Contextual Action Menu for Mobile App Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices have complex application ecosystems with cumbersome user experiences due to deep menu navigation, reducing productivity and efficiency in accessing application functionality.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determines events and actionable items associated with applications, generates action menus with deep links, and presents them in the user interface to streamline access to application functions based on context and user activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional menu navigation is used to access application functionality, then comprehensive access to all features is achieved, but user productivity decreases due to time-consuming navigation through multiple menu layers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively analyzing user context (location, time, device state, application usage patterns) and pre-generating relevant actionable items before the user explicitly requests them. This allows the most likely desired actions to be surfaced immediately in the quick actions menu, eliminating the need for users to navigate through multiple menu layers to find commonly needed functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual navigation system (users manually traversing menu hierarchies) with an automated intelligent system that uses context analysis, machine learning models, and natural language processing to automatically generate and prioritize actionable items. This substitution transforms the interaction model from active user navigation to passive system-generated recommendations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive application functionality is provided, then user capabilities are enhanced, but user interface complexity increases making navigation more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by customizing the quick actions interface based on individual user contexts, preferences, and behaviors. Each user receives a personalized set of actionable items tailored to their specific needs, device state, and usage patterns, rather than a generic one-size-fits-all menu structure. This allows comprehensive functionality to be presented in a simplified, context-relevant manner for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the comprehensive application functionality into discrete, contextually-relevant actionable items that are selectively presented based on current user needs. Instead of displaying all available functions simultaneously in a complex menu hierarchy, the system divides functionality into prioritized action chips that can be independently accessed, reducing perceived interface complexity while maintaining full functionality access.
3Ease of operation
If deep linking is implemented to access specific functions, then direct access to functionality is achieved, but implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer (the quick actions menu with generated action chips) between the user and the deep linking mechanism. This intermediary automatically translates user context and intent into appropriate deep link constructions, shielding users from the complexity of deep linking implementation while enabling direct access to specific functions. The intermediary handles the complexity of mapping contextual parameters to the correct application deep links.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for surfacing tailored actionable items associated with applications in a user experience of a mobile computing device is disclosed. The method includes determining an event associated with a application, determining an action library including a plurality of actionable items, identifying, from the action library, one or more actionable items associated with one or more applications based on the event, generating an action menu based on the one or more actionable items, the action menu including a deep link to perform the one or more actionable items, and presenting the action menu in association with the application in response to the event.