Cross-Platform Drag-and-Drop via Mirroring and Format Translation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in enabling seamless cross-platform drag and drop functionality between computing devices running different operating systems and hardware configurations, often requiring manual conversion of files and limited data payload types, and insecure transfer methods.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a device mirroring application allows drag and drop operations across platforms with a translation engine that automatically converts objects to compatible formats, facilitating secure wireless transfer without the need for physical media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cross-platform drag and drop is implemented between devices running different operating systems, then device compatibility and user flexibility are improved, but format compatibility and transfer security deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mirroring application as an intermediary layer between the remote device and host device. This application captures the remote device's display output and presents it within a window on the host device, enabling cross-platform interaction without direct OS-level integration. The mirroring application handles format translation and data transfer protocols, resolving compatibility issues while maintaining security through application-level control rather than system-level exposure.
2Ease of operation
If automatic format translation is implemented for transferred objects, then ease of operation is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mirroring application performs preliminary actions by capturing and buffering display output from the remote device before it needs to be transferred or converted. By pre-processing the visual output and maintaining a buffer of mirrored content, the system reduces the computational burden during actual drag-and-drop operations, as the format translation work has already been partially accomplished during the mirroring process.
3Ease of operation
If wireless transfer methods are used instead of physical media, then ease of operation and speed are improved, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mirroring application serves as a secure intermediary that mediates all wireless data transfers between devices. Instead of allowing direct peer-to-peer file transfers that could expose security vulnerabilities, all data must pass through the controlled environment of the mirroring application, which enforces authentication, authorization, and data validation protocols. This intermediary layer maintains security while enabling convenient wireless operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, systems, methods and devices for assisting with cross-platform drag and drop functionality are provided. A mirroring application that mirrors a UI of a second device and partially overlaps a UI of a first device may be surfaced on the UI of the first device. A drag-initiating input of an object of the second device may be received. A drag input dragging the object over a boundary of the mirroring application may be received. A UI element corresponding to the object may be surfaced over the boundary. The object may be sent by the second device to the first device. A drop input may be received over a construct of the first computing device. The object may be translated to a format compatible with the construct, and the object may be saved to a location of the first device corresponding to the construct.