Application Program Display Format Configuration via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Software providers face significant effort and expense in developing multiple application programs with different screen display formats for various end-users, despite these programs having the same functions, leading to user dissatisfaction and trust issues due to unsuitable startup screens and user interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A storage medium containing an installation package with an application program, multiple screen display data files, and a screen configuration data file, allowing the software provider to preset a display format that is selected and applied during installation, ensuring the application displays screens suited to the end-user's needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple application programs with different screen display formats are created for various end-users, then user satisfaction and trust are improved, but development effort and expense increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display format configuration from the core application program. Multiple screen display data files (e.g., startup screen data, UI window data) are stored separately as configuration files, allowing different display formats to be selected without creating separate application programs. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining user satisfaction through customized displays while reducing development effort through a single program structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the display format parameters by selecting different screen display data files based on user type or end-user requirements. Instead of programming multiple versions of the application, the system dynamically switches display parameters by loading different configuration files (e.g., display_format_1.dat, display_format_2.dat), thereby achieving customized user interfaces with minimal development overhead.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate software packages are supplied for different end-users, then display format suitability is improved, but time and resources for development and testing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal application program that can serve multiple end-user types by incorporating multiple screen display data files within a single package. The installer and application can adapt to different user requirements (individual vs. corporate) by selecting appropriate display formats from available files, eliminating the need to develop and test separate software packages for each user type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares multiple screen display data files in advance during the software development phase, with each file pre-configured for specific end-user types. The application then selects the appropriate pre-prepared display format during installation or first launch, avoiding the need for time-consuming real-time customization and reducing development and testing time.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single application program is used for all end-users, then development cost is reduced, but screen display format may not suit specific user needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces screen display data files as intermediary components between the core application program and the user interface. These intermediary configuration files contain the actual display format details (layouts, colors, fonts) and act as mediators that translate user requirements into appropriate visual presentations, allowing a single application program to serve multiple user needs effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the user interface dynamic by allowing the application to switch between different screen display data files based on detected user type or selected preferences. The interface adapts its appearance and behavior dynamically during operation or installation, ensuring suitability for each user type while maintaining a single application program structure that reduces development cost.
Data Source
AI summary
An application program is configured to display a screen in a display format when the application program is installed on a computer. Each of a plurality of screen display data files includes screen-display data for displaying a screen in respective ones of a plurality of display formats. A screen configuration data file includes display-format data specifying one of the plurality of display formats. An installer installs on the computer the application program, the plurality of screen display data files, and the screen configuration data file. The application program determines the display format based on the screen configuration data file when the application program is started on the computer, and displays the screen in the display format by using one of the plurality of screen display data files that corresponds to the display format specified by the screen configuration data file.