Platform-Neutral UI Framework for Low-Power Processor Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile and wearable devices with lower power processors struggle to execute full-featured mobile operating systems and provide graphical user interfaces (GUI) views efficiently, leading to power consumption issues and delays when switching between processors.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a platform-independent lightweight user interface framework that allows lower power processors to execute a renderer to generate GUI views using platform-neutral layout descriptions, reducing the need for network communication and resource caching, and enabling separate requests for resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a lower power processor is used to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the processor cannot execute full-featured mobile operating systems and complex GUI views

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidoperating system execution capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the operating system into a microkernel that runs on the lower power processor and separate application services that run on the higher power processor when needed. This allows the lower power processor to handle basic UI and display functions independently, while complex applications can leverage the higher power processor only when required, thus resolving the contradiction between low power consumption and full OS functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lower power processor is designed with multi-functionality to handle both basic microkernel operations and complete GUI rendering capabilities. This universal design enables the processor to independently execute UI frameworks and display complex graphical interfaces without requiring the higher power processor, thereby maintaining versatility while operating at lower power levels.

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

2Use of energy by moving object

If the higher power processor is powered off to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but there are delays when switching processors to display information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidprocessor switching delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lower power processor maintains readiness to execute the microkernel and UI framework in advance, keeping essential display functions active. This preliminary preparation ensures that when display updates are needed, the lower power processor can immediately handle them without requiring processor switching, thus eliminating delays while maintaining low power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The microkernel acts as an intermediary layer between the lower power processor and the higher power processor. It manages memory and resources efficiently, allowing the lower power processor to independently handle display tasks. This intermediary mechanism enables seamless operation without frequent processor switching, reducing both power consumption and switching delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If a reduced feature version of the mobile operating system is executed on the lower power processor, then power consumption is reduced, but network access functionality and application execution are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork access and application functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts processor usage based on task requirements. The lower power processor handles basic UI and display functions, while the higher power processor is activated on-demand for network operations and application execution. This dynamic allocation allows the system to maintain full functionality when needed while operating at low power levels during basic operations, resolving the contradiction between reduced power consumption and full adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11941416B2Platform independent lightweight user interface framework for glanceable surfaces
Publication Date: 2024.03.26 GOOGLE LLC
  • US11941416B2 patent drawing
  • US11941416B2 patent drawing
  • US11941416B2 patent drawing

AI summary

One or more processors of a mobile computing device may receive, from a view provider, graphical user interface (GUI) view data that specifies, for each respective GUI view of a set of GUI views, a respective platform-neutral layout description and a respective one or more condition for the respective GUI view to be a relevant GUI view. The one or more processors may determine a GUI view as the relevant GUI view out of the set of GUI views based at least in part on one or more conditions for the GUI view specified by the GUI view data. The one or more processors may, in response to determining the GUI view as the relevant GUI view, output, based at least in part on a platform-neutral layout description for the GUI view specified by the GUI view data, the GUI view for display at a display device.