Add-on Advisor for Browser Performance Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users are often unaware of installed add-ons and their performance impact, leading to misattribution of poor browser performance, and traditional add-on management is limited to simple on/off toggling, forcing users to disable liked add-ons due to performance issues.
Innovation Solution
An add-on advisor that detects newly installed add-ons, provides notification options for enabling/disabling, and monitors performance impact, allowing users to interactively manage add-ons to improve performance by selectively enabling or disabling them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional add-on management is used with simple on/off toggling, then ease of operation is improved, but user control and performance optimization are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments add-on management into individual add-on controls rather than collective on/off toggling. Each add-on can be independently monitored, evaluated, and controlled, allowing users to manage specific add-ons based on their performance impact while maintaining ease of operation through automated assessments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that provide users with performance information about individual add-ons. The system monitors and reports how each add-on affects browser performance, enabling users to make informed decisions about which add-ons to enable or disable based on actual performance data rather than guesswork.
2Productivity
If users disable add-ons collectively to improve performance, then browser performance is improved, but user convenience and functionality are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to automatically assess and identify add-ons that have negative performance impacts. The browser itself performs the evaluation work by monitoring resource usage and performance metrics, eliminating the need for users to manually test each add-on's impact while still providing detailed information for user decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the management approach from binary on/off states to a multi-parameter evaluation system that considers resource usage, performance impact, and user preferences. This allows for nuanced control where users can optimize performance while retaining desired functionality by making selective decisions based on detailed parameters.
3Adaptability or versatility
If add-ons are installed without user awareness, then adaptability and functionality are improved, but user control and security are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary notification and consent mechanisms before add-ons are installed or activated. The system provides users with advance information about upcoming add-on installations, their purposes, and potential performance impacts, allowing users to give informed consent or reject installations before they affect the browser.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various embodiments provide an add-on advisor that is designed to assist users in managing add-ons for a browser and/or other application programs. In at least some embodiments, the add-on advisor can be implemented to detect newly installed add-ons and provide notifications to a user of the detected add-ons. The notifications regarding new add-ons can be configured with options to permit the user to enable or disable the add-ons. Add-ons that are not explicitly enabled by a user can be prevented from operating by the add-on advisor. Further, in at least some embodiments, the add-on advisor can be implemented to monitor performance impact of add-ons and provide notifications to a user when add-ons adversely affect performance. The user can then interact with the add-on advisor to improve performance by selectively enabling and disabling add-ons.