The Disable setting, in some implementations, stops the release of the feature permanently; until the feature can be repaired or re-designed. In some implementations, the Disable setting includes a rollback; that is, the Disable setting stops uses of the feature on some or all devices, including devices that may have downloaded and briefly used the feature.

The Pause setting is especially useful for features that, once enabled, cannot be disabled without adverse consequences to the functioning or operation of the application. In some implementations, the Pause setting stops the release of the feature temporarily; until the feature can be repaired. In some implementations, the Pause setting stops the release of the feature and also stops the release of any additional features in a list. This action is particularly useful when a series of features are interdependent; for example, when the successful release of a first feature is a prerequisite for the release of a second feature.

Referring toFIG. 3, the method500in some implementations starts when the release monitoring system124performs the step of identifying an active subset of devices, at operation502. The active subset may be defined to include all the devices that have installed the application (in other words; all the devices of registered users of the application), whether currently running the application or not. Alternatively, the release monitoring system124may be configured to actively monitor the current status of certain device types (certain Samsung models, for example); in this example, the active subset may be defined to include the monitored devices that are currently running the application. At operation504, the system124engages the monitoring of the active subset of devices. Monitoring of the application may be already in progress, using any of a variety of real-time application performance monitoring tools. For the present method500, in various implementations, the monitoring504may be accomplished according to a set of metrics associated with the health or functioning of the application, including for example a performance metric and an engagement metric.

At operation506, the staged release engine202of the release monitoring system124begins a staged release of a selected feature, by activating the action setting from Disable to Enable for that feature, on particular devices. In some implementations, the activating step applies to a first segment of the active subset of devices. The first segment of devices, for example, may be defined as a percentage of the active subset of devices. As devices stop and start running the application, the devices belonging to the active subset (in some implementations) may change over time; however, the feature may remain enabled for any device that received the action setting of Enable from the system.

The first segment may be configured as a variable setting in the release monitoring system124. The first segment, for example, may be set to about one percent (1%) of the active subset of devices. In this aspect, the release of the feature to users begins relatively slowly, by activating the Enable action setting for only one out of every one hundred active devices. The first segment may be expressed as a percentage, a quantity, or any other value associated with the population of devices on which the application has been installed. The first segment may be associated with all the features to be released or a subset thereof. For example, when a feature is known to be simple with a low risk of causing errors, the first segment may be set to about fifty percent (or higher) of the active subset of devices for that feature. Similarly, for a newly created feature about which little is known, the first segment may be set to about one percent (1%) (or lower) of the active subset. The setting for the first segment may be associated with the unique identifier for that feature.

While the release of a feature is proceeding in stages, the anomaly detector204is configured to continually evaluate (at operation508) a set of metrics about the application, as gathered by the monitoring process504. If and when an anomaly is detected, the anomaly detector204may direct the staged release engine202to Pause or Disable the release. At operation602, the pause is accomplished by changing the action setting for the feature from Enable to Pause. For example, if application crashes are detected among the active subset of devices, then the system124will Pause the feature (at operation602) to prevent further crashes. The action setting of Pause will, in some implementations, temporarily halt uses of the feature without disabling the feature. In this aspect, the Pause setting is useful for features that, once enabled, cannot be disabled without adverse consequences to the application.

At operation604, in some implementations, the ticket generator206generates and sends a repair ticket to the developer or team responsible for the feature that caused the anomaly. The repair ticket may include a message, a priority for the action, and any information that may be known or gathered about the feature defect, the anomaly that occurred, and other circumstances related to the anomaly.

The action setting is persistent in some implementations. For example, the action setting of Pause may remain associated with the feature unless and until a subsequent event occurs to change the action setting. When the feature has been repaired, reviewed, and approved, for example, the release monitoring system124may be configured to change the action setting from Pause to Enable, thereby placing the repaired feature back into the ordered list of features to be released using the activating step, at operation506.

When the release monitoring system124is processing a number of features in an ordered list, and a feature is Paused, the system124may execute a return or repeat step (not shown) and select the next feature, according to rank, and then perform the activating step at operation506for the next feature. In this aspect, the system124is configured to continue releasing additional features while an anomaly-related feature has been paused.

