Application State Sharing via Universal Resource Identifier Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques lack an efficient method for sharing and accessing the states of multi-platform applications across different devices and platforms, particularly in scenarios where dynamic application states need to be replicated or restored.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for generating and transmitting application resource identifiers and web resource identifiers, along with instruction sets, to enable access to native and web applications on remote devices, allowing seamless sharing and restoration of application states by determining the appropriate application version for the device's operating system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic URLs are used to share application states, then users can direct other users to specific states of resources, but the system lacks efficient methods for sharing and accessing states of multi-platform applications across different devices and platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal resource identifier system that works across both web applications and native applications on multiple platforms. The resolution service receives requests for application states and resolves them to appropriate resources regardless of whether the target is a web app or native app on iOS, Android, or other platforms. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to handle diverse application types and platforms uniformly, resolving the contradiction between platform versatility and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a resolution service as an intermediary component that sits between the resource identifier and the actual application state. When a user shares an application state, the resolution service receives the identifier, determines the appropriate platform and application type, and resolves the identifier to the correct resource. This mediator simplifies the overall system by centralizing the complexity of platform-specific resolution logic, allowing the sharing mechanism itself to remain simple while supporting multiple platforms.
2Ease of operation
If application states are shared across different operating systems, then accessibility is enhanced, but determining the appropriate application version for each device increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resolution logic that adapts to the user's device context. The resolution service receives the user agent or device information along with the resource identifier request, and dynamically determines the appropriate application version or platform based on the device's operating system, browser, and capabilities. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high accessibility across different devices while managing compatibility complexity through automated, context-aware resolution rather than requiring manual device-specific configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If both native applications and web applications are supported, then user experience is enhanced, but the system requires instruction sets to determine which application to access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the resolution service determine and resolve the appropriate application type (native or web) before the user attempts to access the resource. The resolution service analyzes the resource identifier and device context in advance, determines whether a native application or web application is more appropriate, and provides this determination to the client. This preliminary resolution of application type eliminates the need for complex runtime decision-making logic on the client device, as the choice has already been made by the resolution service based on pre-analysis of the situation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques for sharing application states are disclosed. According to one aspect of the disclosure, the techniques include receiving a web resource identifier (18) indicating a web address of a web server (30) hosting a web application (32) and including one or more parameters (26) indicating a state of the web application. The techniques also include obtaining an instruction set (22) for generating an application resource identifier (16), the instruction set being obtained based on a first portion of the web resource identifier. The techniques further include determining one or more parameter values based on the web resource identifier and the instruction set, and generating an application resource identifier based on the instruction set and the one or more parameter values, the application resource identifier being indicative of the state accessed via a native application (124).