Active Data Item Action Selection on Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication devices, particularly handheld and portable devices, face challenges in enabling efficient user interactions with multiple data items such as phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs due to their small form factor and dynamic environments, where manual input is cumbersome and error-prone.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that detects and renders data items in an active state, allowing multiple programmatic actions to be performed through designated inputs, such as selection, double-click, or scrolling, enabling quick actions like making calls, sending messages, or navigating to URLs, tailored to the type of data item.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input methods are used on small form-factor devices, then device functionality can be accessed, but user efficiency decreases and error rate increases due to cumbersome operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting data items (phone numbers, email addresses, URLs) in the displayed content before user interaction. This pre-detection and pre-processing eliminates the need for manual input methods, allowing users to simply select from pre-identified options rather than manually typing or navigating through complex input interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically identifying and categorizing actionable data items in the content without requiring user intervention. The device autonomously parses text, recognizes data patterns, and prepares multiple possible actions (call, email, navigate) for user selection, thereby eliminating cumbersome manual input operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication functionalities are integrated into handheld devices, then device versatility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements universality by creating a unified action selection interface that handles multiple communication functionalities (telephony, email, web browsing) through a single mechanism. Instead of requiring separate interfaces for each communication type, the system presents a unified set of actions (call, send email, navigate) that work across different data item types, thereby providing versatile functionality without increasing perceived device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple communication functionalities into a single integrated workflow. The action selection interface combines telephony, messaging, and web browsing capabilities into one unified interaction pattern, where users select from consolidated actions regardless of the underlying communication type, thus reducing operational complexity while maintaining versatility.
3Productivity
If automated detection and action presentation is implemented, then user efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the complex task of data item processing into distinct modular components: data detection module, pattern recognition module, action generation module, and presentation module. Each component handles a specific aspect of the process independently, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable while delivering automated efficiency to users.
Data Source
AI summary
A record is processed, and a determination is made as to whether a data item in the record is usable by any one of a plurality of applications that are operable on the device. The detected data item is made actionable by assigning multiple actions to the data item, so that each action is programmatically initiated responsive to a designated input.