Web Page Repurposing for Gadget Controls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Developers face significant extra effort when creating web applications with ASP.NET or other technologies, as they must write separate code for standard web pages and mashup scenarios, such as gadgets or services, to share data and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A web development system allows developers to repurpose content from a source web site as a gadget control on an external web site by identifying and configuring portions of the web page, enabling the same content to be used in both standard and mashup scenarios through a mechanism that provides the content in normal fashion initially and as a gadget control when requested.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If developers write separate code for standard web pages and mashup scenarios, then both scenarios can be supported, but development time and code complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport for multiple web scenariosVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal web page structure that can function in multiple scenarios (standard web pages and mashup gadgets) through a single codebase. The web page includes embedded metadata and configuration elements that enable it to be repurposed as a gadget control when needed, eliminating the need for separate code writes for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the web page into distinct functional components: standard web page content and gadget-specific content. This segmentation is achieved through structured markup that identifies portions of the page as reusable gadget elements, allowing the same page to be rendered differently based on the hosting context without requiring complete code duplication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If developers create separate code for gadgets and services, then mashup scenarios are enabled, but the effort and maintenance burden double

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemashup scenario capabilityVSAvoidcode structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal web page template that inherently supports both standard web page deployment and mashup gadget deployment. The page includes configurable attributes and embedded metadata that automatically adjust its behavior based on whether it is being rendered as a full web page or extracted as a gadget control, reducing code structure complexity while maintaining mashup capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary configuration of the web page during the initial development phase by embedding gadget configuration attributes and metadata within the standard web page code. This preliminary action prepares the web page for future repurposing as a gadget without requiring additional code writing or structural modifications later, thereby reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the same functionality is implemented separately for web pages and gadgets, then both can be customized, but development efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoiddevelopment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single customizable web page template that maintains full customization capability for both standard web page and gadget scenarios. The template includes configurable attributes, event handlers, and business logic that can be customized once and then automatically adapt to different deployment contexts, preserving ease of operation while dramatically improving development efficiency by eliminating duplicate customization work.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8074167B2Cross domain presence of web user interface and logic
Publication Date: 2011.12.06 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US8074167B2 patent drawing
  • US8074167B2 patent drawing
  • US8074167B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed that allow for repurposing content of a source web site for an external web site. The developer uses a programming feature to create a web page with a portion of content suitable for use in the form of a gadget control on an external web site. The developer sets up the portion of the web page for repurposing as the gadget control. When a request is received from the source web site to access the web page, the web page is displayed along with the displayable portion of content in the normal fashion. When a request is received from the external web site to access the portion of content in the form of the gadget control, the portion of content is provided to the external web site for use in the gadget control.