Automated User Interface Design Tree Traversal

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Solution Overview

Problem

User interface design is time-consuming and difficult to automate effectively, with existing methods often relying on fixed rules and being costly to scale.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for automating user interface design by generating a tree of design actions based on functions and relationship information, traversing the tree to execute design actions, and calculating design scores to select the best candidate interface design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated user interface design is implemented using fixed rules, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases and scalability becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface design speedVSAvoidautomation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the interface design process into discrete design actions organized in a tree structure, where each node represents a specific design decision or modification. This segmentation allows the complex automation task to be broken down into manageable, reusable components that can be systematically explored and evaluated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically traverses the design action tree to generate multiple candidate interfaces, evaluating each candidate against design principles and constraints. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt and optimize interface designs based on specific requirements rather than following rigid fixed rules, reducing the complexity burden while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If manual user interface design is used, then design quality can be maintained, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign qualityVSAvoiddesign time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by evaluating each generated interface candidate against established design principles, constraints, and quality metrics. This feedback loop ensures that automated-generated interfaces maintain high design quality by systematically checking and refining candidates, thereby reducing design time without sacrificing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining design actions, constraints, and evaluation criteria before the actual interface generation process. This preparation enables the system to quickly generate and evaluate multiple design candidates without compromising quality, significantly reducing the time required compared to manual design while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If existing automated design methods are used, then productivity is improved, but adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign automation efficiencyVSAvoiddesign flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts to different design requirements by traversing the design action tree with flexible parameters and constraints. Rather than following fixed rigid rules, the system can adjust its traversal strategy, evaluation criteria, and design actions based on specific project needs, maintaining both high productivity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables parameter changes by allowing modification of design constraints, evaluation weights, and traversal parameters to suit different design scenarios. This flexibility allows the automated system to adapt to various requirements while maintaining efficiency, resolving the contradiction between productivity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3580653B1Automated interface design
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3580653B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3580653B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3580653B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An automated interface generates a tree of design actions based on a predetermined set of functions and relationship information, each intermediary node of the tree representing a partial user interface design, and each branch of the tree representing a design action that creates or modifies the partial user interface design. A plurality of candidate user interface designs are determined, each implementing the received plurality of functions, by traversing the tree along multiple traversal paths from a root node of the tree to respective leaf nodes of the tree and executing respective design actions represented by branches along the traversal paths. A completed interface design is selected from the plurality of completed interface designs based on a predetermined selection algorithm, and the final user interface is generated based on the selected candidate user interface design.