Context-Based UI Ancillary Information Retrieval

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for associating user interface elements with ancillary information require close cooperation during application development, are inflexible, and lack mechanisms for user participation or feedback, making it difficult to update or extend ancillary information post-distribution.

Innovation Solution

A method using a processor to create and search user interface element ancillary information based on contextual requests, allowing for flexible association and independent development of ancillary content, enabling semantic searches and crowd-sourced contributions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fixed identifiers are used to link user interface elements with ancillary information, then the association is stable and reliable, but the system becomes inflexible and difficult to update post-distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassociation stabilityVSAvoidflexibility to update

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static fixed identifiers to dynamic context-based matching. The system now uses contextual information (element type, position, function, visible text) that can adapt and match ancillary information dynamically without requiring pre-established fixed links, enabling updates post-distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters used for association from fixed identifiers to multiple contextual parameters (element type, position, function, visible text). This parameter transformation allows the system to match ancillary information based on current state rather than predetermined links, providing flexibility while maintaining reliability through multi-parameter validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If exhaustive ancillary information is created for every user interface element during development, then complete coverage is achieved, but the development complexity and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation coverageVSAvoiddevelopment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system no longer requires exhaustive ancillary information for every possible UI element. Instead, it creates ancillary information selectively based on actual user requests and contextual needs, achieving sufficient coverage without the overhead of complete pre-creation for all elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The contextual matching system serves multiple functions: it matches ancillary information to UI elements, determines relevance based on user context, and adapts to different scenarios without requiring separate mechanisms. This universal approach reduces development complexity while maintaining information coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed identifiers are used for associating ancillary information, then the implementation is simple, but user participation and feedback mechanisms are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoiduser participation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where user interactions with UI elements generate contextual information that is used to match and refine ancillary information associations. This feedback loop enables user participation while maintaining implementation simplicity through automated contextual analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The contextual matching system enables users to effectively participate in the ancillary information process without requiring complex implementation. Users interact with UI elements and the system automatically processes their context to retrieve relevant information, providing self-service capability while keeping the implementation relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If context-based searching is implemented for ancillary information, then flexibility and user experience improve, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontextual matching flexibilityVSAvoidinformation retrieval time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary organization of ancillary information by contextual categories and prepares matching criteria in advance. When users request information, the pre-organized structure enables rapid contextual matching without requiring complex real-time analysis, reducing retrieval time while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10901580B2Associating ancillary information with an application user interface

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Associating user interface elements with information ancillary to said user interface elements includes creating one or more items of user interface element ancillary information, receiving a request for user interface element ancillary information, the request identifying the context in which the information is to be used, searching, using a processor, said one or more items of user interface element ancillary information for items matching the context in which the information is to be used, and returning one or more items of user interface element ancillary information matching the context in which the information is to be used.