Multi-Party Active Co-Browsing via Server-Side Virtual Workspace
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collaboration systems limit active participation in web application or webpage co-browsing, as only one participant can interact with the web application, while others passively view the interaction, restricting collaborative work on common web-based content.
Innovation Solution
A collaboration system that enables multiple participants to actively co-browse web applications or webpages by using a server-side network node to generate and update models of the web application, sending update patches to client-side nodes, and allowing rendering of the updated state across all participants' displays, enabling interactive collaboration without the need for high computational resources at client-side nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If one participant shares their desktop for co-browsing, then other participants can view the web application, but only one participant can actively interact with the web application while others remain passive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collaboration server as an intermediary between participants and the web application. The server generates a virtual workspace that replicates the web application interface and distributes it to all participants. This mediator enables multiple users to interact simultaneously with the web application through the virtual workspace, resolving the contradiction between active participation and system complexity by centralizing coordination functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual workspace that is a copy or representation of the actual web application interface. This virtual copy allows participants to interact with the web application through the collaboration server without requiring direct access to the original application. The copying approach enables multiple simultaneous interactions while maintaining a single source of truth for the web application state.
2Ease of operation
If the collaboration system sends full web application replicas to all participants, then all participants can actively interact, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the web application interface into discrete elements or components within the virtual workspace. Instead of transmitting the entire web application replica to each participant, the collaboration server sends only specific interface elements that are relevant to each participant's current view and interaction needs. This segmentation dramatically reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining full interactive capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial action by sending only the necessary portions of the web application interface to each participant rather than complete replicas. The collaboration server dynamically determines which interface elements need to be transmitted based on participant actions and current workspace state, sending minimal updates rather than full application states. This approach achieves active co-browsing capability with significantly reduced data transmission.
3Adaptability or versatility
If client-side nodes have high computational resources, then they can process and render web applications locally, but the system becomes less accessible to devices with limited resources
Solution Approach 1:
The collaboration server acts as a computational intermediary that handles the heavy lifting of web application rendering and state management. Client-side nodes only need to render the virtual workspace interface and transmit user interactions, rather than fully processing the web application themselves. This mediator approach enables devices with limited computational resources to participate in active co-browsing while maintaining rendering performance through server-side processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for collaborative session including co-browsing in a virtual workspace. The system includes a server-side network node including logic to access a web application using a uniform resource locator (URL) of the web application. The server-side network node includes logic to generate a first model of the web application corresponding to the current state of the web application. The server-side network node includes logic to provide a spatial event map identifying events in the virtual workspace, the events identified by the spatial event map are related to the first model of the web application. The system includes logic to create a second model of the web application as a result of updates to the current state of the web application. The system includes logic to generate an update patch using a difference between the second model and the first model of the web application.