OS Process User Information Suggestions for Form Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face the tedious task of typing extensive information into graphical user interface (GUI) forms, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially when creating accounts or making purchases online.

Innovation Solution

A computing device generates and presents user information suggestions by searching various sources, allowing users to select from these suggestions for input fields without sharing the information with the host application until explicitly authorized, thereby reducing the need for manual input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If users manually type information into GUI form fields, then data input accuracy is ensured, but time consumption and labor intensity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveform filling speedVSAvoidtime spent on form filling

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The operating system process collects and stores user information from various sources (contacts, messages, calendars, etc.) in advance, preparing it for future form filling tasks. When a form field is selected, the pre-collected information is quickly retrieved and presented as suggestions, eliminating the need for users to manually type each piece of information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically gathers user information from the device's own data sources without requiring external input or manual entry. The OS process independently searches through contacts, messages, calendars, and other applications to compile relevant user information, making the system self-sufficient in preparing form data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the host application directly accesses user information sources, then data retrieval is efficient, but user privacy and security are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retrieval efficiencyVSAvoiduser privacy exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An operating system process acts as an intermediary between the host application and user information sources. The OS process collects, filters, and presents user information in a controlled manner, allowing the application to receive only the data that has been vetted and presented to the user for approval, thereby protecting user privacy while maintaining data retrieval efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where user information is collected by the OS process, presented to the user for review, and only then made available to the host application. The user's selection or rejection of suggested information provides feedback that controls data flow, ensuring privacy protection while enabling efficient data retrieval when authorized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive user information is collected from multiple sources, then suggestion quality improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuggestion relevance accuracyVSAvoidinformation gathering system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The information gathering system is segmented into specialized components, each responsible for collecting specific types of data from specific sources (contacts for name/phone, messages for email, calendars for events, etc.). This modular approach allows comprehensive data collection while managing system complexity through division of labor among specialized sub-systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The operating system process performs multiple functions: it acts as a data collector from various sources, a data processor that filters and organizes information, a suggestion generator that ranks and presents options, and a privacy guardian that controls data access. This multi-functionality consolidates complexity into a single versatile component rather than requiring separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11475029B2Presenting user information suggestions

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 APPLE INC

AI summary

In some implementations, a computing device can generate and present suggestions for filling in various data input fields presented by a graphical user interface of a host application running on the computing device. For example, when a user selects a data input field presented by the graphical user interface, the host application can cause an operating system (OS) process external to the host application on the computing device to search various hardware, software, configuration, communication, and/or event sources to obtain user information associated with the user and relevant to the input field type identifier. The user information can be presented by the OS process as suggestions on the graphical user interface without providing the user information to the host application. When the user selects a presented suggestion, the OS process can provide the user selected suggestion to the host application as input to the user selected data input field.