Browser Dropdown Webpage Preview for Query Suggestions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current web browser interfaces do not provide sufficient information to users about suggested query completions, limiting user experience as they only offer URLs without context.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented to display suggested query completions in a web browser window, including a dropdown region with webpage previews, allowing users to see a thumbnail or preview of the associated webpage, providing context alongside the URL suggestions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If only URLs are displayed in the dropdown region, then the interface remains simple and uncluttered, but users receive insufficient information about the suggested completions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about suggested completionsVSAvoiddropdown region structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dropdown region is segmented into multiple rows, where each row contains a URL suggestion and an associated webpage preview. This segmentation allows the interface to display multiple types of information (URL and preview) in an organized, scannable format without creating a single cluttered block of content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The webpage preview is nested within the dropdown region alongside the URL suggestion. The preview acts as a contained element that provides additional context without disrupting the overall structure of the dropdown interface, allowing compact integration of multiple information layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If webpage previews are displayed in the dropdown region, then users gain better context about suggested pages, but the interface becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser decision-makingVSAvoiddropdown region structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The webpage preview is generated and displayed in advance within the dropdown region before the user selects a suggestion. This preliminary display of contextual information allows users to evaluate suggested pages without additional clicks, reducing the steps needed to make an informed decision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The webpage preview acts as an intermediary element between the URL suggestion and the actual webpage content. It provides a condensed visual representation of the page thumbnail, allowing users to assess relevance without navigating to the full page, thus mediating the information delivery process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8782538B1Displaying a suggested query completion within a web browser window

Publication Date: 2014.07.15 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for displaying a suggested query completion in a web browser window while providing for display a first webpage within a webpage display region of the web browser window are provided. A method includes, receiving an initiation of a query within an input box in a control region of the web browser window. The method also includes providing for display a dropdown region within the web browser window in response to the initiation of the query. The dropdown region includes suggested completions to the initiation of the query. At least one of the suggested completions is associated with a second webpage. The method also includes providing for display a webpage preview of the second webpage within the dropdown region.