CSS-Configured UI Components for Interactive Data Grids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current web-based user interface development requires programming knowledge to create interactive data presentations, such as sorting and filtering, which can be time-consuming and limits non-programmers' ability to design effective interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses CSS files for standardized appearance and custom HTML tags to generate interactive user interface components, allowing configuration-driven development without extensive coding, using a library like Starburst that provides reusable components and services built with Angular and .NET, enabling non-programmers to create interactive data presentations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If programming knowledge is required to create interactive data presentations, then functionality and interactivity can be achieved, but development time increases and accessibility to non-programmers decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces configuration files as an intermediary layer between the user and the complex programming required for interactive data presentations. These configuration files allow non-programmers to define sorting, filtering, and other interactive behaviors through simple key-value pairs rather than writing code, thus reducing development time while maintaining full interactivity functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides pre-built, reusable configuration templates for common interactive patterns (sorting, filtering, grouping). Users can copy and adapt these existing configurations rather than programming from scratch, significantly reducing development time while maintaining the same level of interactivity
2Adaptability or versatility
If programming knowledge is required to create interactive data presentations, then functionality can be achieved, but accessibility to non-programmers decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Configuration files serve as an intermediary that translates simple user-friendly settings into the complex programming required for interactive features. Non-programmers can specify sorting and filtering behavior through intuitive configuration syntax without needing to understand the underlying code complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration file format provides a universal interface for defining multiple interactive behaviors (sorting, filtering, grouping) using the same simple syntax structure. This universal approach allows any user regardless of programming knowledge to access all interactive features through consistent configuration patterns
3Ease of manufacture
If existing software libraries are used to overcome development barriers, then development becomes simpler, but configuration options are limited and consistent presentation is not guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal configuration system that works across different data types, components, and interactive behaviors through a single consistent configuration file format. This provides both ease of development through simplified configuration and extensive adaptability through support for multiple interaction types (sorting, filtering, grouping) and data structures
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration files allow flexible parameter specification for data presentation including custom sorting criteria, filtering rules, and grouping behaviors. Users can modify parameters such as sort direction, filter conditions, and group hierarchy without being constrained by fixed library options, ensuring both ease of development and configuration versatility
4Adaptability or versatility
If HTML is supplemented with JavaScript and CSS to provide interactivity and control, then functionality can be achieved, but programming knowledge is required and development complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex JavaScript programming required for interactive data presentations and separates it into standalone configuration files. The main HTML/JavaScript framework remains simple while the interactive behavior definitions are extracted into separate, manageable configuration files that can be created and modified without deep programming knowledge
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration files act as an intermediary layer between the simple HTML structure and the complex JavaScript logic. They provide a simplified syntax for defining interactive behaviors that automatically translates into the necessary JavaScript code, reducing development complexity while maintaining full interactivity
Data Source
AI summary
A system for generating user interface (UI) components in a web-based interactive UI is disclosed. Instructions, when executed by processors, cause the processors to receive CSS files specifying a desired standardized appearance for UI components, receive an HTML file specifying the interactive UI and including tags not specified by any HTML standard, corresponding to one or more UI components; and provide a webpage comprising the UI components to a human user. When rendered and executed by a web browser of the human user, the web browser will render the UI components indicated by the tags, load data into the UI components and style the UI components in accordance with the CSS file. The browser will also receive input requesting a change to presentation of data in the UI components and update UI components in accordance with the requested change. Additional features improving datagrid, chart, and filter functionality are provided.