Application Control System for Dynamic GUI Layout and Inter-App Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) require users to manually position and resize multiple applications to create a desired layout, and applications often lack efficient means to communicate with each other, limiting data sharing and collaboration.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses an Application Control System (ACS) to dynamically manage the size and location of multiple applications on a GUI, allowing them to communicate through an API, ensuring seamless data sharing and optimal layout adjustment based on user preferences and application importance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users manually position and resize multiple applications to create a desired layout, then the layout can be customized according to user preferences, but the operation complexity and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs layout optimization by analyzing application relationships and determining optimal positions and sizes without requiring manual user intervention. The computer system serves itself by autonomously arranging applications based on their importance and interconnections.
Solution Approach 2:
The layout is dynamically adjusted based on changing conditions such as application importance, data sharing relationships, and user interactions. The system continuously adapts the arrangement rather than maintaining a static layout, allowing the interface to evolve with user needs.
2Area of stationary object
If applications are arranged to fill the GUI efficiently, then the screen utilization is maximized, but the ability to individually adjust each application's size and position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies full automation for layout optimization while still allowing partial manual adjustment when needed. Users can intervene to adjust specific applications individually if desired, but the default behavior provides comprehensive automatic arrangement that maximizes screen utilization.
3Device complexity
If applications have limited means to communicate with each other, then system complexity is reduced, but data sharing efficiency and collaboration between applications deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple applications into an integrated workspace where they can share data and communicate through a common interface. By combining applications in proximity and establishing communication channels between them, the system enables efficient data sharing while maintaining manageable complexity through unified control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer (the layout management system) that facilitates communication between applications. This mediator enables data sharing and collaboration without requiring direct complex integration between each pair of applications, thus maintaining system manageability while improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer program products for displaying multiple applications on a graphical user interface (“GUI”) are provided. An application control system (“ACS”) may determine which applications should be displayed, and ACS may determine an optimal layout for the application on the GUI. ACS may move and/or resize the applications and automatically determine an optimal layout such that the applications substantially fill a portion of the GUI. Additionally, ACS may facilitate communication between the applications using an application programming interface (“API”). An application may obtain information from any other application on the GUI by transmitting requests via the API.