Cross-App Content Forwarding via OS Address Book Association

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for forwarding content between different application programs are cumbersome, require server involvement, and pose security risks, making them inefficient and unreliable.

Innovation Solution

A method that associates address books of different application programs, allowing direct content forwarding between them with user consent and system permissions, ensuring secure and efficient transfer without third-party intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If content forwarding is performed using server of service provider, then content can be forwarded between different application programs, but the system becomes complex and requires user registration with service provider

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent forwarding capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the operating system as an intermediary to enable content forwarding between different application programs. Instead of requiring a service provider's server, the OS provides universal write access to the clipboard, allowing any application to forward content to any other application through the clipboard mechanism. This eliminates the need for complex service provider infrastructure and user registration processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables applications to perform content forwarding themselves using the OS clipboard interface, without requiring external service provider assistance. Applications can directly write to and read from the clipboard using standard OS APIs, making the forwarding process self-contained within the device and eliminating dependency on external servers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If content forwarding is performed using third-party application program, then content can be parsed and encapsulated, but installation steps increase and information security risks arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent parsing and encapsulation capabilityVSAvoidusability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the universal clipboard interface provided by the operating system, which is already available in all applications. This eliminates the need for separate third-party forwarding applications, as the clipboard mechanism serves as a universal intermediary that all applications can use directly. Users can forward content with a single tap without installing additional software.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The OS clipboard serves as a trusted intermediary that eliminates the need for third-party applications. Instead of requiring users to install and trust external forwarding tools, the patent uses the built-in OS clipboard mechanism that is already integrated and trusted by the system, thereby improving usability and reducing security concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual copy-paste operation is performed, then content can be forwarded between application programs, but the number of操作步骤 increases and forwarding speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent forwarding capabilityVSAvoidforwarding time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by automatically copying content to the clipboard when a user selects content in the source application. Instead of requiring users to manually copy content first, the system pre-cops the selected content to the clipboard, so that when the user taps the forwarding button, the content is already ready to be pasted into the target application, significantly reducing the number of steps required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If service provider server is used for content forwarding, then forwarding function is available, but private information may be disclosed to service provider

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent forwarding functionVSAvoidinformation security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the content forwarding function from external service provider servers and implements it locally using the OS clipboard interface. By removing the dependency on external servers, private information remains on the user's device and is not transmitted to third-party service providers, thereby ensuring information security while maintaining forwarding functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12531826B2Method and apparatus for forwarding content between different application programs

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

One example method includes displaying, by a mobile terminal, an interface of a first application program. The mobile terminal can then detect a first operation performed by a user on a piece of content on the interface. The mobile terminal can then determine, in response to the first operation, selected content. The mobile terminal can then display a menu including a plurality of options associated with the selected content. The mobile terminal can then detect one or more second operations performed by the user on the menu displayed by the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can then display, in response to the one or more second operations, an address book associated with a second application program. The mobile terminal can then detect one or more third operations that are performed by the user on the address book and that are used to determine one or more target objects.