Adaptive User Interfaces via Abstracted Size Classes

Solution Overview

Problem

Current application development tools require developers to create separate user interfaces for each orientation and screen size of electronic devices, leading to inefficiencies as the number of screen sizes increases, necessitating advanced tools for simplified creation and editing of adaptive user interfaces.

Innovation Solution

The development of systems and methods for creating and editing adaptive user interfaces that automatically adapt to any screen size by using abstracted size class values such as compact, regular, and wide, allowing for customization based on device features like orientation and input capabilities, enabling automatic adaptation and override instructions for color, text, and element placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If separate user interfaces are created for each screen size and orientation, then the user interface can be precisely optimized for each device, but the development complexity and time required increase exponentially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface optimization precisionVSAvoiddevelopment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single user interface design that can adapt to multiple screen sizes and orientations through abstracted size class values. Instead of creating separate interfaces for each device configuration, the system uses a universal interface that automatically adjusts its layout and behavior based on the device's screen dimensions, thereby reducing development complexity while maintaining optimization precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of screen size representation from concrete physical dimensions to abstracted size class values (compact, regular, wide). This parameter transformation allows the user interface to adapt to different screen configurations by selecting appropriate layouts based on abstract categories rather than handling each specific dimension individually, thus reducing development complexity while preserving optimization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If separate user interfaces are created for each screen size and orientation, then the user interface can be precisely optimized for each device, but the development time increases exponentially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface optimization precisionVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single user interface design that can adapt to multiple screen sizes and orientations through abstracted size class values. Instead of creating separate interfaces for each device configuration, the system uses a universal interface that automatically adjusts its layout and behavior based on the device's screen dimensions, thereby reducing development time while maintaining optimization precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary classification of screen sizes into abstracted size classes during the design phase. By pre-defining these categories (compact, regular, wide) and their corresponding layouts, the system eliminates the need for manual adjustment during deployment, thus reducing development time while preserving optimization precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual changes are applied to each user interface workflow, then the user interface can be customized for each device, but the ease of operation and maintenance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice customization capabilityVSAvoidinterface editing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single user interface design that can adapt to multiple screen sizes and orientations through abstracted size class values. Instead of creating separate interfaces for each device configuration, the system uses a universal interface that automatically adjusts its layout and behavior based on the device's screen dimensions, thereby reducing development time while maintaining optimization precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables user interfaces to automatically adapt to different device configurations without requiring manual intervention. By using abstracted size class values and predefined adaptation rules, the interface automatically selects and applies the appropriate layout for each device type, eliminating the need for developers to manually edit each interface workflow while maintaining customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10120659B2Adaptive user interfaces

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 APPLE INC

AI summary

Described is a technique for creating and displaying adaptive user interfaces. The user interface may be provided to an application development environment that provides the ability to allow authoring of a user interface that adapts to a screen size with any first abstracted size class value and any second abstracted size class value. Accordingly, an application that includes the user interface may determine a screen size of a device and adapt the user interface according to the screen size including the first abstracted size clasp value and the second abstracted size class value. Thus, a developer may efficiently develop a user interface based on various abstracted size class values that may be adapted to a particular device.