Grouped Application Icon for Intuitive Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) face challenges in seamless application and content selection, as they often present multiple variations of the same application as separate icons, requiring users to navigate through multiple steps to find the desired version, leading to unintuitive and inefficient selection processes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves associating multiple variations of a computer application with an application group and presenting them as a single UI element in a menu, where the most relevant application is selected based on priority factors such as executability, compatibility, and user interaction, allowing dynamic updates based on user interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple variations of the same application are presented as separate icons in the GUI, then each application variation can be individually identified and selected, but the menu becomes cluttered and the selection process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent groups multiple variations of the same application under a single application icon in the GUI. Instead of displaying separate icons for each variation (e.g., different versions of a video game), the system creates one consolidated icon that represents the entire group of variations. This merging approach reduces menu clutter while maintaining the ability to distinguish and select among different variations through other means (such as tooltips, dropdown menus, or contextual information displayed upon hovering or selecting the icon).
2Ease of operation
If multiple variations of the same application are presented as separate icons, then each variation can be selected, but the user requires multiple steps to confirm the correct selection and may need repeated reselection
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically determining and prioritizing which application variation should be displayed or executed when a user selects an application group icon. Before the user makes a selection, the system has already organized the variations in a priority order (e.g., based on version, compatibility, or user preferences) and is prepared to either automatically select the top-priority variation or present a simplified selection interface. This eliminates the need for users to manually navigate through multiple confirmation steps or repeatedly reselect applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate icons are used for each application variation, then the GUI can present all available applications, but the computational demand increases and the interface becomes less navigable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple application variations into single group icons, significantly reducing the total number of icons displayed in the GUI. Instead of showing separate icons for each version or variation of an application, the system merges them into one representative icon per application group. This merging maintains full adaptability by still providing access to all variations (through expanded views or selection interfaces) while dramatically improving navigation efficiency by reducing the visual clutter and number of elements users must scan and interact with.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for presenting application variations on a user interface. In an example, the techniques include associating computer applications with an application group, the computer applications being different variations of a same computer program. The techniques further include generating a user interface (UI) element that represents the application group. The techniques further include selecting a first computer application of the computer applications to indicate in association with the UI element. The techniques further include presenting the UI element on a user interface, the UI element indicating the application group and the first computer application, the UI element configured to, upon selection via the user interface, launch the first computer application or launch a page about the application group.