Passive Mixed Content Item for Desktop Application Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to automatically and transparently detect the installation of dedicated desktop applications, leading to user annoyance and inefficient access to server application content.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that uses a passive mixed content item, such as an image, encoded with installation information, served by a local web server to determine if a dedicated desktop application is installed, allowing automatic launch of the application without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a web client is provided for accessing server application content, then accessibility across multiple devices is improved, but user experience deteriorates when a dedicated desktop application is available because users must manually switch to the desktop client
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of desktop application installation status before the user attempts to access content. A passive mixed content item is loaded in the background to determine if the dedicated desktop application is installed, so that when the user clicks a link, the appropriate application is already ready to launch without requiring user decision-making
Solution Approach 2:
A passive mixed content item serves as an intermediary mechanism between the web browser and the desktop application detection system. This intermediary element enables the web server to indirectly detect desktop application installation status through load success/failure, facilitating automatic routing decisions
2Ease of operation
If automatic detection of desktop application installation is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional detection mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing web browser and web server infrastructure to perform detection, rather than requiring a separate detection service or agent on the desktop. The passive mixed content item leverages the browser's existing HTTP client functionality, allowing the system to self-detect application installation status using resources already present in the environment
Solution Approach 2:
The passive mixed content item serves multiple functions: it acts as a detection mechanism for desktop application installation, maintains backward compatibility with web-based access, and enables automatic routing decisions. This single element performs what would otherwise require multiple separate components
3Loss of information
If passive mixed content item detection is used, then transparency of detection is improved, but reliability may deteriorate due to potential false positives from mixed content blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an excessive approach by attempting to load the passive mixed content item regardless of whether the desktop application is actually installed. This ensures that the detection mechanism always executes, and the result (success or failure) provides reliable information about application installation status, even though it may attempt more actions than strictly necessary
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a computer implemented method comprising receiving a link to content served by a remote server, detecting activation of the link, and in response to detecting activation of the link attempting to load a passive mixed content item from a local web server. In response to determining the passive mixed content item successfully loaded the method further comprises extracting installed application information from the passive mixed content item, determining whether or not the installed application information indicates a relevant installed desktop application, and if so accessing the content referenced by the link from the remote application server using the relevant installed desktop application.