Hyperlink Display Name Generation for Limited Screen Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long and convoluted URLs in electronic messages and web links do not provide meaningful information to users, especially on devices with limited display space, and can obscure relevant content.
Innovation Solution
An application generates a display name for a web page by processing the URL to determine substitute link text based on resource type, metadata, or content, creating a shorter and more informative hyperlink that maintains the original URL as an underlying link.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the original resource indicator (URL) is displayed as the hyperlink, then the user can access the resource, but the display space is wasted and meaningful information is not provided to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the hyperlink function with a substituted link text that is more informative than the original URL. The substitute link text copies the essential information about the resource (such as the resource name or description) while maintaining the hyperlink functionality to access the original resource. This allows the user to see meaningful information in the display without losing the ability to access the resource.
2Ease of operation
If a shortened display name is used for the hyperlink, then display space is saved and meaningful information is provided, but the original URL structure is changed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hyperlink into two distinct parts: the substitute link text that is displayed to the user, and the original resource indicator (URL) that maintains the functional link. This segmentation allows the display portion to be optimized for user understanding while preserving the original URL structure for functionality. The substitute link text can be independently optimized without affecting the underlying URL structure.
3Reliability
If the original resource indicator is displayed, then the exact resource can be accessed, but the user cannot quickly understand what the resource is about
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a substitute link text as an intermediary between the user and the original resource indicator. This intermediary provides meaningful information about the resource (such as the resource name or description) that helps the user understand what the resource is about, while still maintaining the accurate link to the original resource. The substitute link text acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between user comprehension and resource identification.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving a first hyperlink as input, the first hyperlink comprising a resource indicator and link text, processing the resource indicator using a computing device to determine substitute link text, generating a second hyperlink, the second hyperlink comprising the resource indicator and the substitute link text, and providing the second hyperlink to be displayed on a display.