Browser Sidebar Context Transfer for Desktop Link Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing web browsers struggle with efficiently displaying context from desktop applications when accessing web pages through links, leading to cumbersome user interactions, inefficient use of screen real estate, and increased computing resources due to separate operation of desktop and web applications.
Innovation Solution
The system transfers link context from desktop applications to web browsers, launching corresponding browser-based applications within the web browser sidebar, allowing concurrent display of the original document alongside the web page, and enables saving and retrieving this context for later use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a link is selected from a desktop application, then the web page is accessed, but the context of the original document is lost and requires separate window management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the desktop application context with the web browser by launching a browser-based application within the browser window. This combines the document context (from the desktop application) and the web page content into a single integrated interface, eliminating the need for separate window management while preserving link context through the sidebar pane display.
2Adaptability or versatility
If desktop and web applications operate separately, then each application maintains full functionality, but screen real estate is inefficiently used and computing resources are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by launching a browser-based application within the web browser window, which itself is a window on the desktop. This nested structure allows the browser-based application to access and display the document context while the web page loads in the main browsing area, maximizing screen real estate utilization without sacrificing functionality of either application layer.
3Loss of information
If the browser launches a separate application for each link context, then context is preserved, but device complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal browser-based application that can handle multiple document contexts within a single instance. Instead of launching separate applications for each link context, the browser-based application uses the sidebar pane to display multiple documents concurrently, allowing a single multi-functional application to serve multiple contexts and reduce overall system complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the document is displayed in a separate window, then the full document interface is available, but user efficiency decreases due to window switching and management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional window display to a two-dimensional layout by introducing the sidebar pane as a vertical dimension for document display. This allows the document to be displayed alongside the web page in the same window, eliminating the need for window switching while maintaining full document interface access through the sidebar, thereby improving user efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for transferring link context to a web browser. An example method includes receiving, by a web browser, a web address from a desktop application based on a selection of a link in document displayed in the desktop application; receiving, by a web browser from the application, link context for the selected link, the link context including an identification of the desktop application and an identification of the document; loading a web page corresponding to the received web address; based on the link context, identifying a browser-based application corresponding to the desktop application; launching the browser-based application within the web browser; transmitting the link context to the browser-based application; and displaying at least a portion of the document within the web browser.