GUI Navigational Components for Enterprise Application Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large enterprises face challenges in integrating and streamlining operations due to the proliferation of siloed custom software applications, which hinders their ability to run efficiently, innovate, and meet regulatory requirements.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of Application Platform as a Service (aPaaS) provides a remotely-hosted platform that automates workflows, supports MVC applications, and offers standardized GUI components, metadata configuration, and enterprise-grade security to unify and enhance software development and deployment across the enterprise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple custom software applications are deployed to support enterprise operations, then functional versatility is improved, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional versatilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal GUI component framework where standardized navigational components, overlay panels, and content area elements can serve multiple functions across different applications. This allows a single component library to support diverse enterprise operations while maintaining consistent behavior and appearance, thereby achieving functional versatility without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the user interface into modular components including navigational components, overlay panels, content area components, and fixed panel components. Each component is independently configurable and can be reused across multiple applications, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility through combinatorial flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If standardized GUI components are used across applications, then ease of maintenance is improved, but customization flexibility may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidcustomization flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic configurability where standardized GUI components can be customized through metadata-driven parameters without requiring code changes. Components like overlay panels and navigational elements can dynamically adjust their behavior, appearance, and content based on configuration data, enabling both standardized maintenance and flexible customization simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows different levels of customization for different components while maintaining standardized core functionality. Each GUI component can have localized customizations through metadata configuration, enabling specific adaptations where needed while preserving standardized behavior elsewhere, thus balancing maintenance ease with customization flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Quantity of substance

If overlay panels are used to display child components, then visual information density is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to occlusion of underlying content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual information densityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested panel architecture where overlay panels can contain other panels, navigational components, and content areas within them. This nested structure allows hierarchical organization of information, enabling high visual information density while maintaining operational ease through clear hierarchical navigation and the ability to access underlying content through structured navigation paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11150784B1User interface elements for controlling menu displays
Publication Date: 2021.10.19 SERVICENOW INC
  • US11150784B1 patent drawing
  • US11150784B1 patent drawing
  • US11150784B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system includes a processor configured to perform operations, including receiving a request for a graphical user interface (GUI). The operations also include, in response to the request, generating a representation of the GUI to include navigational components and a fixed panel component, where the navigational components are positioned at predetermined locations within the GUI. A particular navigational component is configured to, in response to selection thereof, cause display of a corresponding plurality of child components arranged according to a corresponding predetermined hierarchy. The fixed panel component is positioned at a further predetermined location within the GUI and configured to, in response to a repositioning of the particular navigational component from its corresponding predetermined location to the fixed panel component, display the corresponding plurality of child components as a hierarchical list based on the corresponding predetermined hierarchy. The operations further include transmitting the representation of the GUI.