Function Variable Processing System for User-Defined Token Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software programs and IDE environments fail to distinguish between erroneous and unrecognized user input, leading to user frustration as they often require users to modify input to fit predefined contexts, making the development of mathematical functions inefficient and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detect user-definable tokens in input, allow users to define these tokens, and associate definitions with them, providing an interactive interface for users to modify and understand the context of their input, thereby simplifying the development process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional software programs use error detection routines to detect unrecognized user input, then error detection capability is improved, but user frustration increases and input modification requirement worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments error detection into two distinct categories: erroneous input (syntax errors, invalid operations) and unrecognized input (user-defined variables, custom functions). By separating these detection paths, the system can provide appropriate responses for each type, reducing unnecessary user frustration while maintaining reliable error detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary classification layer between error detection and user response. This intermediary identifies whether unrecognized input should be treated as an error or as a user-defined element requiring further processing, thereby mediating between strict error detection and user-friendly operation.
2Reliability
If software programs require users to modify input to fit predefined contexts, then input validation is improved, but function development efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the input validation context dynamic rather than static. Instead of requiring all input to fit predefined contexts immediately, the system allows users to define custom variables and functions, then adapts the validation rules to recognize these user-defined elements in subsequent processing stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification of input before full validation. By first identifying whether input is erroneous or unrecognized (potentially user-defined), the system can prepare appropriate validation rules in advance, avoiding repeated modification requirements and improving development efficiency.
3Reliability
If software programs treat all unrecognized input as errors, then error detection completeness is improved, but user-defined element recognition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality standards to different types of unrecognized input. Rather than uniformly treating all unrecognized elements as errors, the system applies local quality assessment: syntax-level unrecognized input is flagged as errors, while semantic-level unrecognized input (potential user-defined variables/functions) is marked for further recognition processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of input recognition from binary (recognized/not recognized) to multi-state (erroneous, unrecognized but valid, user-defined). This parameter change allows the system to maintain complete error detection while simultaneously recognizing user-defined elements through distinct classification paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A user inputs information, such as a mathematical function, composed of variable strings, functions, characters, expressions, etc., into an information input field connected to a function variable processing system. In one embodiment, the function variable processing system breaks down the information into tokens. The tokens are then processed to detect any undefined user definable tokens, e.g., tokens that the user may add and/or change the definitions associated therewith. The function variable processing system generates a display of the undefined user definable tokens along with any associated token definition input fields and/or menus of token definitions. The user may input token definitions using the token definition input fields and/or may select the token definitions from the menus. The function variable processing system associates the undefined user definable tokens with the definitions inputted by the user to convert the undefined user definable tokens to defined user definable tokens. The user definable tokens and associated user inputted definitions are stored and displayed to the user thereof.