Program Mask Synchronization via Unique Identifier Copying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for synchronizing program masks or web pages between two or more physically separate users, such as in support processes, are inefficient and error-prone, often requiring additional software installation and are not economically viable due to technical limitations and legal restrictions.

Innovation Solution

A method for synchronizing program masks using unique identifiers generated by a server, allowing clients to request and display the same program mask or web page without additional software installation, enabling real-time synchronization and selective updates visible only to specific users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If remote control software is installed on the customer's system to enable support access, then the support employee can access and synchronize the customer's system, but legal restrictions and company policies prevent the customer from installing such software

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport access reliabilityVSAvoidsoftware installation requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a local copy of the relevant program mask or web page on the support employee's device. Instead of accessing the customer's system remotely, the support system generates and transmits a copy of the specific screen content to the support employee, who can then view and annotate it locally without needing to install remote access software on the customer's system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If remote control software is used to access the customer's system, then system access is enabled, but technical limitations such as corporate firewalls prevent remote access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem access capabilityVSAvoidfirewall and technical constraints
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary visual information (program mask or web page content) from the customer's system and transmits it to the support employee. This extraction approach bypasses the need for full system access through firewalls, as only static or dynamically updated screen content is transmitted, not direct system control channels that would be blocked by corporate security measures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the support employee changes the input mask or website to highlight relevant information, then the customer can see important information, but other customers viewing the same mask or website are also affected by the changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation highlighting capabilityVSAvoiduser-specific customization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing each support employee to make personalized annotations and highlights on their local copy of the program mask or web page. These modifications are stored locally on the support employee's device and are not transmitted to the server or other users. This enables each support employee to customize the display according to their specific interaction with a customer without affecting other customers or support employees who access the same base content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If additional client software is installed on the customer's system to enable support access, then remote support is possible, but the cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote support capabilityVSAvoidsoftware installation and maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support system generates a local copy of the relevant program mask or web page content and transmits it to the support employee's device. This copying mechanism eliminates the need for installing additional client software on the customer's system, as all support functionality is achieved through transmitting and displaying content copies on the support employee's end, thereby reducing software complexity and installation requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2807812B1Method and system for synchronizing program masks
Publication Date: 2015.09.02 HIMMELSBACH COMP
  • EP2807812B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2807812B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2807812B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for synchronizing program masks, said method having the following steps: - receiving a request message from a client device, wherein a program mask is requested by the request message; - ascertaining a unique identifier for the requested program mask; - transmitting the requested program mask and the unique identifier to the client device; - receiving a second request message from a second client device, said second request message comprising at least the unique identifier; - ascertaining (S7; S8) the program mask which is assigned to the received unique identifier; and - transmitting the ascertained program mask to the second client device. A data processing device, a computer program product, and a signal sequence are further provided with are adapted to run or to carry out the method according to the invention.