Content Sharing Controls to Reduce Interface Switching

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing content sharing processes in social software are complex, requiring multiple steps such as selecting a picture from an album, tapping 'Share', and then choosing a social application and a contact, which complicates the operations.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that allows users to associate session objects with a sharing control through a first input, and share interface content via a sharing control with a second input, reducing the need for switching between application interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user follows the traditional content sharing process (selecting from album, tapping Share, choosing social application and contact), then the content can be shared reliably, but the operational complexity increases and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing operationVSAvoidsharing process steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-fetching and caching the sharing target interface content before the user actually initiates sharing. When the user selects content to share, the target app's interface content is already prepared and stored, so the user only needs to complete a simple drag operation without experiencing the complexity of traditional multi-step sharing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a sharing control component that acts as a mediator between the source app and target app. This sharing control includes a drag area that receives the dragged content and automatically completes the sharing operation, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate through multiple interfaces and contacts, thus reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the system implements traditional sharing workflow with multiple interface switches, then sharing functionality is comprehensive, but the time required for sharing operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing speedVSAvoidinterface switching time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-fetching and caching the sharing target interface content before the user actually initiates sharing. When the user selects content to share, the target app's interface content is already prepared and stored, so the user only needs to complete a simple drag operation without experiencing the complexity of traditional multi-step sharing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements skipping by allowing the sharing operation to bypass intermediate steps entirely. The drag-and-drop mechanism enables the user to skip the traditional sequence of opening Share menu, selecting contact, navigating to their interface, and confirming - all these steps are skipped and replaced by a single intuitive drag gesture that directly completes the sharing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system requires users to switch between social application interface and another interface for sharing, then sharing can be performed, but the number of operational steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesharing capabilityVSAvoidinterface operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sharing control interface with the target application's interface by displaying the sharing control within the context of the target app. This integration allows users to complete the entire sharing operation - selecting content, choosing target app, and confirming - within a unified interface without switching between multiple applications, thereby maintaining versatility while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a sharing control component that acts as a mediator between the source app and target app. This sharing control includes a drag area that receives the dragged content and automatically completes the sharing operation, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate through multiple interfaces and contacts, thus reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250278182A1Content sharing method and apparatus, electronic device, and readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD

AI summary

A content sharing method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a readable storage medium are provided. The content sharing method includes: displaying an application interface of a target session application; associating, in response to a first input to at least one session object identifier in the application interface, a session object corresponding to the at least one session object identifier with a sharing control; and sharing, in response to a second input to a content sharing interface via the sharing control, interface content of the content sharing interface with the session object corresponding to the at least one session object identifier.