Catalogue Attribute Input via Spatial Label Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital catalogue search interfaces are cumbersome for users and administrators, requiring numerous operations and complex graphic elements to specify and prioritize attributes, leading to inefficient searches and attribute input processes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that allow users and administrators to define attribute values by positioning labels on a graphic element, with the position determining the attribute value, enabling dynamic ranking and updating of objects in the catalogue based on similarity indices, facilitating quick and efficient attribute specification and search.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional drop-down menus and input areas are used for attribute selection, then attribute input is possible, but the operation becomes burdensome and time-consuming when attributes are numerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple attribute input operations into a single drag-and-drop gesture. Users drag a single element across a linear scale to simultaneously specify multiple attributes (price, surface area, number of rooms) that are mapped from the drag position and distance, replacing the need for multiple separate input operations in traditional drop-down menus and input areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to attribute input by using a linear scale where position and distance become meaningful parameters. The drag distance along the scale encodes attribute values, transforming the input mechanism from discrete selections to continuous spatial manipulation, thereby reducing the number of operations required.
2Loss of information
If multiple attributes are displayed simultaneously in the application window, then comprehensive viewing is achieved, but the window requires scrolling making simultaneous viewing impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges attribute input controls along a linear scale that can be displayed horizontally across the screen, utilizing the horizontal dimension to accommodate multiple attributes without requiring vertical scrolling. This linear arrangement allows all attributes to be viewed and accessed simultaneously in a compact layout.
3Ease of operation
If graphic elements like input windows or gauge scales are shown for non-binary attributes, then attribute input is enabled, but considerable space is taken on the graphic interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate graphic elements (input windows, gauge scales) into a single unified linear scale. This single element replaces what would traditionally require multiple space-consuming controls, allowing non-binary attributes to be input through one compact drag-and-drop interface rather than multiple distributed controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent compresses attribute input into a one-dimensional linear scale, reducing the two-dimensional space that would be required for traditional input windows and gauge scales. The linear arrangement allows efficient use of horizontal space while maintaining input capability for non-binary attributes.
4Reliability
If exclusive funnel-type search mechanism is used, then only objects with all inputted attributes are shown, but user experience suffers when search returns few or no results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a search mechanism that returns results based on partial matching of attributes rather than requiring all attributes to be satisfied. The system ranks results by similarity, allowing users to see relevant objects even when they don't meet all specified criteria, thereby providing flexibility while maintaining useful result quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for recording a new object in a catalogue of objects is disclosed. The method enables defining the value of an attribute and comprises: selecting an identifier of the new object; detecting, on a graphic element, the presence of a label representing the attribute; and determining the position of the label with respect to the graphic element, the value of the attribute computed based on said position. The detection includes a ranking of objects already recorded in the catalogue, comprising: determining, for each object already recorded in the catalogue, an index of similarity between a set comprising said attribute value and a set of values of corresponding attributes of said object; ranking the objects already recorded in the catalogue as a function of said indices of similarity; and displaying or updating a list of the objects already recorded in the catalogue as a function of said indices of similarity.