Continuous Value Control Elements for Fixed Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for allocating fixed resources among entities lack an intuitive and efficient method to maintain a fixed total value across multiple categories, often leading to complex user interactions and potential misallocation.
Innovation Solution
A user interface control system featuring continuous value control elements associated with categories, allowing users to lock and adjust values while automatically maintaining the total value across elements, ensuring that the sum or ratio of values remains constant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual allocation methods are used to distribute fixed resources among entities, then flexibility in adjusting individual category values is maintained, but the complexity of user interactions increases and potential misallocation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic adjustment of unlocked control elements when a user modifies a locked element. The computer automatically recalibrates the distribution across remaining categories to maintain the fixed total quantity, eliminating the need for manual recalibration and reducing user burden while preserving operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The interface provides real-time feedback by automatically adjusting unlocked elements in response to user inputs on locked elements. This feedback mechanism ensures the fixed quantity constraint is continuously maintained, preventing misallocation and simplifying user interactions through automated correction
2Reliability
If automatic adjustment of control elements is implemented to maintain fixed total value, then misallocation of resources is prevented, but the extent of automation increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control elements into locked and unlocked categories, allowing selective application of automatic adjustment. Only unlocked elements are automatically adjusted when locked elements change, which maintains reliability through automated constraint satisfaction while limiting automation scope to reduce complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the state of control elements based on user interactions. When users lock specific elements, the system adapts its automation behavior to adjust only the remaining unlocked elements, providing reliable allocation maintenance while keeping the automation level appropriate to user needs
Data Source
AI summary
A method of allocating a fixed resource includes displaying an interface control in a user interface display. The interface control includes at least three continuous value control elements associated with a group including at least three categories. Each continuous value control element is associated with a value associated with a category of the group. The operator of the values associated with the at least three continuous value control elements is equal to a fixed quantity. In response to a first user input, a first continuous value control element is locked to fix the value associated with the first continuous value control element. In response to a second user input, a second continuous value control element is adjusted to change the value associated with the second continuous value control element. The method further includes automatically adjusting unlocked continuous value control elements of the at least three continuous value control elements other than the second continuous value control element to maintain the operator of the values associated with the at least three continuous value control elements equal to the fixed quantity.