Multi-Window Web App Layout and Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern web browsers lack the ability to handle multi-headed displays, limiting web applications to single browser windows and failing to scale effectively across multiple monitors with different resolutions and orientations.

Innovation Solution

A multi-window web application is implemented within a web browser, where a parent window governs communication, security, and dynamic layout management across multiple child windows, enabling communication via broadcast channels and websockets, and allowing for dynamic component loading and positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a single browser window is expanded across multiple displays, then the web application can be displayed on multiple monitors, but the solution does not scale to more than two monitors and does not work reliably for displays with different resolutions, orientations, and sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidadaptability to different display configurations

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the web application into multiple independent window instances, each capable of displaying a portion of the application. Instead of forcing a single window to span multiple displays, the application creates separate window objects that can be independently positioned and sized on different monitors, allowing the application to adapt to various display configurations including more than two monitors with different resolutions and orientations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-window two-dimensional display model to a multi-window three-dimensional spatial arrangement across multiple displays. By treating each monitor as a separate dimensional space and allowing windows to be positioned across these spaces with different orientations and resolutions, the application achieves versatility across diverse display configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple independent browser windows are opened for a web application, then the application can scale across multiple monitors with different configurations, but modern web browsers do not standardly govern window creation, component communication, and dynamic layouts between multiple interacting windows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different display configurationsVSAvoidcomplexity of window management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple browser window instances into a unified application experience by implementing a common JavaScript runtime environment that shares state, configuration, and communication protocols across all windows. This allows independent windows to behave as a cohesive application with coordinated layouts, shared components, and consistent state management, reducing the perceived complexity for developers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary mechanisms including broadcast channels for inter-window communication, a centralized configuration system for coordinating window creation and layout, and a shared state management layer. These intermediaries facilitate seamless interaction between independent windows without requiring complex peer-to-peer synchronization logic in each window.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If web applications are limited to single browser windows, then browser implementation is simpler, but web applications cannot function as multi-headed displays or improve worker efficiency across multiple monitors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworker efficiencyVSAvoidease of web application implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic window management where the application can automatically create, position, and configure multiple windows based on detected display configurations. The system dynamically adjusts window layouts, sizes, and positions to optimize productivity across different monitor arrangements, whether manually configured or automatically detected, enabling multi-headed display functionality without requiring complex manual setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4014472B1Multi-headed web-application architecture and messaging structure

Publication Date: 2024.06.05 RAYTHEON CO

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AI summary

A web application configured to open multiple browser windows as a parent window and multiple child windows. The multiple browser windows communicate via a broadcast channel setup by the parent window. The multiple browser windows are positioned according to a layout received from an application page that each of the browsers loads. Each window is part of a whole, single application, and not a clone of an application with a message handler.