If no anomaly is detected among the first segment of active devices, then the system124at operation510will continue the release of the feature in incremental stages. In the flowchart shown inFIG. 3, the staged release will repeat until completed, at operation512. At operation506, the staged release engine202will perform the step of updating the action setting from Disable to Enable for a subsequent segment of active devices. In this aspect, the operations510,512, and506may continue the process of updating the action setting to Enable for another subsequent segment of devices, iteratively, until the feature is installed on substantially all devices in the active subset. For example, the subsequent segment may be configured as a variable setting (like the first segment) and set to about ten percent (10%) of the active subset of devices. Iterations of the activating step would be executed, adding ten percent of the devices for each iteration, as long as no anomaly is detected, until the feature is installed on substantially all devices in the active subset.

The subsequent segment may be set to the same percentage or quantity for each iteration (ten percent, for example). Alternatively, the subsequent segment may be set to a number of different percentages or quantities for each iteration, to be executed in order. For example, the activating step at operation510may be executed by iteratively increasing the subsequent segment so that the subtotal quantity of devices with the feature Enabled equals (1) in a first iteration, about ten percent (10%) of said the subset; (2) in a second iteration, about thirty percent (30%) of the active subset; (3) in a third iteration, about seventy percent (70%) of the active subset; and, finally (4) in a fourth iteration, about one hundred percent (100%) of the active subset or, in other words, substantially all devices in the active subset. Upon completion, the release monitoring system124is configured to select the next feature, according to rank, and then perform the activating step at operation506for the next feature. In this aspect, the system124is configured to continue installing features, in rank order.

Referring again toFIG. 3, operation504includes the step of engaging the monitoring of the active subset of devices. The method500in some implementations also includes an additional step of detecting a feature subset which, as defined, would include devices on which the action setting is currently Enable for the particular feature being released. In this detecting step, not shown, the system124may detect whether a feature has been Enabled on the device by inspecting the current version of configurations being used by the application. The configurations may be mapped to a list of Enabled features. The step of monitoring at operation504in this implementation may include monitoring the feature subset according to a set of metrics. In this aspect, the release monitoring system124may be directed at the particular devices on which the feature undergoing release has been set to Enable.

The step of changing the action setting from Enable to Pause for the feature, at operation602, according to some implementations includes the additional step of changing the action again from Pause to Disable. While some features cannot be fully disabled without adverse consequences to the application as a whole, there are features which can be turned off entirely using the action setting of Disable. For example, the Disable setting may be suitable for a feature that might be described as incidental or non-essential to the operation of the application itself. Whether the system124executes this additional step may be based on the unique identifier associated with the feature. For example, the unique identifier may include a number, code, or other indicia suggesting that the feature may be Disabled without adverse consequences to the application.

As shown inFIG. 3, following a Disable setting, the system124may generate a repair ticket at operation604. The action setting of Disable in some examples is persistent; meaning the setting of Disable will remain associated with the feature unless and until a subsequent event occurs to change the action setting. When the feature has been repaired, reviewed, and approved, for example, the release monitoring system124may change the action setting from Disable to Enable, thereby placing the repaired feature back into the ordered list of features to be released using the activating step, at operation506.

The method500may also include an initial step of uploading the feature (not shown) to an application distribution platform (known colloquially as an app store). In this implementation, the release monitoring system124may detect the quantity of downloads executed for a particular feature. In this aspect, the system124can determine if the feature has been downloaded to a number of devices that is large enough to produce reliable data when monitoring starts, at operation504. The threshold limit may be configured as a variable setting; either for all features or a subset thereof. For example, a threshold limit may be set for a particular feature. When the quantity reaches or exceeds a threshold limit, the release monitoring system124may be configured to start the process at operation502for this particular feature and/or to add this particular feature to an ordered list, by rank, of a plurality of features.

Each operation or step in the method500which has been described for handling a single feature may be accomplished for a set of features. In this aspect, the method500may include the step of maintaining an ordered list of a plurality of features, in which each feature is placed in order according to its rank. In operation, the features may be activated, according to the ordered list, by executing the activating step, at operation506.

Referring again to operation504, the monitoring may be accomplished according to a set of metrics associated with the health or functioning of the application, including for example a performance metric and an engagement metric. Each metric may be assigned a priority; for example, the performance metric may be weighted to reflect that it is more important than the engagement metric. The set of metrics may be the same or similar for all features or for a subset thereof.

