Dynamic Boolean Logic Filtering for Electronic Document Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current information filtering methods are inadequate for efficiently finding specific information within large electronic displays, as they often overwhelm users with excessive data, lack comprehensive search capabilities, and fail to effectively utilize Boolean logic operations, leading to inefficient navigation and retrieval of relevant information.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that identifies a target portion of data, divides it into searchable elements, and uses Boolean logic to filter and display only the relevant components based on user input, allowing for dynamic re-rendering of the information to focus on the user's search criteria, thereby reducing the need for scrolling and improving navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If comprehensive search capabilities are added to filter information, then information retrieval efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information filtering process into distinct functional modules: a search module that receives user input, a processing module that applies Boolean logic operations, and a display module that presents filtered results. This segmentation allows comprehensive search capabilities to be added without overwhelming system complexity, as each module handles a specific task independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining Boolean logic operations (AND, OR, NOT) and their corresponding symbolic representations. These operations are prepared in advance and can be directly applied when users input search criteria, eliminating the need for complex real-time logic compilation and improving retrieval efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If Boolean logic operations are implemented for filtering, then search precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer that translates user-friendly symbolic input (e.g., '+', '*', '-') into formal Boolean logic operations (AND, OR, NOT). This intermediary translation layer allows users to perform precise Boolean searches without needing to understand complex logic syntax, thereby maintaining search precision while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation of Boolean operations from formal logic syntax to simplified symbolic forms. By mapping Boolean operators to intuitive symbols and characters, the system maintains the precision of Boolean logic while significantly improving user interface simplicity and ease of operation.
3Loss of information
If all information is displayed on screen, then completeness of information is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to scrolling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and displays only the information that matches user-defined search criteria, removing irrelevant data from the display. By applying Boolean logic filters to the complete information set and presenting only matching results, the system maintains information completeness for the user's needs while eliminating the need to scroll through unrelated content, thereby improving navigation simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by displaying a filtered subset of information rather than the complete dataset. By selectively rendering only matching elements based on Boolean logic operations, the system provides sufficient information for user needs without the excessive action of displaying and scrolling through all available data, improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for filtering an already obtained information resource (“document”) for display is described, including identifying a target portion of the information resource; dividing the data of the target portion into elements of a set; receiving one or more search requests as a filter specification; interpreting the filter specification as a Boolean logic expression; evaluating the elements of the set based on the Boolean logic expression, in an ongoing manner, each time the filter specification is entered or modified; and dynamically re-rendering the display, upon each such entry or modification of the filter specification, with all elements not matching the logic expression removed from the display of the target portion, providing the user with a “shrinking document” more likely to contain just the information being looked for.