Locked Format Editing for Consistent Multi-User Attribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inefficiencies and inconsistencies when applying format settings across multiple portions of digital content, leading to difficulties in distinguishing between edits made by different users.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for locking format settings, allowing users to select and lock format styles, which are then communicated to other users, ensuring distinguishable edits across digital content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If users manually reselect formatting settings for each portion of digital content, then format settings can be applied to multiple portions, but the process becomes inefficient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveediting efficiencyVSAvoidtime spent reselecting format settings

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically applying format settings to multiple portions of digital content without requiring users to reselect them. The format settings are locked and reused across different portions, eliminating the need for repeated manual selection and significantly improving editing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If users apply the same format settings to distinguish their edits, then consistency is achieved, but it becomes difficult to distinguish between edits made by different users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency in format applicationVSAvoiduser identity information in edits

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by allowing each user to have unique format settings locked to their identity. While format settings remain consistent within each user's edits, different users can have different format characteristics (e.g., different colors, styles), enabling both consistency for each user and distinguishability between users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If format settings are locked to prevent reselection, then editing efficiency improves, but flexibility to change formats is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformat application efficiencyVSAvoidflexibility to change format settings

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamics by allowing format settings to be locked during the editing process to improve efficiency, while still permitting users to unlock and modify these settings when needed. The lock mechanism is not absolute but controllable, balancing efficiency gains with necessary flexibility for format changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260079611A1Format Lock

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 DISH NETWORK LLC

AI summary

Devices, systems, computer readable mediums, and processes for facilitated locked format editing of digital content are described. A user device include a user device data store (UDDS) that non-transitorily stores first computer instructions which, when executed, by a user device processor instantiate a format settings engine (FSE). The FSE configures the user device to perform format locking operations (FLO) that include locking a format style setting option for editing a digital content by a user. A user interface presents multiple format style setting options that the user may select and user edits to the digital content are distinguishable from other edits to the digital content by a second or another user. The format style setting options may include a font, a style, a size option, and a color option. The FLO may also include determining whether one or more of the options have been reserved for another user's use.