Master Browser DOM Mirroring for Secure Co-browsing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing co-browsing systems face challenges in securely and efficiently delivering and interacting with web content across different devices over networks, particularly in maintaining synchronized visual representations and handling user interactions while ensuring security and responsiveness.

Innovation Solution

A system employing a Master Browser that constructs and manages a document object model (DOM) of web content, transmitting it to a Slave Browser for rendering, with advanced event mirroring and security features, including secure storage, URL rewriting, and sandboxing, to provide secure and responsive co-browsing experiences without requiring modifications to external content providers or client browsers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional co-browsing systems transmit screen captures and synchronization messages between clients, then co-browsing functionality is achieved, but network bandwidth consumption increases and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveco-browsing responsivenessVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential DOM structure and critical event information from the complete web page, transmitting only these extracted elements between clients rather than entire screen captures. This selective extraction reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining co-browsing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the web page into discrete DOM elements and events, allowing selective transmission of only the necessary portions rather than the complete page. This segmentation enables efficient data transfer by transmitting only changed or relevant elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If VPN systems transmit screen shots between computers, then remote access is enabled, but security vulnerabilities increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote access capabilityVSAvoidsecurity vulnerabilities
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary server that mediates between remote clients and the target system. This intermediary handles all sensitive operations centrally, eliminating the need for direct client-to-client transmission of sensitive data, thereby reducing security vulnerabilities while maintaining remote access capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cobrowsing systems synchronize user input events between clients, then collaborative browsing is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollaborative browsing functionalityVSAvoidsynchronization system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the server receives DOM models from clients, processes them centrally, and returns updated models. This centralized feedback loop simplifies the synchronization logic by eliminating complex peer-to-peer coordination while maintaining collaborative browsing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2847686B1Enhanced document and event mirroring for accessing content
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 DIGITAL GUARDIAN
  • EP2847686B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2847686B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2847686B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for enhanced DOM and event mirroring and security in web applications provides an intermediate Master Browser between web content and client devices to improve security and other enhancements.