The performance metric in some implementations involves a number of different measurements related to how the application is performing, including crash rate, app-open latency, and task latency. In some implementations, each measurement may be assigned a priority, such that the system applies a different weight or importance to one metric over another (crash rate, for example, may be assigned a higher priority that task latency). The term ‘crash’ refers to incidents when the application crashes; that is, stops functioning and freezes or closes. The term ‘crash rate’ refers to a number of crash incidents in relation to a duration of time (crashes per second), to a number of active applications (crashes per hundred active instances), or another relevant quantity. The app-open latency is associated with the duration between starting and completing the application opening process. A relatively long app-open latency may indicate poor performance. Similarly, the task latency is associated with the duration between starting and completing a particular task. A relatively long task latency may indicate poor performance. The system may measure the task latency associated with a selected task, such as a capture task (taking a photograph, for example), a send task (preparing and transmitting a message or other information), or another task selected based on the extent to which it might reflect the overall performance of the application.

The engagement metric in some implementations involves a number of different measurements related to how deeply users are engaged with the application, including session length and the number or quantity of actions or tasks completed. In some implementations, each measurement may be assigned a priority, such that the system applies a different weight or importance to one metric over another (session length, for example, may be assigned a higher priority that the quantity of user actions). Session length relates of course to the duration of time between opening and closing an application. The quantity of user actions may be counted, during a time period and/or during one session or several sessions. The system may count the occurrences of any of a variety of user actions, including for example a creation action (composing an image, for example), a send action (preparing and sending a message of other data), or another action selected based on the extent to which the activity might reflect the overall engagement with of the application.

The monitoring operation504as described herein is performed in order to detect an anomaly, if present, among the set of metrics. The term anomaly refers to any metric or measurement that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.

In some examples, the anomaly detector204of the release monitoring system124is configured to assess the presence or absence of an anomaly in relation to one or more stability thresholds. The stability threshold may be configured as a variable setting; either for all features or a subset thereof. For example, for a performance metric that includes a crash rate, the anomaly detector204may include a stability threshold expressed as the number of crashes per minute. As long as that stability threshold is not exceeded, there is no anomaly. If and when that stability threshold is exceeded, then an anomaly is present according to the anomaly detector204. The stability threshold may be expressed in any of a variety of ways that are especially probative regarding a particular metric. For example, the stability threshold in the example above is expressed as ‘number of crashes per minute.’ Other expressions may include a system-wide crash rate such as a percentage of active applications, a quantity of crashes detected during a time period immediately following the step of activating a feature, and the like. The expression developed for a stability threshold will of course vary depending on the metric. The stability threshold for app-open latency, for example, may be expressed as a number of latencies exceeding a time limit (300 milliseconds, for example), an average of the measured latencies for a particular number of application instances, and the like.

In a related aspect, the one or more stability thresholds implemented by the anomaly detector204may include an absolute threshold and a relative threshold, along with rules expressing the relationship between them. An absolute threshold may be expressed as a quantity, a rate, a rate of change, and the like. For example, an absolute threshold associated with a crash rate metric may be set at ‘eighty crashes per minute.’ If that metric reaches the absolute threshold, an anomaly is present. A relative threshold, in contrast, may be expressed as a quantity or rate relative to another selected quantity or rate. For example, a relative threshold associated with a crash rate metric may be set at ‘a fifty percent increase in crash rate per minute when the feature is enabled, relative to the crash rate per minute during the ten minutes immediately before the feature was enabled.’ If the relative threshold is exceeded for that metric, then an anomaly is present.

For a metric that includes both an absolute threshold and a relative threshold, the anomaly detector204may also include a rule for determining when an anomaly is present. For example, the anomaly detector204may be configured to determine an anomaly exists when the metric meets or exceeds either threshold or both thresholds. Alternatively, the rule may require the anomaly detector204to evaluate one threshold first, before evaluating the other threshold.

FIG. 4is a high-level functional block diagram of an example client device110embodied as an example mobile device890. Mobile device890includes a flash memory840A which includes programming to perform all or a subset of the functions described herein. Mobile device890can include a camera870that comprises at least two visible-light cameras (first and second visible-light cameras with overlapping fields of view) or at least one visible-light camera and a depth sensor with substantially overlapping fields of view. Memory840A may further include multiple images or video, which are generated via the camera870.

As shown, the mobile device890includes an image display880, an image display driver882to control the image display880, and a controller884. In the example ofFIG. 4, the image display880and a user input device are integrated together into a touch screen display.

Examples of touch screen type mobile devices that may be used include (but are not limited to) a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or other portable device. However, the structure and operation of the touch screen type devices is provided by way of example; and the subject technology as described herein is not intended to be limited thereto. For purposes of this discussion,FIG. 4therefore provides block diagram illustrations of the example mobile device890having a touch screen display for displaying content and receiving user input as (or as part of) the user interface.

