Browser Bridge for E-Book Preview Without Context Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face disruptions when searching for electronic content referenced on websites, as they must leave their current browsing context to find more information, which can be inconvenient and disrupt their online experience.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to preview and interact with related electronic content, such as e-books, directly from the browser application by launching a reader application within the existing browser context, enabling actions like purchasing, sharing, or downloading samples without leaving the current webpage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users leave the current browsing context to search for electronic content, then they can find more information about the content, but their online experience is disrupted and convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge application as an intermediary component that receives notifications from the browser application about electronic content and provides a interface for users to access preview and purchase functions. This mediator enables information access without requiring users to leave their current browsing context, thus resolving the contradiction between information accessibility and user convenience.
2Loss of information
If users leave the current browsing context to search for electronic content, then they can find more information about the content, but time is lost due to context switching
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge application performs preliminary actions by maintaining a ready state and receiving notifications from the browser application about electronic content. This allows the content access functionality to be pre-positioned and immediately available when users encounter relevant content during browsing, eliminating the time loss associated with context switching and search operations.
3Ease of operation
If a reader application is launched within the browser context, then user experience is enhanced by maintaining browsing context, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: the browser application that discovers electronic content, the bridge application that provides access functionality, and the reader application that delivers content. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific, simplified role while collectively providing enhanced user experience, thus managing system complexity through modular design.
4Ease of operation
If the browser application directly provides preview and purchase functions, then user convenience is improved, but the browser application complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the preview and purchase functionality from the browser application and places it in a separate bridge application. This extraction allows the browser application to remain simple while still providing convenient access to electronic content through the bridge application's interface, thus improving user convenience without increasing browser application complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic content such as an electronic book (e-book) that is referenced in or otherwise related to other content such as website content is identified, and a visual representation of the electronic content is generated. The visual representation is presented in conjunction with the website content, and a reader application for previewing the electronic content is launched via user interaction with the visual representation. Exiting the reader application causes a browser application that is rendering the website content to be automatically returned to a foreground state. A variety of actions are enabled via interaction with the reader application such as purchasing the electronic content, sharing the electronic content, or downloading a sample preview of the electronic content for later consumption.