Web Page State Synchronization Across Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in synchronizing web page content and scrolling positions across different devices, particularly when devices have varying capabilities and display optimized versions of web pages, leading to inconsistencies in user experience.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves tracking and synchronizing web page state information, including URLs, DOM elements, and scrolling positions, using a server environment to maintain user profiles and update browsing information periodically, allowing devices to display web pages with consistent scrolling positions and optimized content based on device characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If web pages are optimized for different devices, then device-specific performance and display quality are improved, but content consistency and scrolling position synchronization across devices deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments web page content into distinct components: device-optimized versions (different layouts, resolutions) and device-independent state information (scrolling position, DOM element positions, reading progress). This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized and synchronized, resolving the contradiction between device-specific optimization and content consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cloud-based synchronization service as an intermediary between devices and web content. This intermediary maintains state information independently of the actual web page content, enabling consistent synchronization across devices while allowing each device to receive its optimized version of the content.
2Reliability
If scrolling positions are synchronized across devices, then user experience consistency is improved, but system complexity and data tracking requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the synchronization function from the web page rendering system and places it in a separate cloud-based service. This extraction simplifies the client-side implementation while maintaining reliable synchronization, as the complex data tracking and transmission logic is handled by the intermediary service rather than requiring complex client-side coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying of state information (scrolling position, DOM element positions) between devices through the cloud synchronization service. Instead of complex real-time coordination, the system copies relevant state data from one device to another, achieving consistent user experience with simpler system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive state information is tracked for synchronization, then content accuracy across devices is improved, but data storage requirements and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by tracking only the essential state information needed for synchronization (scrolling position, DOM element positions, reading progress) rather than all possible web page data. This selective tracking maintains sufficient accuracy for content synchronization while minimizing data storage requirements and processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and solutions are described for content synchronization across devices. A web page currently being viewed at a first device associated with a user profile of a user can be identified. Browsing information for the page (such as URL, scrolling location, and a DOM element) may be stored in the profile. The DOM element may be associated with page content displayed during a browsing session in a viewport while the web page is at the current scrolling location. The browsing information may be updated dynamically, upon detecting a change in the current scrolling location of the page at the first device. A request for displaying the web page at a second device associated with the user profile may be received. The browsing information for the web page may be provided to the second device, so that the web page with the current scrolling location is displayed at the second device.