Contextual Sending Menu With Adaptive Action Bar for Chat Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Social networking systems face challenges in presenting media content that is most relevant and engaging to users, while maintaining user interaction and providing a captivating graphical user interface.

Innovation Solution

A contextual sending menu is generated on the user's client device, dependent on the currently running application, displaying a preview of media content items and associated users, with a shared action bar adaptable to the device context, enhancing user engagement and interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a pop-up window is displayed for user selection, then user interaction is enabled, but the interface complexity increases and user attention is diverted from the main content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interactionVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an action bar as an intermediary element between the media content and the messaging interface. This action bar provides quick access to common actions (share, react, forward) without requiring full pop-up windows, thereby enabling user interaction while maintaining interface simplicity and keeping user attention on the main content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The action bar is dynamically adapted based on the application context and user interactions. It appears and disappears contextually, and its content is adjusted based on the current media item and application state, providing interaction capabilities only when needed rather than permanently complicating the interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the action bar is made contextually adaptable to different applications, then user engagement increases, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontextual adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The action bar is designed as a universal interface element that serves multiple functions across different applications and contexts. It can display different actions (share, react, forward, save) depending on the context, providing adaptability without requiring separate interfaces for each application, thereby managing system complexity through a unified multi-functional component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The action bar's behavior and content are dynamically adjusted based on contextual parameters such as the current application, media type, and user state. By changing parameters like visibility, position, and available actions based on context rather than creating entirely different interfaces, the system achieves adaptability while controlling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4554183B1Contextual sending menu
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SNAP INC
  • EP4554183B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4554183B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4554183B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method of generating contextual sending menu starts with processor causing first client device to display first and second portion of display screen in inactivated position. Processor receives selection from first user of first client device of chat selectable item in application interface. Chat selectable item is associated with communication interface of messaging system. In response to receiving the selection, processor generates media content item based on context of first client device and causes first portion and second portion of display screen to be displayed in an activated position by causing first portion to contract, and causing second portion to expand and to comprise a preview of media content item and selectable item associated with second user. Processor then receives from the first user selection of the selectable item associated with the second user, and transmits media content item to second client device. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.