As shown inFIG. 4, the mobile device890includes at least one digital transceiver (XCVR)810, shown as WWAN XCVRs, for digital wireless communications via a wide area wireless mobile communication network. The mobile device890also includes additional digital or analog transceivers, such as short range XCVRs820for short-range network communication, such as via NFC, VLC, DECT, ZigBee, Bluetooth™, or WiFi. For example, short range XCVRs820may take the form of any available two-way wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver of a type that is compatible with one or more standard protocols of communication implemented in wireless local area networks, such as one of the Wi-Fi standards under IEEE 802.11.

To generate location coordinates for positioning of the mobile device890, the mobile device890can include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. Alternatively, or additionally the mobile device890can utilize either or both the short range XCVRs820and WWAN XCVRs810for generating location coordinates for positioning. For example, cellular network, WiFi, or Bluetooth™ based positioning systems can generate very accurate location coordinates, particularly when used in combination. Such location coordinates can be transmitted to the eyewear device over one or more network connections via XCVRs810,820.

The transceivers810,820(network communication interface) conforms to one or more of the various digital wireless communication standards utilized by modern mobile networks. Examples of WWAN transceivers810include (but are not limited to) transceivers configured to operate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network technologies including, for example and without limitation, 3GPP type 2 (or 3GPP2) and LTE, at times referred to as “4G.” For example, the transceivers810,820provide two-way wireless communication of information including digitized audio signals, still image and video signals, web page information for display as well as web-related inputs, and various types of mobile message communications to/from the mobile device890.

The mobile device890further includes a microprocessor, shown as CPU830, sometimes referred to herein as the host controller. A processor is a circuit having elements structured and arranged to perform one or more processing functions, typically various data processing functions. Although discrete logic components could be used, the examples utilize components forming a programmable CPU. A microprocessor for example includes one or more integrated circuit (IC) chips incorporating the electronic elements to perform the functions of the CPU. The processor830, for example, may be based on any known or available microprocessor architecture, such as a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) using an ARM architecture, as commonly used today in mobile devices and other portable electronic devices. Of course, other processor circuitry may be used to form the CPU830or processor hardware in smartphone, laptop computer, and tablet.

The microprocessor830serves as a programmable host controller for the mobile device890by configuring the mobile device890to perform various operations, for example, in accordance with instructions or programming executable by processor830. For example, such operations may include various general operations of the mobile device, as well as operations related to the programming for applications on the mobile device. Although a processor may be configured by use of hardwired logic, typical processors in mobile devices are general processing circuits configured by execution of programming.

The mobile device890includes a memory or storage device system, for storing data and programming. In the example, the memory system may include a flash memory840A and a random-access memory (RAM)840B. The RAM840B serves as short term storage for instructions and data being handled by the processor830, e.g., as a working data processing memory. The flash memory840A typically provides longer term storage.

Hence, in the example of mobile device890, the flash memory840A is used to store programming or instructions for execution by the processor830. Depending on the type of device, the mobile device890stores and runs a mobile operating system through which specific applications are executed. Examples of mobile operating systems include Google Android, Apple iOS (for iPhone or iPad devices), Windows Mobile, Amazon Fire OS, RIM BlackBerry OS, or the like.

FIG. 5is a diagrammatic representation of the machine900within which instructions908(e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code) for causing the machine900to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. For example, the instructions908may cause the machine900to execute any one or more of the methods described herein. The instructions908transform the general, non-programmed machine900into a particular machine900programmed to carry out the described and illustrated functions in the manner described. The machine900may operate as a standalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine900may operate in the capacity of a server machine or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine900may comprise, but not be limited to, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), a PDA, an entertainment media system, a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch), a smart home device (e.g., a smart appliance), other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing the instructions908, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to be taken by the machine900. Further, while only a single machine900is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include a collection of machines that individually or jointly execute the instructions908to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The machine900may include processors902, memory904, and I/O components942, which may be configured to communicate with each other via a bus944. In an example, the processors902(e.g., a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an ASIC, a Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC), another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor906and a processor910that execute the instructions908. The term “processor” is intended to include multi-core processors that may comprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as “cores”) that may execute instructions contemporaneously. AlthoughFIG. 5shows multiple processors902, the machine900may include a single processor with a single core, a single processor with multiple cores (e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors with a single core, multiple processors with multiples cores, or any combination thereof.

