Adaptive Graphical User Interface Based on Contextual Usage Patterns

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing graphical user interface (GUI) systems do not effectively adapt to user behavior and context, leading to suboptimal user experience as they fail to dynamically adjust based on usage patterns and environmental factors.

Innovation Solution

A system that utilizes usage information, including contextual data, to automatically modify the GUI layout and provide recommendations to users, optimizing the display and functionality based on individual or group usage patterns, environment, and device type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the GUI display is statically designed without adaptation, then the system complexity is reduced, but the user experience and usability deteriorate as users' needs and contexts change over time

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveGUI adaptability to user behaviorVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors user interactions with the application and autonomously generates GUI layout recommendations based on observed usage patterns. The system serves itself by collecting usage data, analyzing patterns, and proposing layout changes without requiring manual intervention from users or developers, thereby achieving adaptability while keeping the implementation complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where user interactions are continuously monitored and recorded as usage information. This feedback is then processed to identify patterns and generate GUI layout recommendations that are presented to users. The system uses this feedback mechanism to adapt the GUI dynamically based on actual user behavior rather than static design assumptions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If usage information collection is implemented to enable dynamic GUI adjustment, then user experience improves, but the amount of data processing and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveusabilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential usage information needed for GUI layout optimization from the vast amount of possible user interaction data. It focuses on collecting specific metrics such as frequency of feature usage, sequence of operations, and time spent on different functions, filtering out redundant data to simplify processing while maintaining the ability to generate meaningful layout recommendations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial monitoring of user interactions by focusing on key usage patterns that most significantly impact GUI layout effectiveness. Rather than analyzing every single user action in detail, it captures representative usage information that provides sufficient insight for generating effective layout recommendations, reducing processing complexity while maintaining usability improvements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the GUI is automatically changed based on usage patterns, then user interaction efficiency improves, but the loss of user control and customization options increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoiduser control information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system presents GUI layout recommendations to users in advance before implementing changes. Users are given the opportunity to review the suggested layouts, understand the rationale behind them based on their usage patterns, and make informed decisions about whether to accept or reject the recommendations. This preliminary presentation ensures users retain control while benefiting from data-driven optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a dynamic approach where GUI layouts are not automatically changed without user input. Instead, it continuously generates recommendations based on evolving usage patterns and presents them to users for approval. The layout configuration is flexible and can be adjusted by users at any time, allowing the system to adapt dynamically while preserving user autonomy and control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3005671B1Automatically changing a display of graphical user interface
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3005671B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3005671B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3005671B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Usage information is used to automatically change a display of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a computer application. Recommendations may also be automatically provided that when accepted by a user change the GUI of the application. The usage information includes recorded interactions along with the context of the actions. Generally, the contextual usage information includes interaction information that may be used to determine how a user is interacting with the application based on the current context of the user. The usage information that is recorded from one or more users may be used to change the GUI and/or provide recommendations. Usage information obtained from a larger set of users (e.g. based on a type of business) may be used to automatically determine the recommendations or change the GUI.