Cross-Platform Encoded Link Conversion for Mobile Apps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing QR code scanning technologies on non-Android mobile devices cannot process market scheme URLs, leading to inability to link to Android Market pages, and users scanning such links on different platforms may not find compatible app versions for their devices.
Innovation Solution
A cross-platform encoded link management system that converts Android Market scheme URLs into standard URLs, allowing non-Android devices to access app distribution sites and search for compatible apps on their native platforms, such as iOS App Store or Windows Phone Marketplace.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If market scheme URLs are used to encode Android Market links in QR codes, then Android devices can automatically link to the correct app page, but non-Android devices cannot process these links at all
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - a platform detection and URL conversion mechanism - that sits between the QR code scanning and the app distribution site access. When a non-Android device scans a market scheme URL, the intermediary detects the platform incompatibility, automatically converts the market scheme URL to a standard web URL (http://market.android.com/details?id=...), and redirects the user. This mediator enables cross-platform compatibility while preserving the original link accuracy for Android devices.
2Ease of operation
If users on non-Android platforms scan Android Market QR codes, then they can access the Android Market page, but they cannot find or download compatible apps for their device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system detects the user's platform (iOS, Windows Phone, etc.) after they access the Android Market page via QR code scanning. Based on this feedback, the system automatically searches for and presents alternative app versions compatible with the user's platform. The feedback loop continues until the user finds a compatible app or the system determines no compatible version exists, thereby maintaining ease of operation while ensuring app compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard URLs are used instead of market scheme URLs, then non-Android devices can access the links, but the automatic linking functionality to specific app pages is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic URL handling approach where the system adapts the URL format based on the scanning device's platform. For Android devices, it maintains the convenient market scheme URL format that enables automatic linking to specific app pages. For non-Android devices, it dynamically converts to standard web URLs that ensure platform compatibility. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for automatic linking when possible while ensuring compatibility when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile computing device that runs a first mobile operating system scans and decodes an encoded link to a specific page in an app distribution site for a second mobile operating system. The mobile computing device can convert the link into a format usable by the first mobile operating system, and use the converted link to access and display the specific page. Rather than display the page in the app distribution site for the second mobile operating system, one or more links to corresponding apps in the format of the first mobile operating system can be located and displayed. To do so, the decoded link is used to glean relevant search terms, which are used to search an app distribution site for the first mobile operating system. The search results are displayed to the user.