Content-Specific URL Fragments for Linkrot-Resistant Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current URL fragment identifier schemes are inefficient and prone to linkrot, as they require complex regular expressions that are error-prone and difficult for end-users to create, especially when dealing with long documents or non-trivial differences in content, and do not support inexact matches or discrimination between match quality.
Innovation Solution
The development of a system that uses rolling n-gram hashes and standard hash-based comparisons to efficiently create short, content-specific URLs that support inexact matches and quality-based discrimination, allowing for robust navigation even when content is modified or unavailable, by incorporating time stamps and indirect hyperlinks to archival versions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If regular expressions are used for content matching in URL fragment identifiers, then content-specific navigation is enabled, but the system becomes error-prone and difficult for end-users to create
Solution Approach 1:
The patent copies a substring from the target document content and uses it as the fragment identifier. This simple copying approach eliminates the need for users to learn complex regular expressions while still enabling content-specific navigation. The copied substring serves as a direct representation of the target content without requiring pattern matching complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, disposable substring copies instead of persistent, complex regular expression patterns. These short substring identifiers are easy to create and discard, replacing the need for maintainable regular expression logic. The simplicity makes them error-prone-resistant and user-friendly despite their temporary nature.
2Measurement precision
If regular expressions are used for content matching, then content discrimination is possible, but the system becomes error-prone and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
By copying actual content substrings rather than using pattern-matching regular expressions, the system achieves reliable content identification. The copied substring is an exact representation of the target content, eliminating interpretation errors inherent in regular expression matching. This direct copying approach ensures both precision and reliability.
3Ease of operation
If position-based fragment identifiers are used, then navigation to specific locations is enabled, but the system becomes vulnerable to linkrot when content is modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for fragment identification from position-based (static) to content-based (dynamic). By using substrings that represent actual content, the fragment identifiers automatically adapt when content changes. This parameter change from position to content ensures that navigation remains reliable even when documents are modified, as the content-based identifiers will match the new content structure.
4Reliability
If content-based fragment identifiers are used, then robustness against content modification is improved, but the identifier length increases for long documents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential distinguishing substring from the target content rather than using the entire content or long position identifiers. This extraction approach captures the key identifying information in a compact form, achieving content-based robustness while keeping the fragment identifier length manageable. The extracted substring is sufficient for reliable matching without requiring the full content length.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented system for querying and generation of information in a communication network wherein queries are applied to contents of a multiplicity of documents that can be accessed in the communication network. Queries are sent to services in the communication network that run the queries against databases that comprise information from the contents of the multiplicity of documents. Using the query and by efficient actions requiring few user inputs, particularly relevant contents of the documents are identified, displayed, and distinguished within contexts of additional content that is relevant to the particularly relevant contents.