Browser Plug-in for Drag-and-Drop Media File Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital media sharing processes are cumbersome and error-prone, requiring explicit user interaction with multiple services for uploading and referencing files, which is time-consuming and lacks flexibility, especially when dealing with different file hosting and publishing websites.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to drag and drop images from a local file to a web page, automatically uploading them to a media file hosting system and providing a uniform resource locator (URL) for the image, which is then inserted into the web page, eliminating the need for manual address entry and supporting multiple websites with different reference syntax.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional file uploading process is used, then files can be uploaded to hosting service, but user must manually switch between hosting service website and publishing website, which is time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the file upload functionality and the publishing workflow into a single integrated process. The browser plug-in merges the hosting service interaction and publishing website interaction into one unified operation, allowing users to upload files directly from the publishing website without switching between applications or websites.
Solution Approach 2:
The browser plug-in acts as an intermediary between the publishing website and the hosting service. It intercepts the file upload request, automatically handles the communication with the hosting service, and integrates the uploaded file reference back into the publishing workflow, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and switching.
2Ease of operation
If manual copy and paste of file references is used, then files can be referenced on publishing website, but clipboard content is lost after subsequent copy actions requiring repetition
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the file reference insertion automatically without requiring manual user actions. The browser plug-in self-services the entire process by automatically obtaining file references from the hosting service and inserting them into the appropriate locations on the publishing website, eliminating clipboard dependency and manual copy-paste operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic feedback loops where the browser plug-in continuously monitors the publishing website for upload requests, automatically retrieves file references from the hosting service, and inserts them back into the publishing workflow. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures file references are reliably inserted without manual intervention.
3Productivity
If desktop application is used for upload, then images can be uploaded to web site, but user must execute intermediary application and configure it for predetermined site, decreasing efficiency and flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The browser plug-in is designed to be universal and work with multiple different publishing websites and hosting services. Instead of requiring separate desktop applications configured for each specific website, the plug-in provides multi-functional support across different platforms and services, automatically adapting to the specific website context in which it operates.
4Ease of operation
If user manually inserts file references in HTML form, then files can be referenced on web site, but user must ensure correct reference syntax which may be unfamiliar
Solution Approach 1:
The browser plug-in serves as an intermediary that handles the complex HTML syntax generation and insertion automatically. It retrieves file references from the hosting service, formats them with the correct syntax for the specific publishing website, and inserts them into the HTML form, eliminating the need for users to manually write or understand HTML reference syntax.
Data Source
AI summary
A method (and a system) for a computer user to share files by publishing references to them at websites, e.g., by filling HTML forms. This method allows the user to transparently upload said files to a third party hosting service. Files which originally reside on the user's computer are automatically uploaded to the third party hosting service and references to them are inserted into the HTML form at the publishing website.