Context-Based Command Surfacing for Document Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for locating and interacting with content across multiple devices are cumbersome, time-consuming, and prone to errors, especially on small screen devices like smartphones.

Innovation Solution

A context-based command architecture that receives user inputs, interprets them using contextual information, and generates relevant content for user interaction, including speech recognition and natural language understanding to surface commands and perform actions across various devices and platforms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a user manually locates and shares documents across multiple devices, then the document can be shared with specific individuals, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of document sharingVSAvoidtime required for document location and sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-identifies and surfaces relevant documents and recipients based on contextual information (meeting participants, recent communications, document metadata) before the user initiates the sharing action. This eliminates the need for manual searching and reduces errors by presenting pre-filtered options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intelligent intermediary system that acts as a mediator between the user and the document sharing process. This system automatically analyzes context, identifies relevant documents and recipients, and presents streamlined sharing options, thereby reducing both time and errors in the sharing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a user browses through multiple files to locate relevant content, then the desired document can be found, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of content locationVSAvoidease of content search

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of user needs and context to pre-identify and surface relevant documents before the user begins searching. By anticipating the user's information needs based on meeting context, recent communications, and document metadata, the system eliminates manual browsing while maintaining high accuracy in content location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual browsing process with an intelligent automated system that uses natural language processing, context analysis, and machine learning to identify and present relevant content. This substitution maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If a user manually identifies individuals and composes email messages for document sharing, then the document can be distributed to the correct recipients, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of recipient identificationVSAvoidcomplexity of sharing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-identifies potential recipients based on meeting participant lists, communication history, and document collaboration metadata before the user initiates sharing. This preliminary action maintains high reliability in recipient identification while eliminating the need for manual recipient selection and email composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal sharing interface that automatically handles multiple functions (recipient identification, email composition, document attachment) through a single streamlined interaction. This multi-functional approach maintains accuracy while reducing the perceived complexity for the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a computing system provides comprehensive command options, then the system can perform various functions, but the interface becomes complex and difficult to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality of command systemVSAvoidcomplexity of user interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the comprehensive command system into context-relevant categories and subsets based on the current meeting context, document type, and user role. This segmentation maintains the full versatility of the system while presenting only relevant commands to the user, thereby reducing interface complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the command interface by surfacing only the most relevant commands based on real-time context analysis, including meeting participants, document being viewed, and user behavior patterns. This dynamic approach maintains full system functionality while simplifying the immediate user interface to show only contextually relevant options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10846050B2Context-based command surfacing

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A computing device receives a trigger to surface commands. A possible set of commands is identified and broken into categories. A category is surfaced for user interaction.