Partial Diagram Update via Segmentation and Background Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diagram creation and editing tools face inefficiencies when dealing with large, complex diagrams, as they often require updating the entire diagram, leading to increased processing time and user interaction delays, especially when only a subset of the diagram needs to be updated.
Innovation Solution
A tool that applies a set of rules to define the positioning and layout of elements and relationships within diagrams, allowing for the quick update of a selected subset while background processes handle the remaining parts, reducing processing time and enabling faster user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire diagram is updated when changes are made, then the diagram remains consistent and accurate, but the processing time increases and user interaction becomes delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the diagram into multiple subsets based on viewing area and updates only the relevant subset when changes occur. The diagram is segmented into visible and invisible portions, with update operations confined to specific segments rather than processing the entire diagram, thus reducing processing time while maintaining consistency where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial updating by processing only the necessary portion of the diagram (the visible subset) rather than the complete diagram. This partial action approach updates only what is needed for current viewing, avoiding the excessive action of processing the entire diagram and reducing overall processing time.
2Manufacturing precision
If the entire diagram is updated, then all elements reflect current changes, but user interaction speed decreases due to processing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The diagram is segmented into visible and invisible subsets based on the current viewing area. Update operations are segmented to process only the visible subset immediately, ensuring accurate updates where users interact, while invisible portions are updated separately or asynchronously, maintaining user interaction speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and preparing updates for the visible subset before user interaction completes. This allows the visible diagram to be updated quickly and accurately without waiting for processing the entire diagram, thereby improving user interaction speed while maintaining update accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If rules are applied to the entire diagram, then all positioning and layout requirements are met, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagram into visible and invisible portions and applies positioning and layout rules only to the visible subset during immediate updates. This segmentation allows precise positioning accuracy for the current viewing area while significantly reducing processing time by excluding invisible portions from immediate rule application.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by implementing positioning and layout rules only where necessary (in the visible subset) rather than throughout the entire diagram. This partial application maintains positioning accuracy for user-visible elements while reducing the processing time burden of applying rules to the complete diagram.
4Reliability
If background processes update the entire diagram, then complete consistency is maintained, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments update operations into immediate updates for visible portions and background updates for invisible portions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain consistency for critical visible areas through immediate processing while using background processes for less resource-intensive updates to invisible areas, optimizing overall resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by processing only the necessary visible subset immediately and using background processes for the remaining invisible portions. This approach maintains diagram consistency for user-visible elements while reducing processing resource consumption by avoiding unnecessary background processing of the entire diagram.
Data Source
AI summary
A creation, editing, and display tool for complex diagrams may enable portions of the diagram to be updated without having to update the entire diagram. The tool may use a set of rules that define the positioning and layout of various elements and relationships between elements in the diagram. The update mechanism may enable the rules to be applied to a subset of the diagram and may not update some portions of the diagram, such as those elements outside the viewing area. In some embodiments, a background or low priority process may apply the rules to those portions not updated. The tool may be used for various diagrams, including sequence diagrams and other complex, highly restrained diagram types.