The memory904includes a main memory912, a static memory914, and a storage unit916, both accessible to the processors902via the bus944. The main memory904, the static memory914, and storage unit916store the instructions908embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions908may also reside, completely or partially, within the main memory912, within the static memory914, within machine-readable medium918(e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) within the storage unit916, within at least one of the processors902(e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or any suitable combination thereof, during execution thereof by the machine900.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies. The I/O components942further include communication components940operable to couple the machine900to a network920or devices922via a coupling924and a coupling926, respectively. For example, the communication components940may include a network interface component or another suitable device to interface with the network920. In further examples, the communication components940may include wired communication components, wireless communication components, cellular communication components, Near-field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth® components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and other communication components to provide communication via other modalities. The devices922may be another machine or any of a wide variety of peripheral devices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a USB).

The various memories (e.g., memory904, main memory912, static memory914, memory of the processors902), storage unit916may store one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., software) embodying or used by any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. These instructions (e.g., the instructions908), when executed by processors902, cause various operations to implement the disclosed examples.

The instructions908may be transmitted or received over the network920, using a transmission medium, via a network interface device (e.g., a network interface component included in the communication components940) and using any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP)). Similarly, the instructions908may be transmitted or received using a transmission medium via the coupling926(e.g., a peer-to-peer coupling) to the devices922.

FIG. 6is a block diagram1000illustrating a software architecture1004, which can be installed on any one or more of the devices described herein. The software architecture1004is supported by hardware such as a machine1002that includes processors1020, memory1026, and I/O components1038. In this example, the software architecture1004can be conceptualized as a stack of layers, where each layer provides a particular functionality. The software architecture1004includes layers such as an operating system1012, libraries1010, frameworks1008, and applications1006. Operationally, the applications1006invoke API calls1050through the software stack and receive messages1052in response to the API calls1050.

The operating system1012manages hardware resources and provides common services. The operating system1012includes, for example, a kernel1014, services1016, and drivers1022. The kernel1014acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers. For example, the kernel1014provides memory management, processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management, networking, and security settings, among other functionality. The services1016can provide other common services for the other software layers. The drivers1022are responsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlying hardware. For instance, the drivers1022can include display drivers, camera drivers, Bluetooth® or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) drivers, flash memory drivers, serial communication drivers (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers), Wi-Fi® drivers, audio drivers, power management drivers, and so forth.

The libraries1010provide a low-level common infrastructure used by the applications1006. The libraries1010can include system libraries1018(e.g., C standard library) that provide functions such as memory allocation functions, string manipulation functions, mathematic functions, and the like. In addition, the libraries1010can include API libraries1024such as media libraries (e.g., libraries to support presentation and manipulation of various media formats such as Moving Picture Experts Group-4 (MPEG4), Advanced Video Coding (H.264 or AVC), Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 (MP3), Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) audio codec, Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG or JPG), or Portable Network Graphics (PNG)), graphics libraries (e.g., an OpenGL framework used to render in two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D) in a graphic content on a display), database libraries (e.g., SQLite to provide various relational database functions), web libraries (e.g., a WebKit® engine to provide web browsing functionality), and the like. The libraries1010can also include a wide variety of other libraries1028to provide many other APIs to the applications1006.

The frameworks1008provide a high-level common infrastructure that is used by the applications1006. For example, the frameworks1008provide various graphical user interface (GUI) functions, high-level resource management, and high-level location services. The frameworks1008can provide a broad spectrum of other APIs that can be used by the applications1006, some of which may be specific to a particular operating system or platform.

In an example, the applications1006may include a home application1036, a contacts application1030, a browser application1032, a book reader application1034, a location application1042, a media application1044, a messaging application1046, a game application1048, and a broad assortment of other applications such as a third-party application1040. The third-party applications1006are programs that execute functions defined within the programs. Various programming languages can be employed to create one or more of the applications1006, structured in a variety of manners, such as object-oriented programming languages (e.g., Objective-C, Java, or C++) or procedural programming languages (e.g., C or assembly language).

In a specific example, the third-party application1040(e.g., an application developed using the Google Android or Apple iOS software development kit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform) may be mobile software running on a mobile operating system such as Google Android, Apple iOS (for iPhone or iPad devices), Windows Mobile, Amazon Fire OS, RIM BlackBerry OS, or another mobile operating system. In this example, the third-party application1040can invoke the API calls1050provided by the operating system1012to facilitate functionality described herein.