Preview Search Results via Hover-Triggered Background Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current search engines require users to click on links and navigate through webpages to preview search results, which is inefficient and can lead to loss of context, causing users to restart their search.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that allows users to preview content associated with user-selectable elements on a webpage by hovering over links, executing the associated search in the background, and rendering selected portions of the search results in a preview window without leaving the original webpage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If users click on links to navigate to search result webpages, then users can view detailed content, but search time increases and context is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preview window that displays search result content before the user commits to navigating to the full result page. This preliminary action allows users to assess content relevance without completing the full navigation action, thereby reducing wasted time on irrelevant results while maintaining accurate content evaluation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the search result content displayed in a preview window on the current page. Instead of requiring users to navigate to the original content page, the system generates and displays a copied version of the content in the preview window, allowing immediate assessment without context loss or time penalty
2Adaptability or versatility
If users navigate through multiple webpages to find desired information, then comprehensive search can be performed, but user context is lost and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the preview functionality with the original search results page by displaying the preview window directly on the current page. This combination eliminates the need to leave the original page to assess content, maintaining navigation efficiency while preserving search comprehensiveness. Users can evaluate multiple results without losing context of the original search query
Solution Approach 2:
The preview window acts as an intermediary between the search results and the full result pages. It provides a middle ground where users can assess content without committing to full navigation, thereby maintaining ease of operation while preserving the ability to perform comprehensive searches when needed
3Loss of information
If users return to previous webpages after clicking links, then they can maintain search context, but time is wasted and navigation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The preview window provides preliminary content assessment on the current page, eliminating the need to navigate away and return. Users can evaluate content and decide whether to proceed to the full result page, maintaining search context without the time penalty of navigation and return trips
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for previewing content that is located behind the links of a search results webpage without having to click on the links and thereby cause webpage changes. Embodiments provide a webpage that presents a first set of search results in response to a search query submitted by a user. This webpage is displayed in a graphical user interface and the first set of search results comprises one or more links to other search results webpages, which are defined dynamically and cannot be pre-computed. In the event a user mouses over one of the links, embodiments execute the search associated with the moused-over link and then render selected portions of the search results in a preview window that is positioned over a portion the webpage that displays the first set of search results.