Dynamic Priority Threshold for Sync Interruptions

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Solution Overview

Problem

User interface updates can disrupt user activities, particularly when synchronized across devices, causing unintended manipulation of interface elements during interactive tasks.

Innovation Solution

A system that dynamically adjusts a priority threshold based on user interactions, allowing only high-priority updates to be applied during active user sessions, and deferring or rejecting lower-priority updates to minimize disruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If user interface updates are synchronized across devices, then consistency of user interface state is improved, but user activity disruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interface state consistencyVSAvoiduser activity disruption
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting user interactions with the user interface and proactively setting a threshold to block updates during active use. This prevents disruptions before they can occur by anticipating when updates would be harmful based on ongoing user activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The threshold mechanism dynamically adjusts between different levels based on detected user interactions. When user activity is detected, the threshold is set to block updates; when no activity is detected, the threshold is lowered to allow updates. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to real-time user state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If updates are blocked during user interactions, then user activity disruption is reduced, but user interface consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser activity disruptionVSAvoiduser interface state consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The threshold dynamically transitions between blocked and permissive states based on user interaction detection. When user activity ceases, the threshold is lowered to allow updates, ensuring consistency is restored without disrupting active user tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user interactions and uses this feedback to adjust the update blocking threshold. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures updates are blocked only when necessary (during user activity) and allowed when safe (during idle periods), balancing consistency and disruption prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a threshold mechanism is introduced to control updates, then user activity disruption is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser activity disruptionVSAvoidupdate control mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of update priority threshold based on user interaction detection. By adjusting this single parameter dynamically, the system achieves complex behavior (blocking or allowing updates) through a simple mechanism that monitors user activity and modifies the threshold accordingly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically detecting user interactions and adjusting the update threshold without requiring external control or complex decision-making logic. The threshold mechanism is self-regulating based on observed user behavior patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2992423B1Preventing sync interruptions
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP2992423B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2992423B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2992423B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described herein are techniques performed by an application executing on a computing device. The application may have a graphical user interface (GUI) comprised of graphic objects displayed on a display of the computing device. The application may also have state data managed and stored by the application. The state data may specify features and layout of the GUI. The graphic objects may be displayed according to the state data. The application may dynamically adjust a threshold to different levels by monitoring user interactions with the GUI via an input device and setting the threshold to the different levels according to the user interactions with the GUI. Operations from an external source directed to the GUI are received. Each operation has a corresponding priority specific to the operation. The priorities and threshold levels are compared to determine whether to implement the operations.