Shared Work Interface With User-Specific Operation Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

In shared work regions, users face complications when they need to perform tasks specific to them, as operation elements for these tasks are not easily displayed or are mistakenly used by others, requiring unnecessary operations to move documents to personal work regions.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows personal operation elements to be displayed within shared work regions, enabling users to perform tasks specific to them without needing to move documents, by using a work region providing server that manages shared and personal work regions and toolbars with dedicated operation buttons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If operation elements for user-specific tasks are displayed in the shared work region, then the number of operations required to perform user-specific tasks is reduced, but the risk of other users mistakenly using these personal operation elements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of operations to perform user-specific tasksVSAvoidprivacy of user-specific operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays operation elements with different display qualities based on their type. Shared operation elements are displayed normally in the shared work region, while personal operation elements are displayed with a specific display quality (such as visual distinction or accessibility control) that allows current user access while preventing other users from mistakenly using them. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation for the current user while ensuring reliability through differentiated display quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If operation elements for user-specific tasks are displayed in the shared work region, then workflow efficiency is improved by eliminating document relocation, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkflow efficiencyVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments operation elements into shared operation elements and personal operation elements. Shared operation elements are displayed in the shared work region for common operations, while personal operation elements are displayed separately or with distinct visual characteristics for user-specific tasks. This segmentation allows users to access both types of elements without relocating documents, improving productivity while managing interface complexity through organized presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If personal operation elements are displayed in the shared work region, then the number of operations is reduced, but the difficulty of managing display permissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of operationsVSAvoiddisplay permission management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines which operation elements to display in the shared work region based on the current user's identity and permissions. When a user accesses the shared work region, the system automatically displays their personal operation elements without requiring manual permission configuration. This self-service approach reduces the number of operations for users while minimizing the complexity of permission management through automated processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4053687B1Information processing apparatus, information processing program and information processing system
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP
  • EP4053687B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4053687B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4053687B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to display, on a display screen of a terminal device used by a user: a shared work region as a common work region that is accessed by plural users and that enables the plural users to execute work in cooperation; and an operation element for the user using the terminal device to input an instruction related to work in the shared work region, in which the processor is configured to display the operation element of a different type according to the user.