Composite Image Splitting via CSS Clip for Network Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method of requesting and processing multiple images for display over a network involves separate network requests for each image, leading to increased overhead and time as the number of images increases, necessitating a solution to minimize network requests and overhead.
Innovation Solution
The method involves requesting and processing a composite image containing multiple smaller images using a single TCP/IP transfer request, where the client-side browser splits and lays out the images using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript, reducing the need for separate server transfers and optimizing image rendering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If separate network requests are made to fetch each image, then each image can be retrieved individually, but network overhead and total request time increase significantly as the number of images increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate image requests into a single network request by creating a composite image that contains multiple smaller images. The server transmits one composite image file instead of multiple individual image files, and the client-side browser then splits the composite image into separate image portions for display. This merging approach significantly reduces network overhead and total request time while maintaining the ability to display multiple images.
2Quantity of substance
If separate network requests are made for each image, then image retrieval is straightforward, but network overhead increases with each additional image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple image retrieval operations into a single network transaction. Instead of making separate TCP/IP connections for each image, the system transmits one composite image containing multiple smaller images. The client browser then processes this single image by splitting it into separate portions using CSS clip functions and JavaScript positioning, thereby eliminating repeated network overhead while maintaining the ability to display multiple images.
3Loss of time
If a composite image is used to reduce network requests, then network overhead is minimized, but the client browser must perform additional processing to split and layout images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the composite image into multiple smaller image portions using CSS clip functions. Each image portion is defined by clipping paths that separate the individual images within the composite. JavaScript is then used to position these segmented portions according to the original layout requirements. This segmentation approach enables the browser to handle a single large image file while maintaining the ability to display multiple separate images, balancing network efficiency with client-side processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for transferring, processing and displaying multiple images using a single transfer request such as a Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) transfer request are disclosed. The method may generally include requesting a document, e.g., an HTML document, that references a composite image containing multiple image portions, splitting the composite image into the multiple image portions, determining a layout of the image portions in a client browser, e.g., a web page browser, and laying out the image portions in the client browser according to the determined layout. The splitting of the composite image into the multiple image portions may utilize Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), e.g., using a CSS clip function for each image portion, and may use absolute positioning of the image portions within the composite image. The determining the layout and the laying out of the multiple image portions may be implemented utilizing JavaScript.