Link Metadata System for Pop-out Link Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing navigational systems on the World Wide Web face inefficiencies due to excess nesting of windows when performing navigational actions on links within remote windows, which leads to increased overhead and latency, especially for search engines and remote application/window interactions.
Innovation Solution
A centralized Link Metadata System is introduced to identify pop-out links by providing metadata associated with specific Internet domains and URI paths, allowing user agents to determine whether to perform normal navigation or reload the top-level container with content from the link's destination, thereby avoiding excess nesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional navigational action is performed on links within remote windows, then navigation to destination resources is achieved, but successive nesting of remote windows occurs resulting in excess overhead and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of pop-out links through metadata lookup before navigation occurs. The Link Metadata System stores and provides metadata information about which links should trigger pop-out behavior, allowing the client to prepare for direct navigation without nesting by knowing in advance that a link is marked as a pop-out link.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary Link Metadata System that acts as a mediator between the client and server for link navigation. Instead of the server handling all navigation decisions (causing nesting), the metadata system provides information that enables the client to make local decisions about whether to perform direct navigation or traditional nested navigation, thereby reducing latency.
2Loss of time
If each link instance is individually marked as a pop-out link to avoid nesting, then direct display of remote windows is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Link Metadata System provides a universal mechanism that serves multiple functions: it identifies pop-out links, stores metadata about link behavior, and provides a centralized management interface. Instead of requiring individual marking of each link instance, the system uses a unified metadata structure that can be queried to determine pop-out behavior for any link, simplifying both implementation and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service through automated metadata lookup. When a link is encountered, the client automatically queries the Link Metadata System to determine if the link should be treated as a pop-out link, eliminating the need for manual individual marking of each link instance. The metadata system automatically provides the necessary information based on the link's domain and URI path.
3Productivity
If a centralized Link Metadata System is implemented to identify pop-out links via lookup, then navigation latency is reduced by avoiding window nesting, but system complexity increases due to additional metadata infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the navigation system into distinct components: the Link Metadata System for storing and managing metadata, the client for querying metadata and making navigation decisions, and the server for providing content. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces overall system complexity by distributing functionality rather than concentrating all navigation logic in one place.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of link identification from individual instance marking to metadata-based identification using domain and URI path combinations. This parameter change simplifies the system architecture by using a lookup-based approach rather than requiring complex individual link annotations, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining high navigation speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and server apparatus for providing and using a centralized Link Metadata System to identify if navigational links are pop-out links, is provided. The present invention utilizes a Link Metadata System, available on the Internet, of metadata associated with any given, specific Internet domain and URI path combination. Software browsing user agents on remote window servers are then configured with the ability to request metadata from the Link Metadata System indicating that a link is a pop-out link. Upon receiving metadata, the user agent determines whether to perform navigation as normal or perform the pop-out link functionality of reloading the remote client user agent's top level container with the content provided at the link's destination URI.