Continuous Undo Redo Mechanism for Precise State Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing undo/redo mechanisms in computer applications are inadequate for handling continuous changes, as they rely on discrete action histories, making it impractical to navigate and revert actions with precision in applications like surveying, exploring, or drawing.
Innovation Solution
A continuous undo/redo mechanism is implemented using a method that records a history of user actions based on a continuously reversible ascending/decreasing function of time, allowing navigation through this history with a continuous user input device like a slider or knob, and employing interpolation to identify intermediary states, thereby providing precise undo/redo capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If discrete action history is used for undo/redo mechanism, then implementation is simple, but precision and usability for continuous changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of history representation from discrete events to continuous time-based snapshots. By recording the state at continuous time intervals rather than discrete action boundaries, the system achieves precise undo/redo capability for continuous changes while maintaining implementation simplicity through straightforward time-based recording.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous recording of application state at uniform time intervals throughout the entire operation session. This continuous capture ensures that no intermediate state is lost, enabling precise navigation and reversal of continuous changes while simplifying the recording mechanism compared to tracking individual discrete actions.
2Measurement precision
If continuous history recording is implemented, then undo/redo precision is improved, but memory requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent records history at uniform time intervals rather than capturing every possible state change. This partial sampling approach maintains sufficient precision for continuous changes while significantly reducing memory requirements compared to complete continuous recording of all state changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes uniform time intervals for recording before the actual operation begins. This preliminary configuration allows continuous history to be captured efficiently without requiring complex real-time analysis, reducing both memory usage and processing complexity while maintaining precision.
3Device complexity
If discrete snapshots are used for history, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation for continuous changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical discrete action-tracking system with a time-based continuous recording system. This substitution simplifies the underlying mechanism to uniform time interval sampling while providing superior ease of operation through continuous history availability for precise undo/redo in continuous change scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces time as an intermediary parameter between user actions and history recording. Instead of directly tracking complex action sequences, the system uses uniform time intervals as a mediator to capture state changes, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation through straightforward time-based navigation.
4Measurement precision
If complete continuous state recording is implemented, then measurement precision is maximized, but productivity and response time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial continuous recording at uniform time intervals rather than complete continuous state capture. This approach maintains sufficient measurement precision for practical purposes while dramatically improving productivity and response time by reducing the amount of data that must be processed and searched during undo/redo operations.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A method is described for providing a continuous undo/redo mechanism. The method comprises the steps of : - recording a history of a plurality of time stamped events based on reversible user actions. - navigating through the history by means of a continuous user input device, - translating the position of the continuous user input device to a point in time, and - identifying and displaying an intermediary state of the history based on the point of time.