Split View Data Pane Scroll Boundary Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for displaying large data sets often fail to allow users to simultaneously view nonadjacent portions of the data set without causing confusion due to unintended scrolling and mismatched data pane arrangements.

Innovation Solution

The display area is split into multiple data panes with a user-defined scroll boundary, allowing each pane to scroll independently within its designated range while preventing overlap or mismatch, and enabling simultaneous scrolling in non-split directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display is split into multiple data panes that can be scrolled independently over the entire data set, then users can view nonadjacent portions of the data set simultaneously, but users may inadvertently scroll panes to show overlapping data or scroll panes past each other's regions causing confusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to view nonadjacent portions simultaneouslyVSAvoiduser confusion from mismatched pane arrangements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes scroll boundaries for each data pane based on the relative positions of the portions being viewed. When a user initiates a split view to compare specific portions of data, the scroll boundaries are automatically configured to prevent panes from scrolling into each other's regions, thereby preventing the harmful effect of mismatched arrangements before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If scroll boundaries are enforced to prevent pane overlap, then data pane arrangements remain consistent with natural data order, but users lose the ability to scroll panes freely to explore the entire data set

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclarity of data pane arrangementVSAvoidfreedom to scroll panes freely

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different scrolling behaviors to different parts of the interface. Within the constrained horizontal or vertical scrolling direction, each data pane has its own scroll boundary that restricts movement to its designated region. However, in the perpendicular direction, both panes can scroll freely together across the entire data set, maintaining local control where needed while preserving global navigability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If both data panes scroll independently in all directions, then users can navigate the entire data set from each pane, but the physical arrangement of panes contradicts the relative locations of displayed data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent navigation capabilityVSAvoidspatial relationship information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the scrolling behavior by direction. In the split direction (horizontal for vertical splits, vertical for horizontal splits), each pane is segmented with its own scroll boundary that maintains spatial correspondence. In the non-split direction, both panes share unified scrolling behavior, allowing simultaneous navigation while preserving the spatial relationship between displayed data portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9778834B2Multidimensional split view for a pivot table or other grid-based component

Publication Date: 2017.10.03 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

A data view may be into multiple data panes. Splits between data panes may be horizontal or vertical, allowing data panes to be arranged horizontally and vertically. Scroll boundaries are set for each pair of adjacent data panes, such that each data pane may only scroll through a portion of the data on its side of the scroll boundary. Data panes may be scrolled independently in the direction of a split. Data panes may be scrolled together perpendicular to the direction of a split.