Mobile Theme Preview Poll List Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Users face significant time consumption and bandwidth issues when selecting and activating themes on mobile devices, especially when themes need to be downloaded, and there is a concern about costs associated with accessing websites or carrier sites to find desired themes.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for updating theme preview files on mobile devices by combining lists of stored and downloadable themes, allowing users to preview available themes without needing to access each theme individually, using a server to provide an update file with images of new themes available for download.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users access websites or carrier sites to download themes, then users can obtain additional themes, but time and bandwidth are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheme availabilityVSAvoidtime to find and download theme
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads theme preview images and stores them locally on the mobile device before the user needs to view them. The poll list mechanism proactively checks for new themes and downloads their previews in advance, so when users want to browse themes, they are already available immediately without requiring real-time network access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the essential preview images from complete theme packages and stores them separately. This allows users to browse and select themes using minimal data (just preview images) without downloading the full theme content, separating the theme selection process from the theme download process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users access websites or carrier sites to download themes, then users can obtain additional themes, but bandwidth is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheme availabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential preview images from complete theme packages and stores them separately. This allows users to browse and select themes using minimal data (just preview images) without downloading the full theme content, separating the theme selection process from the theme download process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system downloads only partial theme information (preview images) rather than complete themes. The poll list mechanism downloads previews for multiple themes in one operation, and users can browse these partial representations without committing to download full themes they may not use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If users load multiple themes to preview them, then users can compare different themes, but time is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheme comparison capabilityVSAvoidtime to load and switch themes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates preview copies of themes in the form of thumbnail images that represent each theme's appearance. These preview images are stored locally and can be displayed instantly without loading the actual theme files. Users can browse multiple theme previews by scrolling through the list, comparing themes visually without the time-consuming process of loading and switching between full theme implementations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

4Adaptability or versatility

If the theme list is updated frequently, then users have access to new themes, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetheme update frequencyVSAvoidbandwidth for updates
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads theme preview images and stores them locally on the mobile device before the user needs to view them. The poll list mechanism proactively checks for new themes and downloads their previews in advance, so when users want to browse themes, they are already available immediately without requiring real-time network access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a periodic polling mechanism where the mobile device checks for new themes at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. The poll list is updated periodically, and the system downloads new theme previews only when changes are detected, reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption while maintaining up-to-date theme availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2040445B1System and method for previewing themes
Publication Date: 2010.12.01 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2040445B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2040445B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2040445B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and application for previewing themes for a mobile device are provided. Theme files comprising theme preview files are stored on the mobile device for each theme that can be activated. The theme preview files comprise an image representing the appearance of the theme when activated. The images may be displayed in a preview pane in a theme option. The theme preview files may also be displayed in a list for those themes that are not stored on the mobile device but are available to be downloaded. The list can be updated as new themes become available by polling a new theme service.