Transcoding Engine for Mobile E-Commerce Page Adaptation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

E-commerce web pages designed for PC browsers are not optimally displayed on mobile communication devices due to screen size limitations, leading to inefficient navigation and content access.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for transcoding web pages, using a transcoding engine within a mobile device's browser to interpret and execute transcoding instructions, reorganizing content into a mobile-friendly format by applying signature files that identify page families and elements, allowing secure and efficient rendering on smaller screens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If web pages are designed for PC browsers with large screens, then content can be displayed in full width and height, but mobile devices with smaller screens cannot display the pages properly and require extensive scrolling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidnavigation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the web page content into multiple discrete elements that can be independently positioned and sized. Each content element is treated as a separate unit that can be arranged to fit mobile screen dimensions, eliminating the need for extensive scrolling while maintaining content accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different display properties to different regions of the page based on mobile screen characteristics. Content elements are selectively positioned and sized according to their importance and the available screen real estate, optimizing the display quality for each local region of the mobile device screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If conventional rendering techniques are used on mobile devices, then the original page layout is preserved, but the user must scroll through multiple screens to access content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepage layout integrityVSAvoidtime to access content
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-processing the web page content into a structured format with position and size information before rendering. This preparation work is done in advance, allowing the mobile device to directly display optimally arranged content without requiring runtime scrolling or additional navigation steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If web pages are reorganized to wrap content around mobile screens, then content becomes accessible without extensive scrolling, but the original page structure and design are altered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidpage structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer that sits between the original web page source and the mobile device display. This intermediary structure contains position and size information that guides content arrangement, allowing the page to be reorganized for mobile screens while maintaining a systematic approach to preserving the original content hierarchy and design intent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2081357B1Method and apparatus for checkout transition in an e-commerce application
Publication Date: 2012.12.19 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2081357B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2081357B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2081357B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and apparatus for transcoding content or elements of a webpage received at a client device, for example, a mobile communication device or other type of networked device. The apparatus includes a transcoding engine which is configured to transcode webpage content during a secure end-to-end connection between a client device and a website without the use of a proxy. According to an embodiment, the transcoding engine resides on the client, and is implemented as a plug-in to the browser, and transcoding instructions are provided to the client device by way of the signature file(s) each time the plug-in is invoked. The client device uses the transcoding instructions to manipulate the secure response from the secure server, for example, to transcode the response to a format suitable for display on the client device.