Web Control Simulator for Mobile Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices cannot display complex Web controls from PC-based Web pages due to differences in screen resolution and supported HTML elements, requiring separate development and maintenance of multiple Web page versions for different platforms.
Innovation Solution
A Web control simulator is added between mobile clients and Web servers, dynamically converting unsupported Web controls into recognizable elements, allowing mobile devices to process and display Web pages without the need for separate development, by simulating mouse behaviors and translating Web controls into recognizable formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single PC-based Web page with complex Web controls is used, then the Web page can display rich functionality on PC platforms, but it cannot be properly displayed or interacted with on mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server-side intermediary that acts as a mediator between the PC-based Web application and mobile devices. This intermediary intercepts mobile device requests, detects they are mobile requests, and automatically converts complex Web controls into mobile-compatible elements before returning the page. This allows the original Web application to remain unchanged while achieving mobile compatibility through the mediating conversion process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate mobile versions of Web pages are developed, then mobile device compatibility is improved, but development time and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a copying approach where the server creates a converted copy of the Web page specifically for mobile devices. Instead of maintaining separate original versions for different platforms, the system copies the original Web page content and dynamically transforms the controls in the copy to be mobile-compatible. This allows the original Web application to remain unchanged while generating mobile-optimized versions on-demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically modifying Web control parameters based on the requesting device type. The server detects mobile device requests and changes the rendering parameters of Web controls from their PC-based implementations to mobile-compatible implementations. This automatic parameter transformation enables the same Web page to adapt to different device platforms without requiring separate development versions.
3Ease of operation
If the Web server maintains multiple versions of Web pages for different platforms, then platform-specific functionality is optimized, but server complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server-side intermediary component that handles platform adaptation without requiring the main Web server to maintain multiple versions of pages. This intermediary sits between the Web server and mobile devices, automatically detecting mobile requests and performing real-time control conversion. This mediates the complexity by isolating it in a dedicated conversion layer rather than distributing it across the entire server architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Web control simulators for mobile devices are described herein. In one embodiment, a process for simulating Web controls includes, but is not limited to, receiving a first Web page requested by a mobile device over a network, the first Web page having a first element that is not recognizable by the mobile device, and dynamically converting the first element into a second element that is recognizable by the mobile device, such that the first Web page having the second element is capable of being processed by the mobile device. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.