Adaptive UI for Joint Document Review

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current joint document review processes are inefficient due to the lack of optimized user interfaces for various devices, leading to manual navigation challenges and disconnection among reviewers, especially for long documents, and the user interface is not optimized for large-format display devices.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a customizable user interface that adapts to different devices, including large-format displays, desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, with features like touch-enabled navigation, indicators for reviewers, and a third UI pane for optimized document navigation, allowing synchronized location sharing and emphasis on document sections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single computer connected to a large-format display device is used for joint review, then all reviewers can view the document simultaneously, but the user interface is not optimized for large-format displays and all reviewers view exactly the same content

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUI optimization for different device typesVSAvoidDocument navigation and readability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides different UI configurations optimized for specific device types (large-format displays, tablets, smartphones, desktops). Each device receives a customized UI with appropriate font sizes, navigation controls, and layout optimizations tailored to its display characteristics and usage context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The UI dynamically adapts to the reviewer's device type and automatically adjusts document location based on the reviewer's current position in the document. The system continuously updates UI elements and document views to reflect real-time reviewer locations and device capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If reviewers open copies of the document on their own computing devices, then each reviewer can use their device's capabilities, but the review process becomes disconnected and requires considerable manual navigation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDevice capability utilizationVSAvoidSynchronization of reviewer locations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously tracks and communicates each reviewer's location within the document to all other reviewers in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows reviewers to see where others are in the document, enabling synchronized navigation and reducing the need for manual coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables document review functionality across multiple device types (large-format displays, tablets, smartphones, desktops) while maintaining a unified review experience. Each device type leverages its unique capabilities through customized UI configurations while participating in the same synchronized review session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Area of stationary object

If conventional document review interfaces are used on large-format displays, then the display size is utilized, but the interface is difficult to read and not optimized for distance viewing

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDisplay area utilizationVSAvoidReadability from distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11675471B2Optimized joint document review

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A UI for presenting and reviewing a document is optimized based upon the type of computing device being utilized to present the document. One such UI includes a first pane showing a view of the document under review that is sized and formatted for display on a large-format display device. The first pane can also be utilized to emphasize a portion of the document. The UI also includes a second pane that includes indicators for each of the reviewers of the document. The selection of an indicator will cause a portion of the document being reviewed by the corresponding reviewer to be displayed in the first pane. The UI also includes a third pane that includes a scaled image of the document shown in the first pane. Selection of a portion of the scaled image causes the selected portion of the document to be displayed in the first pane.