LAN Ad Filtering Rule Updates Through Client Voting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing advertisement filtering methods rely on server-generated rules, which can lead to delays and increased server load, and clients cannot update rules without server connectivity, affecting the ability to identify and block new advertisements effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method for generating advertisement filtering rules within a local area network without server intervention, where clients vote on whether elements are advertisements, and the main client updates and distributes the rules to other clients based on feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If advertisement filtering rules are generated and updated by a server, then the rules can be centrally managed and distributed, but the server load increases and the response time for identifying new advertisements is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadvertisement filtering effectivenessVSAvoidrule update delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized server-based rule generation system into distributed client-based voting groups. Each client participates in voting to determine whether web page elements are advertisements, allowing rule generation to occur locally without constant server intervention. This segmentation reduces server load and enables faster local response times while maintaining filtering effectiveness through collective client intelligence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where clients vote on whether detected web page elements are advertisements. This feedback from multiple clients is aggregated to dynamically update filtering rules. The feedback loop enables the system to adapt to new advertisement patterns quickly without waiting for server-based analysis, reducing the time loss while maintaining reliable filtering through collective validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If all advertisements are blocked using a server-based filtering system, then online experience is improved, but advertising publishers cannot generate revenue for free content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser browsing experienceVSAvoidadvertising revenue
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different treatment of different web page elements based on voting results. Instead of uniformly blocking all advertisements, the system selectively filters elements that are consensus-advertisements while allowing other content to pass through. This selective approach maintains browsing experience by removing only harmful ads while preserving revenue-generating advertisements that provide value to users and publishers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of advertisement identification from server-defined static rules to dynamically adjusted parameters based on client voting behavior. The filtering system adapts its parameters according to community consensus, allowing it to distinguish between harmful advertisements and valuable promotional content. This enables differentiated filtering that protects user experience while preserving legitimate advertising revenue streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Extent of automation

If a vote is conducted in the local area network to determine whether a web page element is an advertisement, then the filtering rule can be autonomously generated without server intervention, but the communication overhead and voting process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverule generation autonomyVSAvoidvoting mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the voting mechanism universal by having all clients in the local area network participate in the same standardized voting process. Each client uses the same logic to evaluate web page elements and cast votes, simplifying the individual client implementation while achieving collective intelligence. This universal approach reduces the complexity burden on any single device while maintaining high automation through coordinated group action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables self-service by allowing clients to autonomously generate filtering rules through local voting without requiring server intervention. The system serves itself by using the collective intelligence of participating clients to identify and filter advertisements. This self-service mechanism achieves high automation while keeping individual client complexity manageable, as each client only needs to implement the voting logic rather than full rule generation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If the main client delivers updated filtering rules to other clients in the local area network, then rule synchronization is achieved without server involvement, but the network communication load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverule update speedVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the main client prepare and cache filtering rules before distribution to other clients. When new rules are generated through voting, the main client pre-processes and stores them locally, ready for rapid dissemination. This preliminary preparation reduces the actual communication load during rule updates, as pre-processed rules can be efficiently transmitted without requiring real-time server mediation, thus improving update speed while minimizing network energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4220522B1Webpage advertisement filtering method, electronic device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4220522B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4220522B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4220522B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A web page advertisement filtering method is provided, and is applied to a main client. The method includes: receiving a to-be-filtered web page element sent by a client in a local area network in which the main client is located (51101); sending first query broadcast information including the to-be-filtered web page element to the local area network in which the main client is located (S1102); receiving first query feedback information generated by all clients in the local area network based on the first query broadcast information (S1103); if the first query feedback information meets a preset condition, determining that the to-be-filtered web page element is an advertisement (S1104); and updating an advertisement filtering rule based on the to-be-filtered web page element that is an advertisement (S1105). In this method, an existing client can generate the advertisement filtering rule without intervention and existence of a server.