Add-in Preview via Sandboxed Copy and Preliminary Action

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face limitations in evaluating and interacting with application add-ins before purchase, as existing previews are non-interactive and require installation and trial processes that are cumbersome and resource-intensive.

Innovation Solution

The enhancement of the add-in selection process by providing users with an interactive, immersive experience through a demo option that allows them to try out add-ins with sample data within a template document, reducing computational and network resource usage and streamlining the evaluation process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users install and integrate add-ins to evaluate them, then users can interact with the add-in functionality, but computational resources and network bandwidth are consumed and installation time is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadd-in evaluationVSAvoidcomputational resource usage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a preview copy of the add-in that runs in a sandboxed environment within the gallery interface. This copy replicates the add-in's functionality using sample data without requiring full installation or integration into the user's application, thereby enabling evaluation while minimizing computational resource consumption and network bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring sample data and pre-loading the add-in into a preview-ready state within the gallery. This allows users to immediately interact with functional previews without undergoing installation, integration, or data setup processes, thus reducing evaluation time and resource expenditure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If users install and integrate add-ins to evaluate them, then users can interact with the add-in functionality, but installation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadd-in evaluationVSAvoidinstallation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The add-in evaluation process is segmented into a separate preview function that operates independently from the main application. The preview environment is divided into isolated components (sample data, preview renderer, add-in instance) that can be loaded and executed without affecting the user's existing application state, simplifying the evaluation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If users install and integrate add-ins to evaluate them, then users can interact with the add-in functionality, but time is required for installation, trial, and potential uninstallation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadd-in evaluationVSAvoidevaluation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If users integrate add-ins for trial, then users can evaluate the add-in in context, but resources are consumed and post-purchase uninstallation may be required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadd-in evaluation accuracyVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a preview environment as an intermediary between the add-in store and the user's application. This intermediary layer provides a sandboxed execution context that mimics the real application environment, allowing accurate evaluation of add-in functionality without direct integration into the user's system, thus reducing resource consumption and eliminating the need for post-purchase uninstallation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3278217B1Enhanced preview technology for application add-ins

Publication Date: 2024.05.29 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

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AI summary

Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein for presenting add-in previews. In an implementation, a service receives a request for a preview of an application add-in. The service identifies a template document in response to the request and applies the application add-in to the template document to generate an enhanced preview of the application add-in. The service replies to the request with the enhanced preview.