Animated Search Result Transitions for Visual Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consecutive web searches often fail to clearly indicate relationships between old and new search results, especially when switching to a new search corpus or refining query terms, leading to unclear transitions and visual discontinuity.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented to visually indicate relationships between different sets of search results through animated transitions of hyperlinks, where common hyperlinked Uniform Resource Locators are identified and transitioned between search results, with styling elements preserved to prevent visual discontinuity, using client-side or server-side execution of instructions, such as precomputed Flash or JavaScript code, or browser extensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If consecutive web searches replace old results with new results, then search efficiency is improved, but visual continuity and relationship indication between search results deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an animated transition effect as an intermediary between old and new search results. This animation serves as a mediator that visually connects the two sets of results, showing users which results are common between searches and how they relate to each other, thereby preserving relationship information while maintaining search efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing visual style information for search results before transitions occur. This allows the animated transitions to be executed smoothly without real-time computation delays, maintaining both search efficiency and visual continuity
2Adaptability or versatility
If search results switch to a new search corpus, then search scope is expanded, but clarity of relationship between old and new results deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The animated transition acts as an intermediary that bridges different search corpuses visually. By animating the movement and transformation of result elements, it maintains visual continuity even when switching between different search corpora, helping users understand relationships between results from different sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by preserving specific visual characteristics of common results during transitions. Elements that appear in both old and new search results maintain their visual identity through the animation, while unique elements are distinguished, providing localized visual continuity in an otherwise changing context
3Measurement precision
If query terms are refined, then search precision is improved, but visual continuity of search results deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by pre-storing visual style information for search results. When query terms are refined and results change, this pre-computed style information enables smooth animated transitions that maintain visual continuity, allowing users to track how results evolve with refined queries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing animated transitions that dynamically adapt to query refinements. The animation smoothly transforms results from the original query to refined query results, visually demonstrating the evolution and relationship between results at different stages of query refinement
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described relates to animated transitions between consecutive sets of search engine results.