Dynamic Icon Overlay for Web Link Interaction and Load Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Web pages lack a populated atmosphere due to the nature of HTTP, which does not reflect user behavior in real time, making linked elements always clickable and unresponsive to user interactions.

Innovation Solution

A method and program for displaying icons in front of link elements on a Web page, adjusting their number and position based on access data and server load, and displacing or removing them in response to user interactions, such as clicks and pointer movements, to create a crowded atmosphere and limit access to specific links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If icons are displayed in front of link elements to create a populated atmosphere, then user engagement and atmosphere are improved, but ease of clicking links deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatmosphere creationVSAvoidease of clicking
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The icons are made dynamic by displacing them when user operation is detected. The system transitions from a static overlay that blocks clicks to a dynamic system where icons move away from the cursor position, allowing users to access links while maintaining the populated atmosphere effect for passive observers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The icons serve as an intermediary layer between the user and the link elements. Instead of directly blocking or enabling clicks, the icons respond to user interaction by displacing, mediating between the atmosphere creation goal and the ease of operation requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If icons are displayed to interfere with clicking link elements, then server load is reduced, but accessibility to content deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveserver loadVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The icon display system dynamically adjusts based on user interaction. When users actively try to access content, icons displace to allow clicking. This dynamic behavior reduces unnecessary server load from random clicks while maintaining accessibility for intentional user actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the state parameter of icons from static overlay to dynamic responsive element. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between server load reduction and content accessibility based on real-time user interaction detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the number of icons is increased to represent crowded areas, then populated atmosphere is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatmosphere representationVSAvoidnumber of icons
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly distributing icons across the entire webpage, the system applies icons locally to specific link elements based on their importance, traffic patterns, or strategic value. This local quality approach creates populated atmosphere effects where needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity across the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the number of icons as a parameter based on various factors such as link importance, current user activity, or server load conditions. This parameter change allows flexible atmosphere representation without permanently increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2495645B1Object control method for displaying objects in front of link elements
Publication Date: 2017.12.13 RAKUTEN GROUP INC
  • EP2495645B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2495645B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2495645B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The system for the object control method according to an embodiment is a client/server system with a Web server (10) and a user terminal (20) connected through Internet (30). In the system for the object control method, a script (object control program) is embedded in a Web page to be transmitted from the Web server (10) and executed by the user terminal (20). The Web page contains a plurality of link elements (elements with links to other Web pages). A computer terminal having read the object control program displays a plurality of icons superimposed in front of the link elements in the Web page. Further, when a specified event is detected, (a) change the placement position of a specific icon, (b) temporarily or completely remove a specific icon, or (c) change the placement positions of a plurality of specific icons, for example, according to the event type.