Webpage Exposing Remote Methods to Desktop Applications
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Web browsing environments limit user experience due to restrictions on privacy, configurability, and functionality, whereas desktop environments offer enhanced interfaces and security but are limited in connecting to remote data providers with specific configurations.
Innovation Solution
A webpage exposes remote functionality by specifying web services, invokable methods, and compatible applications within HTML files, allowing browser extensions or desktop applications to invoke these outside the web browser, providing a richer user experience and more control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If web browsing environment is used to access remote functionality, then ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but user experience, security, and configurability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a desktop application as an intermediary between the web browser and remote data providers. The browser discovers remote functionality through HTML specifications, then launches a desktop application that handles the actual connection and interaction with remote services. This mediator approach allows the browser to maintain ease of access while the desktop application provides enhanced security and functionality.
2Ease of operation
If web browsing environment is used to access remote functionality, then accessibility is improved, but functionality and configurability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the functionality into two distinct components: a lightweight web browser component for discovery and initiation, and a full-featured desktop application for execution. The browser handles URL discovery and launching, while the desktop application provides the rich functionality, customization options, and configurability that web browsers lack.
3Reliability
If desktop application is used to access remote functionality, then security and functionality are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by having the web browser discover and prepare the connection information before launching the desktop application. The HTML page specifies the remote functionality and connection details in advance, so when the user clicks a link, the desktop application already has the necessary configuration information, reducing the operational burden on the user.
4Device complexity
If web browser directly connects to remote data provider, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The desktop application serves multiple functions: it acts as a protocol handler for discovered URLs, a configuration manager for remote connections, and a security gateway. This universal application handles various configurations and protocols that would be too complex for a web browser, while maintaining a unified interface for the user.
Data Source
AI summary
Web browsing environments are commonly used to facilitate user interaction with data over the Internet. A web browser is a tool used to view and interact with a webpage. A webpage may interface with a web service to provide remote functionality that the webpage does not locally provide. An effective method for specifying and consuming remote functionality that an application invokes outside of the web browser is disclosed herein. A webpage exposes remote functionality (e.g., web service) that a web browser and/or browser extensions may discover through browsing the webpage. A browser extension associated with an application determines whether the application is compatible with the remote functionality. Once a compatible application is determined, it may be executed so as to connect to and invoke the remote functionality outside of the web browser. The application may provide a more robust experience with the remote functionality compared to the web browsing environment.