Display Artifact Pasting With Selectable Levels of Detail

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing user interfaces do not allow users to easily copy and paste display artifacts with multiple levels of detail, and common tools do not provide control over the level of detail or utilize habitual shortcut keys effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system that provides a user interface allowing users to copy and paste display artifacts with multiple levels of detail, offering static or dynamic previews and enabling users to select the desired level of detail, with the option to set a default and associate it with a habitual shortcut key.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple levels of detail are stored for display artifacts, then the user can select the desired level of detail for pasting, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol over level of detailVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display artifact is segmented into multiple levels of detail (e.g., full URL, domain name, display portion only). Each level represents a distinct segment of information that can be independently selected and pasted, allowing users to choose the appropriate granularity for their needs without requiring complex processing logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple levels of detail are pre-computed and stored in the clipboard data structure at the time of copying. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time processing when pasting, as all possible formats are already prepared and ready for selection, reducing the operational complexity during the paste operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If a paste options interface is displayed for selecting level of detail, then the user can choose the desired format, but the operation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser controlVSAvoidpaste operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The paste options interface is designed to be dynamic and context-aware. The system detects the paste destination type and automatically filters or highlights the most appropriate level of detail options, reducing the number of choices the user needs to evaluate. The interface adapts its presentation based on the situation, making the selection process faster and more intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides intelligent defaults based on the paste destination context. When a user initiates a paste operation, the most suitable level of detail is automatically selected or highlighted as the default option, allowing users to quickly accept the suggestion or make a minimal adjustment rather than manually evaluating all options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If habitual shortcut keys are reassigned based on default level of detail, then the shortcut key performs the desired function, but the shortcut key functionality changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecopy paste efficiencyVSAvoidshortcut key function
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the parameter of the shortcut key function based on the default level of detail setting. When the user configures a default level of detail, the habitual shortcut key is reassigned to trigger that specific paste format. This parameter change allows the shortcut key to efficiently perform the most commonly needed operation while the interface remains adaptable to user preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The habitual shortcut key is designed to be multi-functional, capable of performing different paste operations depending on the configured default. Rather than being limited to a single fixed function, the shortcut key adapts its behavior based on user settings, providing universal access to the most relevant paste format while maintaining ease of use through the familiar keyboard combination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4172747B1Copying user interface artifacts with dynamic levels of detail and shortcut keys
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4172747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4172747B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4172747B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A method of operating a device, which includes providing a user interface with a display artifact; in response to an indication a user selected to copy the display artifact, storing multiple levels of detail of the display artifact; allowing the user to paste a selected level of detail by steps of: in response to an indication a user selected an input field and a paste command, displaying a plurality of paste options for pasting the display artifact into the input field, wherein the plurality of paste options each have a unique level of detail for representing the display artifact; allowing the user to select from the plurality of paste options; and in response to an indication a user selected a paste option from the plurality of paste options, pasting the display artifact with a level of detail associated with the selected paste option into the input filed.