Multi-Window Soft Keyboard Clipboard Service

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face a tedious experience when transferring information between applications, as they often need to switch between apps and perform operations like select, copy, and paste, and applications typically lack the ability to communicate with each other, limiting user interaction and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A multi-window soft input keyboard application that provides application command control, detects and communicates with foreground applications, and relays data to services, allowing for seamless data transfer and enhanced user interaction without the need for multiple application switches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users switch between applications to transfer information, then information transfer between applications is achieved, but user experience becomes tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation transfer operationVSAvoidtime for switching applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a clipboard service as an intermediary component that enables direct communication and data transfer between applications without requiring user intervention to switch between them. The service acts as a mediator that receives data from one application and delivers it to another, eliminating the manual copy-paste process and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The clipboard service provides universal functionality across multiple applications, allowing any application to participate in the information transfer process. By creating a common interface and data structure that multiple applications can use, the system enables seamless interoperability without requiring application-specific switching procedures.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications are executed for data transfer tasks, then comprehensive functionality is achieved, but device resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoiddevice energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the clipboard functionality into a shared service that is accessible by multiple applications simultaneously. Instead of each application implementing its own clipboard management (which would require multiple application instances), the system combines these functions into a single service that handles data transfer for all applications, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The clipboard service automatically manages data transfer operations without requiring users to manually switch between applications or activate multiple application instances. The service self-manages the data structures, communication protocols, and transfer processes, reducing the need for additional application executions and thereby lowering energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If applications lack communication ability, then application independence is maintained, but user interaction and efficiency are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication independenceVSAvoiduser interaction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The clipboard service serves as an intermediary communication channel that allows applications to exchange data while maintaining their independence. Applications do not need to establish direct communication links or become interdependent; instead, they communicate through the standardized clipboard service interface, preserving application independence while enabling efficient user interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the communication function into a separate, independent service layer. By dividing the overall system into independent components (applications and the clipboard service), each application can operate autonomously while still participating in inter-application communication through the standardized interface, thus maintaining reliability through independence while improving productivity through enabled communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3362882B1Multi-window software keyboard
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3362882B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3362882B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3362882B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Examples of the present disclosure describe systems and methods associated with a multi-window soft input keyboard application. A multi-window soft input keyboard application is displayed. The soft input keyboard application is used to provide application command control for one or more applications. The soft input keyboard application may comprise a first application window that displays two or more user interface elements for services of the soft input keyboard application. In examples, the first application window displays/updates based on the detected foreground application. The user interface elements are usable for application command control of the detected foreground application. An exemplary soft input keyboard application may further comprise a second application window that displays a soft input keyboard. Display of the second application window may update including replacing display of the soft input keyboard based on selection of a user interface element of the first application window. Other examples are also described.