Treatment Controller for Dynamic Web Page Adaptation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Implementing a system that can dynamically reconfigure web pages in real-time without undue delay for different users or user groups is challenging, especially when trying to conduct online experiments to determine the effectiveness of various web page treatments.

Innovation Solution

A treatment controller located at a web server performs real-time dynamic page manipulation by modifying web control attributes using a render object model, logically sitting between the web server and an optimization service to deliver different web pages with varied features to users, without intruding on user browser scripts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If web pages are dynamically reconfigured in real-time for different users, then adaptability to user preferences and experimentation effectiveness is improved, but system complexity and processing delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user preferencesVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A treatment controller is introduced as an intermediary component between the web server and the optimization service. This controller receives web pages, applies treatments based on user profiles and experiment configurations, and delivers customized pages without requiring complex modifications to the core web server or browser. The intermediary handles the complexity of treatment application centrally, keeping the overall system manageable while enabling real-time adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The web page treatment system is segmented into independent components: the web server, the treatment controller, and the optimization service. Each component has specific responsibilities - the web server handles basic HTTP requests, the treatment controller applies treatments based on user profiles, and the optimization service manages experiment configurations. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture while enabling real-time dynamic reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If web pages are dynamically reconfigured in real-time, then adaptability to user preferences is improved, but processing time and delivery delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user preferencesVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

User profiles and treatment configurations are prepared and stored in advance by the optimization service. When a user accesses the web server, their profile information is already available, and treatment rules are pre-configured. The treatment controller can immediately apply the appropriate treatments without requiring real-time computation or data retrieval, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of generating completely new web pages from scratch for each user, the system uses templates and copies existing page structures. The treatment controller applies treatments by modifying copies of standard page templates rather than creating unique pages, reducing the computational overhead and processing time required for real-time reconfiguration while still achieving personalized delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If treatments are applied through browser scripts, then treatment delivery flexibility is improved, but user behavior may be negatively influenced and experimentation validity compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment delivery flexibilityVSAvoidnegative influence on user behavior

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces client-side JavaScript-based treatment delivery with a server-side processing approach. Instead of relying on browser scripts to apply treatments (which can be viewed, blocked, or manipulated), the treatment controller applies treatments on the server before the page is sent to the user. This substitution eliminates the harmful effect of visible or manipulatable scripts while maintaining treatment delivery flexibility through server-based control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10417318B2Treatment controller

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LTD

AI summary

A content modification system includes a treatment controller which may be hosted at a web server. The treatment controller receives a request for content from a user. One example of a request is an HTTP request for a web page. The treatment controller determines a representation of the requested content and receives a modification instruction for modifying the requested content. The treatment controller is operable to modify the representation according to the instructions and render the representation to a predetermined format for delivery to the user.