Spatially-oriented traversal animations for web navigation context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internet browsing can be a disorienting experience due to the lack of visual context when navigating between different web pages, as existing technologies do not effectively utilize spatial relationships between web addresses to enhance the transition process.
Innovation Solution
A device that determines the relationship between current and destination Internet addresses to select and animate the transition of web pages using spatially-oriented traversal animations, such as zoom in, zoom out, tree-based, and geographic maps, to provide a visual context for the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional web navigation is used without spatial animations, then the browsing speed is fast and simple, but the user loses spatial context and becomes disoriented when navigating between web pages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spatial traversal animations as an intermediary visual element between the current and destination web pages. These animations serve as a mediator that preserves spatial context by visually representing the hierarchical relationship between pages, allowing users to understand their navigation path without adding substantial complexity to the core browsing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to web navigation by implementing zoom animations that transform the viewing experience from a flat page transition to a three-dimensional spatial journey. The zoom-in and zoom-out effects create a sense of depth and hierarchy, allowing users to perceive the relationship between pages in a spatial metaphor similar to exploring a document structure
2Loss of information
If spatially-oriented traversal animations are implemented to show relationships between web pages, then user understanding of page relationships improves, but the navigation process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic animation sequences that adapt to the hierarchical relationship between pages. The system determines whether to perform zoom-in, zoom-out, or other traversal animations based on the destination URL's relationship to the current page, creating a dynamic navigation experience that provides context only when needed rather than applying uniform animations to all transitions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of visual representation by introducing animated transformations that modify the display characteristics during navigation. By adjusting animation parameters such as zoom level, transition speed, and animation type based on the hierarchical relationship, the system provides contextual information without requiring excessive time for every navigation action
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of spatial animations are provided for different hierarchical relationships, then the adaptability of the navigation system improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different animation qualities and types to different navigation scenarios based on the hierarchical relationship between pages. Instead of using a single uniform animation system, the patent selectively applies zoom-in animations for entering subdirectories, zoom-out for returning to parent directories, and other specialized animations for specific cases, making each animation locally optimized for its purpose while keeping the overall system manageable
Data Source
AI summary
A device for providing spatially-oriented traversal animations during web navigation. The device is configured to perform operations that include receiving a destination Internet address for a destination web page into a graphical web browser that is displaying a current web page having a current Internet address on an electronic display. The operations can further include determining, via electronic analysis of the destination Internet address and the current Internet address, a relationship between the destination Internet address and the current Internet address. The operations can further include determining a spatially-oriented traversal animation based on the relationship. The spatially-oriented traversal animation is from a plurality of different types of animations associated with different hierarchical relationships between Internet pages within the Internet domain. The operations can further include animating bringing the destination web page onto the electronic display using the spatially-oriented traversal animation and, afterwards, displaying the destination web page.