Mobile Device Application Management via External Trigger Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in managing multiple applications on a single mobile computing device, lacking the dedicated user experience provided by specific devices, and require a solution to seamlessly trigger applications based on device states without manual intervention.

Innovation Solution

A method and mobile computing device with a management unit that detects external trigger events, such as location, orientation, and connections, to automatically initiate actions associated with applications through an association database, providing a seamless user experience by launching specific applications or settings based on environmental conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications are provided on a single mobile computing device, then device versatility is improved, but user operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice versatilityVSAvoiduser operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures trigger events and associated actions in an association database before runtime. When a trigger event occurs (such as device orientation change, location detection, or connection event), the corresponding action is automatically executed without requiring user intervention. This preliminary setup resolves the contradiction by automating application management based on pre-defined rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile computing device automatically manages its own application execution by detecting trigger events and autonomously determining and executing associated actions. The system serves itself by monitoring device states, querying the association database, and initiating applications without external user input, thereby simplifying operation while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If automatic trigger-based application management is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic application managementVSAvoidmanagement unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management unit implements a universal trigger-action framework that handles multiple types of trigger events (orientation, location, connection events, sensor data) through a single unified mechanism. The association database stores generic trigger-action pairs that can be configured for different applications and scenarios, allowing the system to manage diverse applications through one multi-functional management structure rather than separate control logic for each application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If dedicated device experiences are replicated on a multi-functional device, then adaptability is improved, but operation simplicity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvededicated device experience replicationVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system configures specific trigger events and actions locally for each dedicated device scenario. For example, when the device is docked in a specific orientation, a particular action (such as launching a media player or presentation application) is automatically executed. This local configuration approach allows each use case to have its own optimized trigger-action pair, replicating dedicated device experiences while maintaining overall operation simplicity through automatic execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2796995B1Method for managing applications on a mobile computing device and mobile computing device
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 VODAFONE GMBH
  • EP2796995B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2796995B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2796995B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for managing applications on a mobile computing device (1), which comprises at least one management unit (10). The method is characterized in that at least one external trigger event is detected by a detection unit (104, 105) of the management unit (10), wherein the external trigger event relates to the state of the mobile computing device (1), in that based on the detected external trigger event a trigger is established and based on the trigger an action, which is associated to the trigger in an association database (107), is automatically determined in an appliance manager (102) of the management unit (10) and in that the determined action relates to at least one application and that the determined action is initiated automatically. Furthermore the invention relates to a mobile computing device (1), in particular designed for use in such a method.