Cross-Application Information Sharing via Global Search Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in efficiently sharing information between multiple applications on computing devices, especially when the number of applications involved is large, making it tedious and confusing for both typical and advanced users.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows users to initiate a global search request through a first application, prompting for a search term, automatically presenting candidate elements associated with other applications, and linking selected elements for easy access, even across secure and non-secure applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If information sharing between multiple applications is enabled through traditional methods, then applications can cooperate to perform tasks, but the setup process becomes difficult and confusing for typical users and tedious even for advanced users when the number of applications is large
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically discovers and establishes information sharing connections between applications without requiring manual user configuration. When a user accesses content from a second application through a first application, the system autonomously creates the necessary sharing pathways, eliminating the need for users to manually set up connections between multiple applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a global search mechanism as an intermediary layer that mediates between multiple applications. This intermediary enables users to search for and access content across applications through a unified interface, simplifying the interaction model and eliminating the need for users to understand or configure complex inter-application connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration of information sharing between multiple applications is implemented, then applications can be connected, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex particularly when many applications are involved
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic discovery and connection establishment between applications based on user interaction patterns. When content is accessed across applications, the system automatically creates sharing pathways without requiring users to spend time manually configuring each connection, thereby eliminating setup time while maintaining full application connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes a global search infrastructure that enables immediate cross-application content access. This preliminary setup creates a universal search mechanism that works across all applications from the first use, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual configuration of each application pair.
3Reliability
If secure applications restrict information access to maintain security, then security is protected, but information sharing between secure and non-secure applications is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The global search mechanism serves as a secure intermediary that mediates information access between secure and non-secure applications. The system maintains security by controlling the intermediary's access permissions while enabling broad information sharing capabilities through this controlled interface, allowing secure applications to share information with non-secure applications without compromising security boundaries.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for enabling the sharing of information between a first application and a second application on a computing device are described herein. The method includes the steps of receiving a global search request through the first application and—in response to the reception of the global search request—prompting for a search term from a user. The method further includes the steps of receiving the search term and—based on the received search term—automatically presenting one or more corresponding candidate elements associated with the second application for selection by the user. In addition, the method includes the steps of receiving the selection of at least one of the candidate elements and linking the selected candidate element with the first application such that a user may access the selected candidate element from the first application.