Input Destination Change Detection and Temporary Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
User input interruptions occur when focus is inadvertently shifted from the original input destination to a background window, causing unintended entries due to events like error dialogues or new application openings, leading to undesirable results.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detect continuous user input and determine if the input destination has changed, storing any subsequent input in a temporary buffer and prompting the user to select the appropriate destination for re-entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the system automatically redirects input to the new foreground window, then input responsiveness is improved, but input accuracy deteriorates because input may be directed to the wrong destination
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection to identify when focus shifts occur during continuous input, and preliminarily buffers the input data before final destination assignment. This allows the system to prepare for potential redirection while maintaining input flow, resolving the contradiction between responsiveness and accuracy by pre-processing the input without committing it to the wrong destination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary buffering mechanism that sits between the input source and the destination. When focus shift is detected, the buffer acts as a mediator to hold the input data temporarily, allowing the system to determine the correct destination before final delivery. This intermediary layer preserves input accuracy while maintaining responsiveness
2Manufacturing precision
If the system buffers input data when focus shifts, then input accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional buffer management
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies buffering only partially - specifically when focus shift detection occurs during continuous input - rather than buffering all input universally. This selective application of buffering maintains input accuracy while avoiding the complexity overhead of universal buffering, implementing the principle of partial action by applying the complex mechanism only when necessary
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of input data from 'immediate processing' to 'buffered processing' based on the detected focus shift condition. This parameter change is dynamic and conditional, allowing the system to maintain simplicity in normal operation while introducing buffering complexity only when the specific parameter condition (focus shift during continuous input) is met
3Manufacturing precision
If the system prompts user selection for buffered input, then input accuracy is improved, but user time increases due to additional interaction steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies user prompting only partially - specifically when focus shift is detected during continuous input - rather than prompting for all input corrections. This selective prompting maintains input accuracy while minimizing user time loss by avoiding unnecessary interaction steps in cases where no focus shift occurred
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and separates the prompting action from the normal input flow, applying it only when needed. By taking out the prompting step and making it conditional rather than universal, the system maintains input accuracy while reducing overall user time expenditure by eliminating unnecessary prompting interactions
Data Source
AI summary
A computer detects user input within an input destination and determines whether the user input is continuous. If the user input is determined continuous, then the computer determines whether the input destination receiving the continuous user input has been changed during the receipt of the continuous user input. If the computer determines that the input destination has been changed during receipt of the continuous user input, the computer stores the portion of user input entered after the input destination had been changed in a temporary input buffer. The computer then presents the stored user input to a user and prompts a user selection of the appropriate input destination corresponding to the portion of stored user input.