Bulk Value Assignment for Graphical User Interface Input Controls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Selecting and entering user input values in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with multiple identical input controls can be cumbersome and error-prone, especially when each control has many alternative values, requiring users to scroll through menus repeatedly.

Innovation Solution

A method and GUI design that allows users to select multiple input controls and automatically apply a chosen value to all selected controls, using a mass assignment operation or context menu, which reduces the need for repetitive value entry by identifying common alternative input values and enabling bulk updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually select and enter values in each input control individually, then each control can be updated precisely, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming when multiple controls need to be updated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of updating multiple input controlsVSAvoidtime required to update multiple input controls

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual input control operations into a single bulk operation. Users can select multiple input controls simultaneously and apply a value change to all selected controls in one action, rather than updating each control separately. This combining of operations directly resolves the contradiction by improving ease of operation while reducing the time required for updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal value assignment mechanism that can operate across multiple different input controls with the same attribute type. A single value selection can be applied universally to any number of selected controls, making the system multi-functional and adaptable to various update scenarios, thereby improving operational efficiency without sacrificing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If pulldown menus display all alternative input values, then users have complete choice, but users must scroll through many values to find the desired one

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability of input value choicesVSAvoidease of selecting input value

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the value selection process into two parts: (1) selection of one or more input controls, and (2) selection of the value to be applied. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple controls efficiently while maintaining full value choice availability, resolving the contradiction by improving ease of operation without reducing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables users to pre-select multiple input controls before choosing the value to apply. This preliminary selection action allows users to prepare the target controls in advance, then simply select the desired value once, reducing the need to repeatedly scroll through value lists for each control and improving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the GUI provides individual operation for each input control, then each control can be updated independently, but the system becomes complex and requires multiple separate actions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of value assignmentVSAvoidcomplexity of value assignment process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple individual value assignment operations into a single unified bulk assignment operation. By merging the selection of multiple controls with a single value assignment action, the system maintains precise control over which controls are updated while simplifying the overall process, thereby reducing system complexity without sacrificing assignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7562308B2Providing user input values in input controls

Publication Date: 2009.07.14 SAP SE

AI summary

A method of providing user input values for input controls includes receiving, in a graphical user interface wherein input controls are associated with predefined alternative input values, a first input identifying user selection of at least some of the input controls. The method includes receiving a second input identifying user selection of at least one of the predefined alternative input values that is associated with each of the selected input controls. The second input is made using one of the selected input controls. The method includes entering the selected predefined alternative input value in each of the selected input controls. The value may be automatically entered upon receiving the second input. A third input, for example made with a context menu, may be required to enter the value in the selected controls.