add doPing method to JS api (matomo-org#14127)

* add ping method to JS api

Fixes matomo-org#14100

* update minified version

* mention new ping method

* fix test which doesn't like a newline at the end

* fix test which doesn't like a newline at the end

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ This is the Developer Changelog for Matomo platform developers. All changes in o
 
 The Product Changelog at **[matomo.org/changelog](https://matomo.org/changelog)** lets you see more details about any Matomo release, such as the list of new guides and FAQs, security fixes, and links to all closed issues. 
 
+## Matomo 3.10.0
+
+### New APIs
+* A new tracker method `ping` has been added to send a ping request manually instead of using the heart beat timer.
+
 ## Matomo 3.9.0
 
 ### Breaking Changes

js/piwik.js

@@ -997,7 +997,7 @@ if (typeof JSON_PIWIK !== 'object' && typeof window.JSON === 'object' && window.
     enableCrossDomainLinking, disableCrossDomainLinking, isCrossDomainLinkingEnabled, setCrossDomainLinkingTimeout, getCrossDomainLinkingUrlParameter,
     addListener, enableLinkTracking, enableJSErrorTracking, setLinkTrackingTimer, getLinkTrackingTimer,
     enableHeartBeatTimer, disableHeartBeatTimer, killFrame, redirectFile, setCountPreRendered,
-    trackGoal, trackLink, trackPageView, getNumTrackedPageViews, trackRequest, queueRequest, trackSiteSearch, trackEvent,
+    trackGoal, trackLink, trackPageView, getNumTrackedPageViews, trackRequest, ping, queueRequest, trackSiteSearch, trackEvent,
     requests, timeout, enabled, sendRequests, queueRequest, disableQueueRequest,getRequestQueue, unsetPageIsUnloading,
     setEcommerceView, getEcommerceItems, addEcommerceItem, removeEcommerceItem, clearEcommerceCart, trackEcommerceOrder, trackEcommerceCartUpdate,
     deleteCookie, deleteCookies, offsetTop, offsetLeft, offsetHeight, offsetWidth, nodeType, defaultView,
@@ -4526,8 +4526,7 @@ if (typeof window.Piwik !== 'object') {
             heartBeatPingIfActivityAlias = function heartBeatPingIfActivity() {
                 var now = new Date();
                 if (lastTrackerRequestTime + configHeartBeatDelay <= now.getTime()) {
-                    var requestPing = getRequest('ping=1', null, 'ping');
-                    sendRequest(requestPing, configTrackerPause);
+                    trackerInstance.ping();
 
                     return true;
                 }
@@ -7360,6 +7359,17 @@ if (typeof window.Piwik !== 'object') {
                 });
             };
 
+            /**
+             * Sends a ping request.
+             *
+             * Ping requests do not track new actions. If they are sent within the standard visit length, they will
+             * extend the existing visit and the current last action for the visit. If after the standard visit
+             * length, ping requests will create a new visit using the last action in the last known visit.
+             */
+            this.ping = function () {
+                this.trackRequest('ping=1', null, null, 'ping')
+            }
+
             /**
              * Disables sending requests queued
              */