Multi-device Interface Application State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interface systems struggle to optimally distribute and manage user interface elements across multiple computing devices, often failing to select the most suitable devices based on the type and availability of input/output devices, leading to suboptimal user experience.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine the state of the user interface and select suitable computing devices based on the availability of input/output devices, transferring all or part of the user interface to devices that can best support the required elements, ensuring optimal rendering and input handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user interface elements are distributed across multiple computing devices, then the functionality and versatility of the interface is improved, but the complexity of managing and selecting suitable devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a device selection module that acts as an intermediary between the user interface system and multiple computing devices. This module automatically detects available devices, evaluates their suitability based on I/O capabilities, and selects the most appropriate device for each UI element, thereby resolving the complexity of managing multiple devices while maintaining high interface versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface is segmented into multiple independent UI elements that can be distributed to different computing devices. Each UI element can be independently rendered on the most suitable device based on its specific requirements, allowing the system to manage complexity by treating each element separately rather than managing the entire interface as a single unit
2Manufacturing precision
If computing devices are selected based on I/O device availability, then the rendering quality and user experience are improved, but the time and computational resources required for device selection increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and caching information about available computing devices and their I/O capabilities in advance. When UI elements need to be rendered, the device selection module can quickly retrieve pre-evaluated device information rather than performing full device assessments in real-time, thus maintaining high rendering quality while reducing selection time
Solution Approach 2:
The device selection process dynamically adjusts evaluation parameters based on the specific requirements of each UI element. Rather than using a fixed comprehensive evaluation for all elements, the system changes parameters to focus only on the most relevant I/O capabilities for each element type, reducing computational overhead while maintaining rendering quality
Data Source
AI summary
Various examples described herein are directed to systems and methods for providing a user interface at a plurality of computing devices. A first interface application executing at a first computing device may determine a first state for a user interface. The first interface application may detect a set of user computing devices for providing the user interface to a user and select a second computing device that is in the set of user computing devices based at least in part on the first state of the user interface. The first interface application may send a description of the user interface to the second computing device.