Cross-Application Language Synchronization for Program Cooperation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The mismatch in display languages between applications during application cooperation in information processing devices, such as smartphones, causes user strangeness and usability issues.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that allows changing the language setting of a second application to match the language setting of a first application upon activation, using a request acceptor, storing unit, and change unit to synchronize language settings across applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If application cooperation is performed between applications with different setting languages, then application functionality and versatility are improved, but user experience deteriorates due to display language mismatch causing strangeness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication cooperationVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by storing the language setting of the first application in advance in a shared area before the second application is activated. When the second application starts, it automatically retrieves and applies the stored language setting, ensuring consistent display language across applications without requiring user intervention during the transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If language setting is changed when switching application screens during application cooperation, then display consistency is improved, but user confusion increases due to unexpected language changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay consistencyVSAvoiduser confusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the language setting change local to the second application only, using the first application's language setting as reference. The change is automatically applied within the context of application cooperation, affecting only the display language of the second application while maintaining overall system stability and user expectations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12436784B2Information processing apparatus using program cooperation, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus that can eliminate strangeness given to a user due to mismatch of display languages of applications in changing an application screen during application cooperation. The information processing apparatus allows change of a language setting for each application after its installation. The information processing apparatus includes a request acceptor that accepts an activation request for a second application on a first application that has already installed in the information processing apparatus, a storing unit that stores a language setting of the first application into an information sharing area that is available during operations of both the first and second applications, and a change unit that obtains the language setting of the first application from the information sharing area and changes a language setting of the second application to the obtained language setting of the first application in activating the second application in response to the activation request.