Personalizing Resource Strings in Computing Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current personal computing devices lack the ability for users to customize display text within applications, as text resources are integral to the application and not easily customizable, requiring significant software development effort and resources to implement customization features.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allow users to personalize resource strings through a personalization editor, storing original and modified strings in a database, and displaying modified strings when requested by applications, without requiring changes from the application developer or vendor, by utilizing the computing device's operating system or lower-level software development platform.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If text resources are made integral to the application, then application reliability is improved, but user personalization capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication reliabilityVSAvoiduser personalization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments text resources from the application binary into separate personalizable resource files. The application code remains unchanged and reliable, while text strings are extracted into external files that users can modify without affecting application functionality or stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (resource file system and personalization editor) between the application and text resources. This intermediary allows users to customize text strings while the application continues to operate reliably by reading from these external resource files rather than having text embedded in the binary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If customization functionality is added to each application, then user personalization capability is improved, but software development effort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser personalization capabilityVSAvoidsoftware development effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal personalization editor that works with any application using the resource file format, rather than requiring separate customization functionality in each application. This single tool provides multi-application personalization capability, eliminating the need for developers to implement customization features in each individual application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables users to perform text resource personalization themselves through the personalization editor, without requiring developer intervention or modification of application code. Users can independently customize text strings by editing resource files, making the system self-serviceable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If customization functionality is added to each application, then user personalization capability is improved, but memory requirements deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser personalization capabilityVSAvoidmemory requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows users to create copied versions of text resources in personalizable resource files rather than modifying the original application binary. These copied resource strings can be customized and stored externally, allowing multiple versions to coexist without increasing the application's core memory footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Reliability

If text resources are embedded in the application binary, then application reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication reliabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments text resources from the application binary into separate external resource files. This segmentation makes text resources easily accessible and modifiable through the personalization editor while the application binary remains stable and reliable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary personalization editor that provides an easy-to-use interface for modifying text resources. This intermediary handles the complexity of resource file management, making text personalization easy for users while maintaining application reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11327774B2Personalization of resource strings in a computing device

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method for personalizing resource strings within a user interface of a computing device. The method includes accessing a personalization editor via the computing device, and receiving a user modification to a resource string associated with one or more applications. The method also includes storing an original unmodified resource string associated with the resource string, the modified resource string, and the associated applications. The method also includes receiving a request from a first application for a first resource string associated with a specified resource identifier. The method also includes determining if the first resource string has an associated modified resource string stored in the personalized resource string database, and displaying the modified resource string based on the first resource string being determined to be associated with the modified resource string stored in the personalized resource string database.