Cross-Device Interface Mapping for Desktop Mobile Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interface designs for computing devices lack mechanisms to fully complement each other's functionality, leading to reduced user productivity and inefficient performance in tasks that require coordination between multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows for selective coupling of data and functionality between computing devices using mapping rules, enabling the display of user interface items and controls on one device based on selections made on another, with adjustments based on contextual information and usage history.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate applications are installed on desktop and mobile devices to access similar functionality, then each device can independently perform its designated function, but the system complexity increases and user productivity decreases due to lack of coordination between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal interface framework that allows a single software application to function across multiple device types (desktop, mobile, tablet) through a common architecture. The framework provides device-agnostic data structures and communication protocols, enabling the same application logic to serve multiple platforms without requiring separate native applications for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a middleware layer that acts as an intermediary between the application logic and device-specific interfaces. This mediator handles device-specific variations in input methods, display capabilities, and interaction patterns, allowing the core application to remain unchanged while adapting to different device characteristics through the intermediary layer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cloud-based applications are used on both desktop and mobile devices, then accessibility across devices is improved, but functionality cannot be efficiently coordinated and shared between devices in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous synchronization mechanisms that maintain real-time state consistency across devices. When a user performs an action on one device, the change is immediately propagated to other devices through the framework's event-driven architecture, ensuring that the application state remains consistent and useful actions can continue uninterrupted across device transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where each device continuously reports its state and received inputs to the central application logic, which then distributes relevant updates to other devices. This feedback loop enables real-time coordination, allowing users to see changes made on one device reflected on another device immediately, thereby maintaining productivity across distributed access points.
3Adaptability or versatility
If similar operating systems are run on both mobile and desktop devices, then the same software applications can be installed on both, but the unique functionality of each device type cannot be fully utilized to complement each other
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality adaptation where the framework detects the specific device type and its unique capabilities (camera, GPS, touchscreen, keyboard, mouse) and dynamically adjusts the interface and available functions to optimize for that specific device. This allows the same application to leverage device-specific features like mobile camera for image capture or desktop keyboard for text input, thereby maximizing functional efficiency on each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic interface adaptation where the user interface automatically reconfigures based on the active device type. The framework dynamically adjusts layout, input methods, and interaction patterns to match the characteristics of the current device, enabling the application to transition smoothly between device types while maintaining optimal usability and leveraging each device's unique strengths.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for facilitating user interface interactions between different computing devices. An example method includes providing a first user option to select a first portion of a first user interface display screen presented on a first computing device; providing a signal based on the selected portion; and using the signal to display one or more items in a second user interface display screen via a second computing device based on the first portion and one or more mapping rules. In a more specific embodiment, the example method further includes providing a second user option to adjust the mapping rules. The first portion includes, for example, a table row or column. The one or more items displayed via the second computing device include, for example, a visualization based on data associated with the first portion.