Electronic Form Controls With Transient Visibility for Mobile Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic forms in web-based systems often require scrolling to access control buttons, making them inaccessible or initially invisible, especially on mobile devices with smaller displays, leading to user inconvenience and potential data loss.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a transient control component that appears within the visible portion of the electronic form based on display properties and component location, ensuring accessibility by dynamically determining the visibility and usability of control buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic form is made longer to include all necessary fields and control buttons, then the form's functionality is improved, but the control buttons become inaccessible or invisible without scrolling on mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the control component's visibility dynamic rather than static. The control component is rendered visible or invisible based on the user's scrolling position, allowing the form to adapt its interface dynamically. This resolves the contradiction by enabling full form functionality while ensuring control buttons remain accessible through dynamic visibility changes tied to scroll position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the user's scrolling action as an intermediary mechanism. The scroll position acts as a mediator that triggers the visibility state of the control component. When the user scrolls to a specific position, this intermediary action causes the control button to become visible, bridging the gap between form length and button accessibility.
2Device complexity
If the control buttons are placed at the end of the electronic form, then the form structure is improved, but the buttons require repeated scrolling to access on mobile devices with smaller displays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preparing the control component's visibility state in advance based on predicted user behavior. Instead of requiring users to scroll repeatedly to find control buttons, the system proactively manages their visibility based on scroll position, so buttons appear when users are likely to need them, eliminating unnecessary scrolling time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the user's scrolling position and using this information to adjust the control component's visibility. This real-time feedback loop ensures that control buttons become visible at the appropriate moment during form interaction, reducing the time users spend searching for or accessing controls.
3Area of stationary object
If scrolling is required to view portions of the electronic form, then the form can accommodate more content, but the control buttons may not be initially visible leading to potential data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the potential harm of data loss before it can occur. By making control buttons visible based on scroll position rather than requiring users to scroll to the end of the form, the system proactively eliminates the risk of users accidentally submitting incomplete forms or losing data due to inability to access controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the control component to automatically adjust its own visibility state based on user interaction with the form. The control button serves itself by becoming visible when appropriate scroll conditions are met, without requiring additional user actions or system intervention, thereby maintaining data submission reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing an electronic form are described. The method and system include identifying a visible portion of the electronic form. The electronic form can include a control component at a component location of the electronic form that is operable to receive an input from a user. The method and system can then determine an accessibility state of the control component based on the component location and at least one of a display property of the display and the visible portion. The accessibility state can be a convenient state when the component location is suitable for the display but is in an inconvenient state when the component location is not suitable for the display. When it is determined that the accessibility state is the inconvenient state, the method and system involves displaying a transient control component, or a version of the control component, on the display.