Mobile Shopping Browser Extension for Selective Product Image Sharing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing browser plugins and extensions struggle to distinguish product images from other types of images on webpages managed by third-party content providers, leading to reduced user experience and aesthetics due to indiscriminate application of sharing functions.
Innovation Solution
A browser plugin/extension that identifies and distinguishes product images from other images on webpages, allowing them to be saved or shared through an external function while omitting such functions for non-product images, using a product image extractor and authentication service to manage access and communication with application/web servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If browser plugins and extensions apply sharing functions to all images on webpages, then the sharing function is universally available, but user experience and aesthetics deteriorate due to indiscriminate application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the sharing function image-type-specific rather than universal. The browser extension identifies and applies sharing functionality only to product images, while excluding other image types such as avatars or decorative images. This selective application improves user experience by preventing inappropriate sharing of non-product images while maintaining sharing capability for relevant product images.
2Adaptability or versatility
If browser plugins and extensions apply sharing functions to all images on webpages, then the sharing function is universally available, but aesthetics deteriorate due to indiscriminate application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the sharing function image-type-specific rather than universal. The browser extension identifies and applies sharing functionality only to product images, while excluding other image types such as avatars or decorative images. This selective application improves user experience by preventing inappropriate sharing of non-product images while maintaining sharing capability for relevant product images.
3Reliability
If authentication is implemented for external functions, then access control is improved, but system complexity increases due to authentication token management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an intermediary approach by introducing an authentication service that acts as a mediator between the browser extension and the external application server. This service handles authentication token generation, validation, and management, thereby isolating the complexity of authentication from both the extension and the server. The extension simply communicates authentication requirements, while the service manages the complex token lifecycle, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining secure access control.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a processor that executes instructions stored in memory to: receive a request from a user device to access an external function on a webpage; confirm access to the external function by: communicating with a server providing the external function for an authentication token; receiving an authentication token used to access the server providing the external function; synchronizing the authentication token of the external function to a web browser displaying the webpage; authorizing access to the external function on the webpage; and retrieving information from the server to include in the external function; retrieve an image payload from the webpage, the image payload including information related to one or more images; determine a display image from the image payload to display in the external function; populate the external function using the display image and the information from the server; and overlay the external function on the webpage.