Configurable Launchpad Service for Enterprise Application Context Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current enterprise management systems (EMS) lack a satisfactory method for users to simultaneously access transactional and analytical applications without disrupting workflow, requiring users to leave one application to launch another and navigate through unrelated applications to find the desired analytical tools.
Innovation Solution
A launchpad service is executed alongside the first application, which determines its state based on the user interface and displays relevant control elements, allowing users to launch secondary applications directly from the first application's interface without leaving it, ensuring the launched application is contextually relevant to the current activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users launch analytical applications separately from transactional applications, then application functionality is maintained, but workflow efficiency deteriorates due to requiring users to leave one application to launch another
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the launchpad service with the transactional application interface, merging the capabilities of launching analytical applications directly within the transactional application context. This eliminates the need to switch between separate applications, thereby improving workflow efficiency and reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The launchpad service acts as an intermediary component that bridges the transactional and analytical applications. It monitors the state of the transactional application and automatically launches relevant analytical applications with pre-configured parameters, serving as a mediator that eliminates manual intervention and application switching.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users manually configure analytical applications to match transactional context, then application relevance is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The launchpad service automatically determines the state of the transactional application and configures the analytical application parameters without user intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring its own state and automatically launching relevant analytical applications with appropriate configurations, eliminating manual configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The launchpad service performs preliminary configuration of analytical applications by pre-setting parameters based on the current state of the transactional application before the user even requests the analytical application. This preliminary action ensures relevance while eliminating the need for users to perform complex configuration tasks.
3Productivity
If a static list of analytical applications is displayed, then application availability is maintained, but user efficiency deteriorates due to requiring users to browse through unrelated applications
Solution Approach 1:
The launchpad service dynamically generates and updates the list of available analytical applications based on the current state of the transactional application. Instead of displaying a static list, the system adapts the application list in real-time to show only relevant analytical applications, thereby improving productivity and reducing time to find the desired application.
Solution Approach 2:
The launchpad service applies local quality by customizing the analytical application list according to the specific context and state of the transactional application. Different transactional contexts receive different customized lists of relevant analytical applications, rather than a universal static list, improving efficiency by showing only locally relevant options.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes, during execution of a first application program in which a user interacts with the application program, executing a launchpad service that invokes another application program. When a user interface of the first application program is refreshed, a state of the launchpad service is determined based on the refreshed user interface, and one or more launchpad control elements are displayed along with the user interface depending on the determined state of the launchpad service. When the launchpad control element is activated by an operator, execution of a second application program referenced by the activated control element is initiated and advanced to a processing stage determined by the activated control element.