Browser Offline Access via Local Cache Template

Solution Overview

Problem

Current browsers do not support direct offline access to linked web pages, requiring users to cache each linked page separately, which is tedious and cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for offline web page access that involves acquiring a local cache template of a first web page with pre-stored paths to designated URLs, allowing direct offline access to linked second web pages by locally caching these pages, thus eliminating the need for separate caching operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users manually cache each linked web page separately, then each web page can be accessed offline, but the operation becomes tedious and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffline access capabilityVSAvoidcaching operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically caching all linked web pages when the user visits the current web page online. The browser proactively identifies all links from the current page and caches them in advance, so that when the user goes offline, all linked pages are already prepared for immediate access without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by enabling the browser to automatically manage the caching process without user involvement. When a user visits a web page, the system autonomously identifies links, determines which pages need caching, and performs the caching operation automatically. This eliminates the need for users to manually cache each page while ensuring comprehensive offline access capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If users manually cache each linked web page, then offline access is achieved, but additional operational processes are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffline accessVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically caching all linked web pages when the user visits the current web page online. The browser proactively identifies all links from the current page and caches them in advance, so that when the user goes offline, all linked pages are already prepared for immediate access without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining the caching process as an integrated part of the normal web browsing experience. The automatic caching occurs continuously whenever a user visits a web page, ensuring that offline access capability is always ready without interrupting or extending the user's browsing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Quantity of substance

If the browser caches only the current web page, then storage space is minimized, but linked pages cannot be accessed offline

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecached contentVSAvoidoffline access scope

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically caching all linked web pages when the user visits the current web page online. The browser proactively identifies all links from the current page and caches them in advance, so that when the user goes offline, all linked pages are already prepared for immediate access without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements universality by enabling the browser to handle multiple caching scenarios through a single mechanism. The same automatic caching process that operates when users are online also prepares the system for offline access, making the browser universally capable of providing both online browsing and offline access without requiring separate modes or operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9571601B2Method and an apparatus for performing offline access to web pages

Publication Date: 2017.02.14 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD

AI summary

The embodiments disclose a method and apparatus for offline access of web pages. The method includes: acquiring on a user terminal a local cache template of a first web page, wherein the local cache template has pre-stored one or more respective paths, each points to a respective designated Uniform Resource Locator (URL) location linked to the first web page, wherein each respective designated URL enables offline access to a corresponding second web page in the first web page; locally caching each of the corresponding second web page, wherein each of the corresponding second web page which corresponds to a respective path pointing to the respective designated URL pre-stored in the local cache template of the first web page, such that the corresponding second web page is to be locally loaded into a browser of the user terminal when the browser accesses the respective designated URL in the first web page.