Application-Driven Menu Display Control via Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional menus are difficult to customize, as specifications are set by the menu side rather than the application side, limiting user and developer control over content display and layout, which hampers the creation of an optimal user environment.

Innovation Solution

A menu display apparatus and method that allows applications to acquire and control display data for content, setting specifications based on usage data, area settings, and user input, enabling dynamic layout and arrangement of content in menus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If menu specifications are set on the side of the menu, then the menu structure is simple and easy to manage, but the application cannot customize the menu display according to its own needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemenu customization capabilityVSAvoidmenu specification setting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by allowing applications to set menu specifications rather than having the menu system impose its own specifications. The menu execution unit acquires display data from applications and allows applications to define their own display parameters, reversing the traditional top-down specification flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The menu execution unit acts as an intermediary between applications and the display system. It acquires display data from applications, processes the specifications, and controls the display accordingly, enabling application-level customization without directly complicating the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If applications can set menu specifications, then the user environment can be optimized, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser environment customizationVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Applications are enabled to self-configure their menu display specifications without requiring manual intervention from users or complex system configuration. The menu execution unit automatically acquires display data and applies application-defined specifications, making the system self-serving and simplifying user interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If display data is acquired from each application, then the menu can dynamically reflect application content, but the data acquisition and processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic content displayVSAvoiddata acquisition processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The menu execution unit acquires display data from applications in advance before menu rendering is needed. This preliminary data acquisition allows the system to prepare and cache the necessary display information, reducing processing complexity during actual menu display and enabling dynamic content reflection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2420922B1Menu display device, menu display method, and program
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2420922B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2420922B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2420922B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a menu display apparatus that displays a menu of a plurality of applications, including an acquisition unit that acquires display data of content information representing content to be displayed in the menu of the content managed by each application from each application and a display controller that controls a display of the content information in each area according to setting conditions for the area provided for each of the applications in the menu and the display information of the content information acquired from each application. Accordingly, the display of the content information to be displayed in the menu in each area is controlled according to setting conditions for the area provided for each application in the menu and display data of the content information acquired from each application.