Coded Webpage Heuristics for Cross-Site Feature Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automated tools for extracting webpage data require specific knowledge of webpage layouts and are unable to handle variations in layout and data presentation across different websites, making them ineffective for cross-platform data identification and extraction.

Innovation Solution

Developing coded data packages that utilize webpage heuristics to identify and extract data using webpage agnostic shapes and intents, which can be applied across multiple websites without requiring specific knowledge of the layout.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated computing tools are used to identify and extract webpage data, then productivity is improved, but the tools require specific knowledge of webpage layouts which increases device complexity and reduces ease of operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata extraction efficiencyVSAvoidwebpage layout knowledge requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal data extraction system that can handle multiple webpage layouts and formats through a single platform. The system uses standardized data packages and shape definitions that can be applied across different websites, eliminating the need for separate specialized tools for each webpage type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer consisting of shape definitions and data packages that act as mediators between the automated tools and various webpage layouts. This intermediary layer translates diverse webpage structures into a standardized format that the extraction system can process, reducing the complexity burden on the tools themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automated computing tools are used to extract data, then productivity is improved, but adaptability to different webpage layouts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation speedVSAvoidcross-platform data extraction capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data extraction process into distinct components: shape definitions that identify webpage elements, data packages that define extraction rules, and a processing engine that executes the extraction. This segmentation allows each component to be independently configured and adapted to different webpage layouts while maintaining high-speed automated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables adaptability through parameter changes in the shape definitions and data packages. By modifying parameters such as selectors, extraction patterns, and data mapping rules, the same automated system can adapt to different webpage layouts without requiring fundamental changes to the core extraction engine, thus maintaining both speed and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual efforts are used to determine webpage elements, then adaptability to different layouts is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time and resource consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewebpage layout flexibilityVSAvoiddata extraction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining shape definitions and data packages that encapsulate knowledge about various webpage layouts. This preliminary configuration work is done once and then reused automatically for data extraction, combining the adaptability of manual layout understanding with the speed of automated processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250348546A1Extracting webpage features using coded data packages for page heuristics
Publication Date: 2025.11.13 PAYPAL INC
  • US20250348546A1 patent drawing
  • US20250348546A1 patent drawing
  • US20250348546A1 patent drawing

AI summary

There are provided systems and methods for extracting webpage features using coded data packages for page heuristics. A service provider server may provide website agnostic tools that account for differences in webpage layouts. This may be done using coded data packages designed to consider webpage heuristics of different webpages. These data packages include entries that have a term, a weight, and an optional scope for searching or filtering webpage elements in webpage document code for webpages. U sing multiple entries in a data package, a decision may be returned of whether a webpage includes a certain feature, data, or element, as well as data for the element. The identified feature may be used for data extraction and/or determination, which may allow one or more applications and/or browser extensions to provide services across multiple different websites without specifically formulating the data packages for certain website styles.