Remote Text Selection Emulation on Mobile Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in enabling intuitive and easy text selection on a computer screen from a mobile device, as existing methods differ significantly between desktop and mobile operating systems, preventing seamless remote text processing.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that emulates user actions for text selection on a remote server, allowing mobile device users to select text using touch screen functionality, which is reflected on the remote server, enabling consistent text selection across iOS and desktop text selection rules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If text selection is performed using standard desktop OS methods, then text selection precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates when accessing remote text from mobile devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of text selectionVSAvoidcomplexity of text selection mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer that translates touch screen gestures into desktop OS text selection commands. The mobile device captures touch events, converts them into simulated mouse movements and clicks, and transmits these to the remote desktop system, enabling seamless text selection across different operating systems without requiring users to learn device-specific selection methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual copy of the desktop text selection interface on the mobile device screen. By overlaying selection handles and visual indicators that mirror the desktop experience, users can perform text selection operations on the mobile device that are replicated on the remote desktop, maintaining consistency across platforms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If touch screen text selection methods are used, then ease of operation improves, but compatibility with desktop OS text selection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to mobile devicesVSAvoidreliability of text selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adapting the desktop OS to support touch screen gestures directly, the patent inverts the approach by running a virtual desktop environment on the mobile device that emulates traditional mouse-based text selection. This allows the mobile device to present a familiar desktop interface to users while maintaining full compatibility with desktop OS text selection protocols and behaviors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If remote text access is enabled, then adaptability improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to different selection techniques

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote access capabilityVSAvoidintuitiveness of text selection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal text selection mechanism that functions across both mobile and desktop platforms. The system detects the user's device type and automatically adjusts the interface to provide consistent text selection behavior, allowing the same application to serve both mobile users with touch screens and desktop users with mice without requiring separate versions or complex configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9904461B1Method and system for remote text selection using a touchscreen device

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 PARALLELS INT GMBH

AI summary

A method for selecting the text on a remote computer or a server from a mobile device is provided. Actions of a user for selecting a text area on the mobile device are emulated on a remote server. A user initiates text selection on a mobile device using touch screen functionality, which is reflected on selected elements of a remote server. Once the mobile device user completes the selection, the emulator selects a corresponding area of the server screen. All mobile device user actions related to selection of text area are emulated on a remote server.