Logical Document Navigation via Segmented Pane
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Navigating electronic documents based on their physical structure can be slow and cumbersome, especially when traversing to distant locations, as it often involves overshooting and corrective actions, making it inefficient and user-unfriendly.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for navigating electronic documents using a navigation pane that displays logical document elements, allowing users to select and navigate to specific locations within the document based on its logical structure through user inputs such as mouse-wheel scrolling and clicking, enabling quick and precise access to distant document locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If users navigate the physical structure of a document using traditional scrolling methods, then they can access different locations in the document, but the navigation process becomes slow and cumbersome especially for distant locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the document into logical elements (headings, paragraphs, sections) and displays them as discrete items in a navigation pane. Users can directly select specific segments rather than scrolling through the entire document sequentially, dramatically reducing navigation time to distant locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new navigation dimension by displaying logical document elements in a separate navigation pane alongside the document content. This side-by-side layout allows users to access document locations through the navigation pane rather than scrolling through the document's physical structure, enabling direct jumps to any section.
2Measurement precision
If users navigate to distant locations in a document using traditional scrolling, then they can reach the desired location, but the process involves overshooting and iterative corrective actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent displays all logical document elements in the navigation pane before navigation occurs, allowing users to preview and identify the target location in advance. This preliminary visualization eliminates overshooting by enabling direct selection of the exact destination without iterative scrolling and correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation pane serves as an intermediary interface between the user and the document content. Instead of directly scrolling through the document, users interact with the navigation pane to select logical elements, which then triggers precise navigation to the selected location, eliminating the need for manual scrolling corrections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users navigate based on physical structure, then they follow the document's layout order, but navigation to arbitrary locations becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adapts the navigation interface to the document's logical structure by automatically generating and displaying logical elements (headings, sections, paragraphs) in the navigation pane. This dynamic generation allows the system to adapt to any document type and structure, providing versatile navigation that works across different document formats and layouts.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include a method for navigating an electronic document. The method includes displaying a navigation pane that includes a group of logical document elements associated with the electronic document. The method also includes detecting a first user input. The method further includes determining that the first user input is configured to select a first logical document element included in the group of logical document elements. The method also includes selecting the first logical document element based on the first user input. The method further includes navigating to a portion of the document associated with the first logical document element. Embodiments also include a system and a computer-readable medium for navigating an electronic document.