Radial Clock UI Widget Integrating Multi-App Schedules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current scheduling systems do not effectively integrate multiple scheduling applications, providing limited display granularity and requiring significant user interface space, while failing to offer a comprehensive view of scheduled events across different applications.

Innovation Solution

A composite display widget is generated, combining a radial time indicator with a radial event indicator, allowing for the integration of scheduling information from various applications into a compact, icon-based interface that displays time and events, with features like look-ahead periods and event overlap indicators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple scheduling applications are integrated into a single interface, then comprehensive schedule overview is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveschedule overview completenessVSAvoidinterface integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple scheduling applications into a single unified interface that displays events from different sources (calendar applications, teleconferencing software, etc.) simultaneously. This merging approach allows users to view comprehensive schedule information in one location rather than switching between multiple applications, directly addressing the contradiction by integrating functionality while maintaining a cohesive user experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling interface is designed to be universal, accommodating multiple types of scheduling applications and event formats within a single display framework. The system can handle different data formats and event types from various sources, providing multi-functional capability without requiring separate interfaces for each application type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If detailed scheduling information is displayed, then measurement precision is improved, but area of stationary object increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent display granularityVSAvoiduser interface space

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling interface segments event information into distinct visual elements including radial indicators for different events, color-coded categories, and hierarchical organization. This segmentation allows detailed event information to be displayed in a compact radial layout rather than requiring extensive linear space, enabling high information density within a limited interface area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a radial/dimensional display approach where events are arranged in a circular pattern around a central clock face. This dimensional change from traditional linear or grid-based scheduling views to a radial layout allows multiple events to be displayed simultaneously in a compact space while maintaining clear visual distinction and detailed information presentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If a compact icon-based interface is used, then area of stationary object is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface space requirementVSAvoiduser interaction difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The interface uses color-coded radial indicators to represent different event categories, priorities, or applications. This color-coding system provides intuitive visual cues that enhance ease of operation by allowing users to quickly identify and differentiate events without requiring detailed text labels, thus maintaining usability while preserving compact display space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The radial/circular interface design uses curved arrangements of event indicators around the clock face, creating a natural visual flow that guides user attention. This spherical/radial layout improves ease of operation by providing a logical progression for viewing events in temporal order while maintaining a compact circular footprint that minimizes interface space requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9430758B2User interface component with a radial clock and integrated schedule

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Techniques are provided to obtain event scheduling information for one or more events occurring within a time period and to obtain a reference time. A composite display widget is generated comprising a radial time indicator for the reference time and a radial event indicator for a first event of the one or more events based on the scheduling information. The composite display widget is displayed. The composite display widget can be used to display time integrated with events scheduled from a plurality of scheduling applications to provide a small icon-based scheduling package that can be viewed at a glance by a user.