Supplementary Content Layer Management for Digital Works
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face limitations in screen space for displaying content due to factors like display size, font size, and line spacing, which can be exacerbated by the presence of supplementary content layers in digital works, leading to conflicts and user interface clutter.
Innovation Solution
A layer management experience interface allows users to selectively activate and deactivate supplementary content layers, with a consistent user interface paradigm and technical infrastructure for adding customer-relevant information, enabling conflict resolution based on layer priority and user preferences, and providing options for customizing the display of supplementary content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If supplementary content layers are added to digital works, then information completeness is improved, but screen space availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a layered architecture where supplementary content is organized into multiple hierarchical layers (first layer, second layer, etc.) that can be independently controlled. This dimensional organization allows information to be stacked vertically in the interface hierarchy rather than horizontally on the screen, resolving the space conflict by adding a layer dimension to the interface structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The supplementary content is segmented into discrete, selectable layers that can be independently activated or deactivated. Each layer represents a distinct segment of information (e.g., author commentary, reader annotations, factual notes) that can be managed separately, allowing users to compose their ideal view by selecting only the layers they need, thus preserving screen space while maintaining information availability.
2Loss of information
If multiple supplementary content layers are displayed simultaneously, then information completeness is improved, but user interface complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The interface implements dynamic layer management where the visibility and configuration of supplementary content layers can be changed in real-time based on user interaction. Users can dynamically add, remove, or adjust layers during the reading experience, and the system adapts the interface configuration accordingly, making the complexity manageable through on-demand customization rather than static pre-configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a layer management interface that acts as an intermediary between the user and the multiple supplementary content layers. This intermediary provides standardized controls for managing all layers uniformly, mediating the complexity by presenting a simplified, consistent interface for layer operations rather than requiring direct management of each individual layer's parameters.
3Loss of information
If supplementary content layers are added to digital works, then content richness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The layer management interface implements universal, consistent controls that perform the same function across all supplementary content layers regardless of their specific content type. The same interface mechanisms are used to add, remove, and manage all layers, providing a multi-functional tool that handles diverse content types uniformly, thereby improving ease of operation through consistency while supporting rich content variety.
Data Source
AI summary
Some implementations include identifying conflicts between multiple layers of supplementary content associated with a digital work (e.g., an electronic book). For individual conflicts between layers of supplementary content at one or more locations within the digital work, conflicts between layers may be resolved in favor of a higher priority layer. Upon resolution of the conflict, information associated with the higher priority layer for supplementing content at a particular location in the digital work may be determined. A visual identifier of the higher priority layer may be displayed along with content associated with the digital work at the particular location.