Icon Display Control for Executable Application Software
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in distinguishing which application software is available on an image forming apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus, making it hard to recognize executable functions during operation.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus is equipped with a storage unit, connection control unit, and display control unit that establishes communication with an external apparatus, determines executable application software based on available function information, and displays executable software while hiding or displaying infeasible options differently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all application software is displayed on the information processing apparatus, then the user has access to the complete software list, but it becomes difficult to distinguish which applications are actually executable on the connected external apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual differentiation through color or display mode changes to indicate executable versus non-executable applications. The display control unit changes the display mode of application icons based on their executability status, allowing users to quickly identify which applications can be run on the connected external apparatus without needing to check each one individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the application list into executable and non-executable categories through visual differentiation. By applying different display modes to different subsets of applications based on their executability, the system creates clear visual segments that help users quickly identify usable applications among the complete software list.
2Reliability
If the system checks each application's executability before display, then accurate availability information is provided, but the operation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of application executability by comparing the external apparatus's function information with each application's required functions before display. This preliminary action ensures that only executable applications are clearly presented to the user, eliminating the need for users to perform individual compatibility checks and reducing overall operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines and indicates executable applications through the display control unit, which autonomously compares function information and applies appropriate display modes. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual verification by the user, providing reliable executable function identification without increasing user operation time.
3Ease of operation
If applications are hidden based on executability, then the display becomes cleaner and easier to navigate, but information about non-executable applications is lost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely hiding non-executable applications, the system changes their display mode to visually distinguish them from executable applications. This approach maintains the complete application list in the display while providing clear visual cues about executability, allowing users to see all applications while easily identifying which ones can be executed on the connected external apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes: a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of application software; a connection control unit that establishes a communication connection to an external apparatus and collects available function information indicating at least one function included in the external apparatus; a determining unit that determines at least one piece of application software that is executable with respect to the external apparatus among the pieces of application software, based on the available function information; a display control unit that displays, on a display unit, the pieces of application software that are determined as being executable, and causes at least one piece of application software that is determined as being inexecutable to be hidden in the display unit or to be displayed on the display unit in a display mode different from a display mode of the pieces of application software that are determined as being executable.