Dynamic Web Page Bookmarking via Local XML State Files

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to provide stable bookmarking of dynamic Web content, as they either require user intervention, expose sensitive data, or are limited by URL length and cross-browser compatibility, making it difficult to share and restore specific content states.

Innovation Solution

A method and system within the Web browser that automatically uses Web page author-defined scripts to save and restore the state of Web pages through XML representation, allowing for secure and shareable bookmarks via the clipboard, with support for digital signatures and encryption to prevent malicious use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If application state is serialized in the URL (e.g., using hash identifiers), then bookmarking is automated and shareable, but sensitive data is exposed and URL length is limited to 2k characters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebookmarking automationVSAvoiddata exposure and URL length limitation

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the application state from the URL and stores it separately in an XML file on the user's local system. The URL only contains the base address, while the detailed state information is saved in a separate bookmark file that the browser manages automatically. This eliminates the need to embed sensitive or lengthy state data in the URL.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary XML file that acts as a mediator between the URL and the application state. This file stores the serialized state information locally on the user's system, allowing the browser to automatically restore the application state without exposing data in the URL or hitting URL length limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If manual user intervention is required to update the URL (e.g., clicking a link to serialize state), then data security is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidbookmarking convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the browser to automatically serialize and save the application state without requiring user intervention. The browser monitors changes in the application state and automatically updates the bookmark file, allowing users to simply copy and share URLs while the browser handles the rest of the bookmarking process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-saving the application state in an XML file before the user needs to share or revisit the page. The browser continuously monitors and updates the state, so when the user copies a URL, the complete state information is already prepared and stored locally, ready for automatic restoration later.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If JavaScript is used to handle back and forward button events, then browser navigation is controlled, but reliability deteriorates because JavaScript objects are reset when the browser leaves the page

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation controlVSAvoidstate persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the application state from transient JavaScript objects and stores it in a persistent XML file on the user's local system. This ensures that the state information is preserved even when the browser leaves the page or the JavaScript objects are reset, maintaining reliability while still allowing navigation control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If existing social bookmarking systems are used, then bookmarks are shareable across users, but they cannot capture dynamic content states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebookmark sharingVSAvoidcontent state information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the URL with application-specific state information in a unified bookmark structure. The bookmark file contains both the base URL and the serialized application state, allowing the bookmark to function both as a shareable link and as a complete snapshot of the dynamic content state, combining the benefits of social bookmarking with dynamic content preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8041763B2Method and system for providing sharable bookmarking of web pages consisting of dynamic content

Publication Date: 2011.10.18 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A system that automatically obtains Web page-specific scripts to save and restore the state of a Web page. When a user bookmarks or copies a Web page URL to the clipboard, a function is called to create a page state file that is stored together with the current URL to create a bookmark. When the bookmark is loaded or pasted into the location bar of the Web browser, the system reads the URL and page state file, and loads but does not yet display the Web page indicated by the URL of the bookmark. The system then locates the Restore Page State function in the loaded Web page's script, and executes the Restore Page State function on the page state file, resulting in modification to the DOM (Document Object Model) representation of the Web page and display of the Web page to the user based on the modified DOM.