Digital Content Region Comparison via Unified Display Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software tools lack the ability to facilitate direct comparison of arbitrary portions of multiple digital files on user devices, especially on devices with small screens, and do not allow side-by-side comparison of content that is far apart or not aligned.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and software tool that allows users to select and compare multiple content regions within a single display window by generating boundaries around user-identified areas, which can be resized and rearranged for optimal visibility, enabling comparison without opening multiple windows or printing files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple windows are opened to compare different portions of documents, then comparison capability is improved, but device resource consumption and screen space utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple document portions that need comparison into a single unified display view. Instead of opening separate windows for each document portion, the system combines them into one composite view that shows selected portions from multiple documents simultaneously, reducing window management complexity and screen space requirements while maintaining comparison functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the display area into multiple regions within a single window, with each region showing a different selected portion from a document. This segmentation allows simultaneous display of multiple content areas without requiring separate windows, optimizing screen space utilization while preserving the ability to compare different portions.
2Ease of operation
If conventional split screen or freezing techniques are used, then navigation capability is improved, but flexibility in comparing arbitrary portions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic selection of content portions through user interaction with the display. Users can dynamically choose which portions to compare by interacting with visual indicators or markers on the display, allowing flexible comparison of arbitrary portions rather than being constrained to pre-defined split screen configurations or frozen rows/columns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual indicators or markers as intermediaries between the user and the document content. These indicators allow users to select and designate specific portions for comparison without directly manipulating the document structure, providing an intuitive interface that enhances both navigation ease and flexibility in choosing arbitrary portions for comparison.
3Measurement precision
If manual zoom and navigation adjustments are made to compare distant content portions, then comparison precision is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically calculating and positioning the selected content portions in the optimal locations within the unified display view. When portions are selected for comparison, the system pre-adjusts their positions, scales, and orientations to ensure they are optimally arranged for comparison, eliminating the need for manual zoom and navigation adjustments by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides visual feedback during the selection and positioning process, showing users how selected portions will be arranged and scaled in the unified display view. This feedback mechanism allows users to make informed selection decisions and automatically optimizes the display parameters based on the selected portions, reducing time consumption while maintaining high comparison precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are presented for visual comparison of different portions of one or more source documents to emulate a paper folding gesture experience in a user device, in which the user uses a mouse or finger in a touchscreen device to circle two or more portions of interest in the same or separate source documents, and provides a different user input such as a pinch motion or zoom in feature to display the selected regions proximate one another for visual comparison.