Panel Layout Canvas for Composite Interactive Graphics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tools like Crystal Xcelsius struggle to combine multiple interactive control panels into a single layout, limiting users to manual integration or third-party tools, and do not allow for toggling between multiple content layers within a panel.

Innovation Solution

A panel layout canvas that enables users to select and combine multiple interactive graphic files, allowing for the generation of a composite interactive graphic file with the ability to toggle between different content layers within a single panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple interactive control panels are combined into a single layout, then the functionality and interactivity are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the composite interactive control panel into multiple independent content layers, each representing a separate interactive control panel. These layers can be independently managed, selected, and manipulated through the layer control mechanism, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining comprehensive functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The panel layout canvas serves multiple functions: it acts as both the design workspace and the final output container, eliminates the need for separate third-party presentation tools, and provides integrated layer management capabilities. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating tools into a single platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual methods are used to combine interactive control panels, then flexibility is maintained, but the time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides pre-configured panel layout templates with predefined structures and placeholder elements. Users can start with these prepared layouts and simply populate them with their content, eliminating the need to manually create layouts from scratch and significantly reducing preparation time while maintaining customization flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Users can copy existing interactive control panels and their content layers into the panel layout canvas, preserving the original functionality and design. This copying mechanism allows rapid assembly of composite panels without manual recreation of each element, reducing time while maintaining flexibility through selective customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If a single content layer is specified per panel, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesimplicityVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic layer selection where the active content layer for each panel can be changed at runtime based on user input, data conditions, or interaction state. This dynamic switching capability is controlled through simple layer control mechanisms (such as dropdown menus or toggle buttons), maintaining interface simplicity while enabling high adaptability for different display scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a temporal dimension to panel content by organizing multiple content layers that can be switched over time. Instead of choosing between simplicity and adaptability in the same dimension, the patent introduces a new dimension (time-based layer switching) that provides adaptability without complicating the spatial layout or basic panel structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If third party tools are used to structure layouts, then layout flexibility is improved, but the integration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout flexibilityVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the layout design functionality, interactive control panel generation, and content layer management into a single integrated platform. The panel layout canvas directly generates composite interactive control panel files without requiring export to or import from third-party tools, eliminating integration complexity while maintaining layout flexibility through native design capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7984383B2Apparatus and method for using a panel layout to consolidate dynamic and interactive graphics representative of input and output data

Publication Date: 2011.07.19 SAP IRELAND LTD

AI summary

A computer readable medium includes executable instructions to select a panel layout with panels specified in combination. Interactive graphic files representative of input and output values for panels within the panel layout are selected. The interactive graphic files are associated with panels in the panel layout. A composite interactive graphic file representative of input and output values for the interactive graphic files representative of input and output values that have been associated with the panel layout is generated.