Modified User Engagement Signals via Obstruction Database
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Solution Overview
Problem
User engagement signals are unreliable when content items are obstructed by other components of the user interface, such as menus or notifications, leading to inaccurate measurements due to hidden portions of content being counted as visible.
Innovation Solution
A method to identify obstructing layers in a user interface, determine hidden components, and generate modified user engagement signals by using an obstruction database to remove signal portions based on obstructed content, ensuring accurate engagement metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user engagement signals are collected based on visible content in the user interface, then engagement metrics can be generated, but the signals become unreliable when content is obstructed by overlay components
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of obstructing layers and calculation of hidden component areas before collecting user engagement signals. By pre-determining which content portions are obstructed by overlay components (menus, search bars, notifications), the system can later accurately filter out misleading engagement data from those obstructed portions, thereby improving signal reliability without requiring complex real-time adjustments during signal collection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer of analysis that sits between the user interface rendering and the engagement signal collection processes. This intermediary identifies obstructing layers, calculates hidden areas, and generates correction factors that mediate between raw engagement signals and final accurate metrics, allowing the system to account for obstruction effects without fundamentally changing how user interactions are captured
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple layers are displayed in the user interface to provide functional components, then user functionality is enhanced, but content visibility is reduced due to obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the user interface into distinct layers (content layer and overlay layer) and further divides the content layer into visible and obstructed portions based on overlay component positions. By segmenting the content area into these distinct portions, the system can independently measure engagement for visible content while excluding obstructed portions, allowing full functionality to be maintained while accurately measuring only truly visible content
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a dimensional analysis by calculating the area of hidden components in two-dimensional space. By determining the spatial overlap between overlay components and content elements, the system quantifies obstruction in terms of area reduction, enabling precise correction of engagement metrics based on the dimensional impact of overlay layers
3Ease of operation
If overlay components are added to the user interface to provide additional functionality, then user interaction options are increased, but accurate engagement measurement becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the user interface layer structure and using this information to correct engagement measurements. The overlay layer information serves as feedback that informs the content layer engagement calculation, allowing the system to adjust its measurement approach based on the actual visual state of the interface and thereby maintain accuracy despite added functionality
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and media for generating modified user engagement signals based on obstructed layers in a user interface are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes: identifying a plurality of layers in a user interface, wherein each layer in the plurality of layers has a layer depth value, and wherein the plurality of layers are presented in an order based on the layer depth value associated with each layer; selecting a first layer in the plurality of layers as a reference layer; determining a plurality of layer components from a remaining subset of layers in the plurality of layers, wherein the plurality of layer components results in at least one hidden component, wherein the at least one hidden component is a portion of the reference layer that is prevented from being viewed by a user of the user interface when the plurality of layer components is presented in the order indicated by the layer depth value of each layer; associating the plurality of layer components with an obstruction database for the reference layer; and generating, from a user engagement signal, a modified user engagement signal by identifying, using the obstruction database, a portion of the user engagement signal that is based on the at least one hidden component and removing the portion of the user engagement signal that is based on the at least one hidden component.