Document UI Color Coding for Text Block Association

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing graphical user interfaces for document processing, it is difficult for users to immediately grasp the correspondence relationship between text blocks and setting items on a UI screen with a preview pane and a property pane, especially when multiple text blocks and setting items are present.

Innovation Solution

The system displays a user interface with a preview pane and a property pane, where at least some fields of setting items and corresponding text blocks are colored with the same or similar colors, facilitating the association between them.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a two-pane configuration with preview pane and property pane is used for document processing, then the system provides comprehensive document viewing and property setting capabilities, but users cannot easily grasp the correspondence relationship between text blocks and setting items

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of grasping correspondence relationshipVSAvoidvisual association information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color coding to text blocks in the preview pane and corresponding setting items in the property pane, allowing users to visually associate related elements through matching colors. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the comprehensive two-pane functionality while adding visual cues that make the correspondence relationship immediately recognizable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a visual dimension (color) to the existing two-pane interface, transforming a purely functional layout into one that also conveys relational information. This additional visual dimension allows users to grasp correspondences without adding structural complexity to the interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple text blocks and setting items are displayed simultaneously in the preview pane and property pane, then the system provides complete document information, but users have difficulty identifying which text block corresponds to which setting item

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddifficulty of identifying correspondence

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

By assigning matching colors to text blocks and their corresponding setting items, the patent enables users to easily identify relationships among multiple elements. This maintains complete information display while significantly reducing the difficulty of detecting correspondences through visual differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies color attributes selectively to specific text blocks and setting items based on their correspondence relationships. This local differentiation allows users to process information more efficiently by focusing on visually distinct groups rather than trying to track relationships among all elements uniformly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11606469B2Image processing system that computerizes document, control method thereof, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2023.03.14 CANON KK

AI summary

To make it easy for a user to grasp with which text block within a preview pane, a setting item within a property pane is associated. By using a color allocated to a setting item displayed in the property pane, at least a part of a display field corresponding to the setting item is colored. Then, in a case where a user selects one of text blocks in a scanned image preview-displayed in the preview pane in the state where one of setting item is selected in the property pane, the text block is colored by using a color allocated to the setting item in the selected state.