Modular Shared Display Input System with Multi-Modal Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shared display systems are limited in allowing multiple modes of input from users, restricting audience participation and are typically custom solutions not adaptable to various applications.

Innovation Solution

A modular system and process that enables inputs from multiple communication modalities such as email, SMS, IM, voice, and camera signals, with a translation module converting user inputs into recognizable commands for a logic module to generate display instructions, allowing diverse user interactions and adaptable to different applications and display devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single mode of input is supported, then the system complexity is reduced, but the percentage of audience able to participate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepercentage of audience able to participateVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments input handling into separate input modules, each dedicated to a specific communication modality (email, SMS, IM, voice, camera). This segmentation allows the system to support multiple input types without increasing overall complexity, as each module independently handles its designated modality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal architecture where multiple specialized input modules feed into a common processing framework. This multi-functional design enables the same system structure to handle diverse input modalities (text, voice, images) while maintaining a consistent processing pipeline, thereby increasing audience participation without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple communication modalities are supported, then user interaction versatility is improved, but data collisions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction versatilityVSAvoiddata collision prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by timestamping each input message upon receipt and maintaining a queue sorted by timestamp. This preliminary organization of data before processing ensures that messages from multiple modalities are handled in a predetermined sequence, preventing data collisions and ensuring reliable processing of diverse user interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If custom solutions are implemented for interactive shared displays, then specific application functionality is improved, but adaptability to other applications decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoidadaptability to other applications

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal architecture where multiple specialized input modules feed into a common processing framework. This multi-functional design enables the same system structure to handle diverse input modalities while maintaining a consistent processing pipeline, thereby increasing audience participation without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts to different applications by configuring which input modules are active and how they are connected to the processing framework. This dynamic configurability allows the same core system to serve multiple applications (electronic notice boards, voting systems, gaming) without requiring custom solutions for each, thereby maintaining functionality while improving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If inputs with latency greater than 1 second are supported, then communication modality options increase, but real-time processing capability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication modality optionsVSAvoidreal-time processing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts processing based on the specific communication modality and its inherent latency characteristics. For modalities with higher latency (email, SMS), the system processes messages as they arrive without requiring real-time response, while maintaining real-time processing capability for lower-latency modalities (voice, camera). This dynamic approach preserves real-time processing where possible while supporting diverse communication options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7458029B2System and process for controlling a shared display given inputs from multiple users using multiple input modalities

Publication Date: 2008.11.25 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A system and process for controlling common information displays, referred to as shared displays, is presented. The system and process allows multiple modes of input using a set of modules that accept and display data from a variety of sources. Input modules are able to understand data from a single mode of communication and to be able to generate messages as output accordingly. An optional translation module takes discrete message units and converts them into commands or requests that can be processed by a logic module. The logic module includes any application that is running on the shared display. A layout module lays out the information output by the logic module and a display module takes the layout data and converts the information to a form that can be readily displayed on a display device.