Shared Content Auto-Surfacing in Messaging Apps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for discovering and consuming shared content on electronic devices are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring multiple user inputs and cognitive burden, especially in battery-operated devices, where they also consume excessive energy.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that automatically surfaces shared content within relevant applications without additional user input, using a messaging application to determine the type of content and direct it to the appropriate application, along with a selectable attribution affordance to link back to the content source, reducing the need for users to navigate through multiple interfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If shared content is manually discovered through messaging applications, then content discoverability is achieved, but user cognitive burden and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent discoverabilityVSAvoiduser cognitive burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting shared content in messaging applications and pre-surfacing it in relevant contexts before the user needs to search for it. The device monitors incoming messages, identifies shared content items, and proactively makes them available in appropriate applications without waiting for user initiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically managing the content discovery process. The device autonomously surfaces shared content in relevant applications based on content type and application context, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate through messages to find shared content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If shared content is manually discovered through messaging applications, then content discoverability is achieved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent discoverabilityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous useful action by constantly monitoring messaging applications for shared content and continuously surfacing relevant content in appropriate applications. This ongoing automatic process ensures content is always discoverable without interrupting the user's workflow or requiring periodic manual checks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of information

If shared content is manually discovered through messaging applications, then content discoverability is achieved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent discoverabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by selectively surfacing only the relevant shared content that matches the current application context, rather than continuously monitoring and displaying all possible content. The device intelligently filters and surfaces content based on content type, application state, and user context, reducing unnecessary processing and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Measurement precision

If multiple user inputs are required to discover shared content, then content accuracy is ensured, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accuracyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11941237B2Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for automatically providing shared content to applications

Publication Date: 2024.03.26 APPLE INC

AI summary

A computer system receives, by a messaging application, information identifying a first shared content item as shared content. The first shared content item is of a first type. In response to receiving the information identifying the first shared content item as shared content and in accordance with a determination that a first application of the plurality of applications can open content of the first type, in accordance with a determination that providing the information identifying the first shared content item as shared content to the first application has been authorized, computer system device automatically makes the first shared content item available within the first application, and in accordance with a determination that providing information identifying the first shared content item as shared content to the first application has not been authorized, the computer system does not make the first shared content item automatically available within the first application.