Custom Keyboard API Segmentation for Display Behavior
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating custom user interfaces on electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are time-consuming and inefficient, requiring developers to specify all aspects of the interface, including display behavior, which can obscure valuable screen space and increase battery consumption.
Innovation Solution
An API that allows programmers to replace the appearance and functionality of standard user interface objects while retaining their display behavior, enabling the creation of custom interfaces without specifying all display behaviors, thus reducing development time and conserving power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard on-screen keyboard is provided by the operating system, then the display behavior is consistent and reliable, but the application developer cannot create custom user interfaces with desired visual appearances and functionalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the user interface into two independent parts: display behavior (handled by the operating system) and application-specific functionality (handled by the application). This allows the keyboard to be divided into visual presentation and input processing components, enabling custom interfaces without requiring developers to specify display behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the API) that sits between the application and the operating system's display behavior management. This intermediary allows applications to request custom keyboard interfaces while the operating system mediates the display behavior, resolving the contradiction between customizability and consistency.
2Ease of operation
If an on-screen keyboard is displayed, then text input functionality is provided, but valuable portions of the displayed application are obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the keyboard interface dynamic by allowing it to adjust its position, size, and visibility based on the application's needs and user interaction. The keyboard can be moved to optimize screen space utilization while maintaining text input functionality, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and available display area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If all aspects of a custom user interface are specified by the application developer, then complete customization is achieved, but development time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the operating system pre-establish display behavior protocols and keyboard interface frameworks. Application developers can leverage these pre-built structures to create custom interfaces without having to specify every aspect from scratch, significantly reducing development time while maintaining customization capability.
4Reliability
If the operating system handles display behavior of the keyboard, then consistent user experience is maintained, but application developers cannot implement game-related or custom functionalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different parts of the keyboard interface to have different characteristics. The display behavior portion maintains operating system-level consistency and reliability, while the application-specific portion can be customized for game-related or other specialized functionalities. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for display a user interface object. A user interface object for receiving user input to the application program is determined and the user interface object is displayed on the display. A first set of characteristics of the user interface object is control in accordance with the application program. The first set of characteristics include appearance of the user interface object and user interactions with the application program via the user interface object. A second set of characteristics of the user interface different form the first set of characteristics are controlled in accordance with the control program. The second set of characteristics include the display state of the user interface object.