Dynamic User Interface Generation via Network Service Templates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peripheral devices, such as printers, face challenges in dynamically managing user interfaces for network-accessible applications due to fixed firmware configurations, requiring updates for new applications and varying device capabilities, leading to inflexible and inefficient application presentation.
Innovation Solution
A network service architecture that generates and manages user interfaces dynamically based on device capabilities, user preferences, and business policies, using XML-formatted user interface descriptions and reference templates populated with state data to provide adaptable and context-aware application access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If applications are fixed in device firmware, then device reliability is improved, but device adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the application list and user interface generation logic from the device firmware and relocates it to a network service. The device firmware now only contains a minimal client that can request and display applications provided by the network service, thereby achieving both firmware stability and dynamic adaptability to new applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network service as an intermediary between the device and applications. This mediator manages the application catalog, handles updates, and provides applications to devices over the network, allowing devices to access new applications without firmware updates while maintaining firmware reliability.
2Device complexity
If user interface is generated by device firmware, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex user interface generation logic from the device firmware and relocates it to the network service. The device firmware now only handles basic display rendering of applications provided by the network service, significantly reducing device complexity while enabling sophisticated, context-aware user interfaces that adapt to user preferences and device capabilities.
3Reliability
If firmware updates are used for new applications, then device reliability is maintained, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous access to new applications through the network service without interrupting device operation or requiring firmware updates. Applications are dynamically provided and updated over the network, allowing users to access new functionality immediately while the device firmware remains stable and unchanged.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a builder, a template engine, and an assembler. The template engine is operable to identify a reference template associated with application selection. The assembler is configured to assemble a request from the identified reference template and state data indicated by the reference template. The builder is configured to process a user interface description retrieved using the request to cause the display of a user interface having one or more objects each associated with an application available from a network service, the applications having been selected according to the state data.