Electronic Device Automatic Unit Conversion for Cross-Region Messaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face limitations in efficiently adapting unit measurements for messages based on the recipient's location, leading to inconsistencies and user confusion when sending messages across different regions.

Innovation Solution

The method involves displaying a message composition interface on the device, identifying the recipient's location, analyzing message content for numerical values and units, and converting them into appropriate units associated with the recipient's location before sending the message, ensuring that both values and units are accurately displayed in the message content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual unit conversion is required for messages sent to different regions, then measurement accuracy is improved, but user operation complexity increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunit measurement accuracyVSAvoidmessage composition ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs unit conversion by detecting the recipient's location and converting measurement units without requiring user intervention. The electronic device self-services the conversion task by analyzing message content, identifying numerical values with units, determining the recipient's geographic location, and automatically replacing units with location-appropriate equivalents before message transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The unit conversion is performed in advance during message composition rather than requiring post-composition adjustment. The system proactively converts units before the message is sent, ensuring measurement accuracy is maintained while the user experiences seamless operation without manual conversion steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual unit conversion is required for messages sent to different regions, then measurement accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunit measurement accuracyVSAvoidmessage composition time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs unit conversion by detecting the recipient's location and converting measurement units without requiring user intervention. The electronic device self-services the conversion task by analyzing message content, identifying numerical values with units, determining the recipient's geographic location, and automatically replacing units with location-appropriate equivalents before message transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The unit conversion is performed in advance during message composition rather than requiring post-composition adjustment. The system proactively converts units before the message is sent, ensuring measurement accuracy is maintained while the user experiences seamless operation without manual conversion steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If automatic unit conversion is implemented based on recipient location, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage composition easeVSAvoidmessage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a language tool or translation component as an intermediary that handles the complex unit conversion logic. This intermediary component detects recipient location, analyzes message content for numerical values with units, performs conversions based on location-appropriate units, and integrates the converted content back into the message. By isolating the complexity in a dedicated intermediary component, the rest of the message composition interface remains simple and user-friendly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If automatic unit conversion is implemented based on recipient location, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage sending efficiencyVSAvoidmessage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a language tool or translation component as an intermediary that handles the complex unit conversion logic. This intermediary component detects recipient location, analyzes message content for numerical values with units, performs conversions based on location-appropriate units, and integrates the converted content back into the message. By isolating the complexity in a dedicated intermediary component, the rest of the message composition interface remains simple and user-friendly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3089405B1Electronic device and method of providing unit information
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3089405B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3089405B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3089405B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of providing unit information on an electronic device is provided. The method includes displaying a message composition interface on the electronic device, and, in response to identifying a recipient of a message in the message composition interface, identifying a location associated with the recipient, analyzing message content to identify values and units of measurement, in response to identifying a first value and a first unit of measurement in the message, converting the first value and the first unit of measurement into a second value and a second unit of measurement associated with the location, and adding the second value and the second unit of measurement to the message content prior to sending the message.