Collaborative Web Browsing via DOM-Based Navigation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional web-browsing sharing technologies limit collaborative browsing experiences by requiring extensive data transfer and lack of independence, preventing users from fully participating in shared sessions, especially with media-rich content like videos, and failing to efficiently convey navigation information between participants.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables devices to join collaborative web browsing sessions by providing outgoing navigation data to distinguish selected objects on one device's display from others, using XPATH notation and JAVA script engines to highlight links and objects, allowing users to independently navigate while sharing navigation information without transferring entire screen views.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional solutions share all monitor views (e.g., WEBEX), then all users see the same content, but a large amount of data is transferred and user independence is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential navigation information (URLs, selected objects, DOM paths) from the complete screen view sharing approach. Instead of transmitting entire screen captures or all visual elements, the system selectively transmits only the navigation data needed to identify and highlight specific objects, dramatically reducing data transfer while maintaining collaborative browsing effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the navigation information into distinct components: base URLs, DOM object paths, and selection identifiers. This segmentation allows the system to transmit only the necessary portions of navigation data rather than complete screen views, enabling efficient data transfer while preserving the ability to reconstruct and highlight specific objects on remote displays
2Loss of information
If conventional solutions share all monitor views (e.g., WEBEX), then all users see the same content, but user independence in navigation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different users to have different viewing and navigation states simultaneously. Each user's browser independently renders pages and maintains its own navigation context, while the system selectively highlights specific objects based on shared navigation data. This enables users to explore content at their own pace while still benefiting from collaborative navigation cues
3Quantity of substance
If simple URL requests are used for collaborative browsing, then data transfer is reduced, but media-rich content interaction (e.g., video pausing) is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces DOM object paths as an intermediary layer between simple URL requests and complex media interaction. Instead of directly controlling media players or transferring large media data, the system uses DOM paths to identify specific objects within pages, including media elements. This intermediary approach enables precise control of media-rich content while maintaining efficient data transfer through text-based DOM references rather than binary media streams
Data Source
AI summary
A system for collaborative web browsing is provided comprising: a CPU; a system memory in communication with said CPU; a display medium; and instructions stored in the system memory and executable by the CPU, the instructions comprising: enabling a device to join a collaborative web browsing session; enabling a data navigation module to provide, upon an object appearing upon the display medium being selected by a user, outgoing navigation data that enables a rendering of the object to be distinguished from other objects rendered upon at least one other display medium of at least one other device.