Application-Specific Dictionary Management for Portable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable computerized devices face challenges in user interaction due to constraints on input and output mechanisms, and existing dictionaries are not optimized for specific applications, leading to inefficient memory and processing usage.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine and enable an application-specific dictionary, which includes checking for local storage, downloading if unavailable, and managing dictionary updates based on user confirmation and age thresholds, ensuring optimal memory and processing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a general-purpose dictionary is used for all applications, then the dictionary can be easily accessed, but memory and processing resources are wasted on unused entries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dictionary into application-specific subsets rather than using a single general-purpose dictionary. Each application maintains its own dictionary with entries relevant to that specific application domain, thereby reducing the quantity of dictionary entries needed while maintaining adaptability across different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating dictionaries tailored to specific application domains. Each dictionary is optimized for the particular application it serves, containing only the relevant entries needed for that application, thus improving adaptability while reducing overall dictionary size compared to a universal dictionary.
2Productivity
If a large dictionary is stored locally, then text input performance is improved, but memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dictionary into application-specific portions and loads only the relevant segment into memory when an application is active. This allows high text input performance for the current application while minimizing overall memory usage by not keeping all dictionary entries in memory simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic dictionary loading where the dictionary content is adjusted based on the currently executing application. The system dynamically loads only the necessary dictionary entries for the active application into memory, optimizing both text input performance and memory efficiency compared to static large dictionary storage.
3Reliability
If the dictionary is downloaded automatically, then the dictionary is always up-to-date, but data transmission time is wasted on unnecessary downloads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by checking whether a dictionary is already present in local memory before initiating a download. This prevents unnecessary downloads when the dictionary is already up-to-date, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining reliable dictionary updates through subsequent timestamp-based validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms through timestamp comparisons to determine whether a dictionary update is necessary. The system compares the timestamp of the locally stored dictionary with the server version and only downloads when updates are actually needed, thus maintaining reliability while minimizing unnecessary data transmission time.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dictionaries are maintained for different applications, then each application gets optimized performance, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a unified dictionary management system that handles multiple application-specific dictionaries through a common framework. The same core mechanisms (storage, loading, updating, deleting) are used across all applications, reducing the apparent complexity while maintaining application-specific optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through automated dictionary management where the system automatically determines which dictionaries to load, when to update them, and when to delete them based on application execution status. This automation reduces the complexity of manual dictionary management while maintaining optimized performance for each application.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed, including determining an application to be executed; determining a dictionary associated to the determined application; and enabling the associated dictionary. Corresponding computer program, apparatus, user interface, and system are also disclosed.