Browser Preloading Web Components via Zero-Size Hiding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Web browsers experience delays due to DNS lookups and retrieval of web page components, which slow down user experience when navigating to web pages, especially if components are not cached.
Innovation Solution
A server transmits instructions to a computing device to preload web page components associated with search results pages without visibly displaying them, setting their dimensions to zero pixels to hide them, and setting an expire time for storage, allowing for faster loading by using cached components when the page is displayed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the web browser retrieves web page components before displaying the web page, then the web page can be displayed, but the user experience is slowed down due to retrieval time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent preloads web page components (images, scripts, stylesheets) into the browser's cache before the user actually requests the web page. This preliminary action stores components in advance so they are immediately available when needed, eliminating the retrieval delay that would otherwise occur when the user navigates to the page.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary DNS lookups and component retrievals to prevent the harmful effect of loading delays. By anticipating which components will be needed and fetching them in advance, the system counteracts the potential performance degradation before it occurs.
2Loss of time
If the web browser performs DNS lookup to resolve domain name to IP address, then the web browser can retrieve web pages, but the process takes time and slows down user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs DNS lookups in advance and caches the resolved IP addresses along with the web page components. When a user requests a web page, the browser checks its cache for previously resolved domain names and their corresponding IP addresses, eliminating the need to perform time-consuming DNS lookups at the moment of page request.
3Productivity
If the web browser stores web page components in memory, then faster loading is achieved, but memory resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selectively preloads only certain web page components (such as images, scripts, and stylesheets) into the cache, rather than caching everything. This partial action approach balances memory consumption with performance benefits, storing only the components that will provide the most value in reducing future load times.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a server computer that receives, over a network from a computing device, a request for a search suggestion related to a search query that is input into a search term entry area displayed by a web browser executing on the computing device. In response to receiving the request, the server computer transmits over the network to the computing device, instructions for the computing device to display a search suggestion related to the search query, the search suggestion corresponding to a search results web page. The instructions further cause the computing device to store, in a memory of the computing device, a web page component associated with the search results web page without causing the computing device to visibly display the web page component during display of the search suggestion.