Context Menu Segmentation for Multi-Object Relationship Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Complex user interfaces in computer systems often present numerous objects and relationships, making it difficult for users to determine applicable actions, leading to potential errors and inefficient data processing due to the need to process all possible relationships and objects.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a context menu with only applicable relationships by identifying object types and relationship types, reducing data processing and preventing errors by excluding non-applicable relationships, and providing users with relevant actions based on the current situation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the user interface displays all possible objects and relationships, then the user has access to complete information, but the user interface becomes complex and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The context menu is segmented into multiple pages, with each page displaying a subset of applicable relationships. The first page shows relationships that are most applicable or default, while additional pages contain other applicable relationships. This segmentation reduces the visible complexity on each page while maintaining access to complete information through navigation between pages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal/navigation dimension to the display of relationships by organizing them across multiple pages. Instead of presenting all relationships simultaneously in a single crowded interface, the system uses page navigation to distribute relationships across multiple temporal states, allowing users to access complete information without overwhelming the interface at any single moment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system processes all possible relationships to generate the context menu, then all applicable actions are available, but data processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of relationships into different pages based on their applicability to the selected objects. By pre-organizing relationships into first page (most applicable) and additional pages (other applicable) categories before display, the system reduces the real-time processing burden during context menu generation while ensuring all applicable actions remain available.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the context menu includes all possible relationships, then the user can find any applicable action, but error prevention decreases due to too many options
Solution Approach 1:
The context menu is segmented into a first page displaying the most applicable relationships and additional pages displaying other applicable relationships. This segmentation helps users focus on the most relevant actions first, reducing the cognitive load and likelihood of errors, while still providing access to all applicable actions through navigation to additional pages if needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method is represented for providing to a user a context menu with entries representing relationships. The relationships are applicable to relate objects selected from a set of objects. The method comprises following method operations: receiving a first identification of a first selected object from the set of objects, receiving a second identification of a second selected object from the set of objects, identifying object types of the selected objects in a plurality of object types, determining one or more relationship types of which one or more relationships are applicable to the selected objects by using the identified object types, and generating for the context menu an entry representing a relationship of the one or more relationship types, wherein the relationship is selectable by the user to be created between the selected objects.