Context-Aware File Picker for Text Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
User interface constraints in text applications, such as limited screen size and device input capabilities, make navigating through file menus to retrieve relevant files cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to a poor user experience when attaching files.
Innovation Solution
A method is provided where a computing device offers a graphical user interface with a picker application that transitions from a minimized to an expanded state, extracting keywords from text to search for files based on attributes and attribute values, and displays relevant files in the picker application, allowing users to conveniently select files to attach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional file menu navigation is used to attach files, then file attachment functionality is achieved, but user time and effort increase due to cumbersome navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively presenting a list of relevant files to the user before the user initiates the file attachment process. The picker application pre-fetches and displays files based on context, location, or other criteria, so when the user wants to attach a file, the relevant files are already presented and ready for selection, eliminating the need for manual navigation through file menus.
Solution Approach 2:
The picker application provides self-service functionality by automatically understanding the user's intent and presenting appropriate files without requiring the user to manually search or navigate. The system uses context from the text being composed, contact information, and file metadata to automatically filter and present relevant files, making the system serve itself in understanding user needs.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive file search capabilities are provided, then file retrieval accuracy improves, but interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The picker application is segmented into distinct functional components: a minimized state that provides basic functionality and an expanded state that provides advanced search and filtering capabilities. This segmentation allows the system to provide comprehensive search accuracy when needed while maintaining a simple interface during normal text composition, resolving the contradiction between search capability and interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The picker application dynamically adjusts its complexity based on user interaction. It transitions from a minimized state with simple file presentation to an expanded state with advanced search, filtering, and sorting capabilities. This dynamic behavior allows the system to provide high measurement precision for file search only when the user actually needs to search, rather than always presenting a complex interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for presenting relevant content for attaching files, e.g. for an email application or an instant messaging application. In one example, a method includes providing a keyword extraction engine to extract keywords from text, and providing a keyword mapping engine to map the keywords to at least one attribute and at least one attribute value based on a pre-determined mapping scheme. In another example, a method includes receiving, e.g. from a user, at least one keyword, at least one attribute, and least one attribute value to define a mapping scheme.