Collaborative Design Tool State Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional assisted editing methods for online product design platforms face challenges in providing finer control mechanisms within the customer's editing session, particularly in conveying instructions related to tool usage without visual aids, and raise privacy concerns due to the sharing of non-relevant screen content.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system for co-editing printed product designs that involves storing and synchronizing tool state variables across multiple device instantiations, allowing for a collaborative communication session constrained to the design studio, enabling customers to receive assistance while maintaining privacy and improving tool usage instruction delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If screen sharing is used to provide visual aid during customer service, then instruction delivery is improved, but privacy is compromised due to sharing of non-relevant screen content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the screen sharing experience by separating the design studio workspace from the rest of the desktop environment. It creates a focused view that displays only the relevant design tools and canvas area, excluding unrelated applications and content. This segmentation allows effective visual instruction delivery while protecting user privacy by filtering out non-relevant screen content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different viewing experiences for different areas of the screen. The design studio portion is made visible and shareable with the customer service agent, while other portions remain private and hidden. This selective visibility ensures that only the necessary workspace is exposed during assistance sessions, maintaining privacy while enabling effective guidance.
2Ease of operation
If full screen sharing is implemented for assistance, then tool usage instruction is improved, but control over shared content is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that controls what content is shared during assistance sessions. Rather than directly sharing the entire screen, the system uses a controlled interface that selectively displays only the design studio workspace. This intermediary layer simplifies control by automatically managing visibility boundaries, reducing the complexity of session management while maintaining clear visual instructions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive online design tools are provided, then design capability is improved, but learning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preparing and organizing the design studio interface before the customer service interaction begins. The system pre-configures the workspace to display only the necessary tools and elements relevant to the current design task. This preliminary organization reduces learning complexity by presenting a simplified, focused interface while maintaining access to comprehensive design capabilities when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of co-editing a design for a printed product is disclosed. According to certain aspects, a server may store tool state variable(s) corresponding to editing tool(s) included in a printed product editor in a database; receive, from a first electronic device executing a first instantiation of the printed product editor, a request for a collaborative communication session with a second electronic device executing a second instantiation of the printed product editor; generate the collaborative communication session between the two devices in response to the request, the collaborative communication session including a state of editing tool(s) of the first instantiation of the printed product editor; update the tool state variable(s) corresponding to the state of editing tool(s) of the first instantiation in the database; and synchronize a state of editing tool(s) of the second instantiation in response to the updating.