Sequential Data Collection for Usability Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current creation-oriented applications, such as BIM applications, lack user-independent methods to track and analyze user interface interactions, leading to uncertainty about how users utilize these applications and the workflows they create, which hinders tasks like usability design and feature optimization.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects and processes sequential data from user interface interactions, identifying patterns and workflows by detecting sequences from raw data, using triggers and filtering rules to create structured collections for data mining, which can indicate usability issues or common workflows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If user interface interactions are tracked and analyzed in creation-oriented applications, then usability design and feature optimization can be improved, but device complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments user interface interaction data into discrete sequences of events, where each sequence represents a complete user workflow from start trigger to end event. This segmentation transforms complex raw log data into structured, analyzable units that can be processed efficiently to identify usage patterns and improve usability without requiring overly complex processing systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data processing layer that collects raw user interaction logs, transforms them into structured sequential data, and presents analyzed patterns to users. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of data processing internally while providing simplified usability insights to end users, resolving the contradiction between detailed analysis and system complexity
2Loss of information
If sequential data is collected from all user interactions, then complete workflow analysis is achieved, but data volume and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential elements needed for workflow analysis from raw user interaction data, specifically identifying start triggers, end events, and the sequence of interactions between them. This extraction approach captures complete workflow information while filtering out redundant data, achieving comprehensive analysis with reduced data volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary processing of user interaction data by organizing it into structured sequences with defined start and end points before storage or analysis. This preliminary structuring reduces the complexity and volume of raw data while preserving all essential workflow information, making subsequent analysis more efficient
3Productivity
If detailed user interaction patterns are detected, then feature optimization is enhanced, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by analyzing user interaction sequences at defined intervals rather than continuously processing every interaction in real-time. The system collects interactions, processes them into sequences, and performs analysis at structured points, reducing computational overhead while still detecting detailed usage patterns for feature optimization
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms to create and/or use sequential data comprising a plurality of sequences are disclosed. A sequence comprises in a standard format at least a start user interface interaction and possible further user interface interactions between the start user interface interaction and an end event. The sequence may comprise the end event as well. An end event may be a user interface interaction performed when a user has used a creation oriented application or an indication of a maximum time between consecutive user interface interactions expiring.