Dynamic Bookmark URL Modification for Broken Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face issues accessing bookmarked web pages due to changes in the URL hierarchy of websites, resulting in error pages when the original URL is no longer valid, as webmasters reorganize their site structures, leading to broken bookmarks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generates a modified URL by deleting path elements from the bookmarked URL, allowing the web browser to retrieve a related web page, which may still exist with a different URL structure, and provides users with an option to update the bookmark to the new URL.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users bookmark web pages using original URLs, then bookmarks provide quick access to desired resources, but bookmarks become invalid when website URL hierarchies change
Solution Approach 1:
The bookmark system dynamically adapts to URL hierarchy changes by automatically detecting when a bookmarked URL returns an error and generating alternative URLs by modifying the path structure. This dynamic adjustment allows bookmarks to remain functional despite website reorganizations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes URL parameters by systematically modifying path elements (deleting or shortening them) to generate alternative URLs. When the original URL fails, the system tries variations with different path lengths to find a working URL, thus adapting to structural changes.
2Ease of manufacture
If website structure is reorganized to improve site maintenance, then webmasters gain flexibility in URL management, but existing bookmarks become broken
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary error detection when a bookmark is accessed, checking whether the URL is valid before the user realizes the bookmark is broken. This early detection allows automatic correction before the user experiences the broken link.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from error responses (404, 500, etc.) to detect when a bookmarked URL is invalid. This feedback triggers automatic URL modification attempts, creating a closed-loop system that adapts based on server responses.
3Ease of operation
If automatic URL modification is implemented to recover broken bookmarks, then user access to content is maintained, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The URL modification process is segmented into discrete steps: detect error, delete one path element, test URL, repeat if necessary. This segmentation allows systematic exploration of alternative URLs without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bookmark system performs self-service by automatically detecting and correcting its own errors. When a bookmark fails, the system autonomously generates alternative URLs and selects working ones without requiring user intervention or manual URL editing.
Data Source
AI summary
Bookmarked web pages in a web browser are retrieved. A user selection of a bookmark is received. The bookmark is associated with a web page and a bookmarked URL having one or more path elements in a hierarchy for the web page. A determination is made that the web page is not located at the bookmarked URL. A modified URL is generated by deleting one or more path elements of the bookmarked URL according to the hierarchy. A second web page is retrieved at the modified URL. When a user has navigated to a third web page, the content of the third web page is compared to a stored version of the content of the first webpage to determine correspondence between the two web pages. The selected bookmark is updated to be associated with the URL of the third web page.