Springboard Interface for Rapid Application Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex software systems with numerous applications face inefficient navigation due to poorly designed menu interfaces, requiring users to search through multiple levels and clicks to access desired tasks, leading to cumbersome and time-consuming processes.
Innovation Solution
A springboard interface is introduced, providing a graphical user interface with links to access various applications quickly, allowing users to navigate between applications with minimal input, while maintaining context and optimizing instance management through user attribute-based selection and security filtering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a menu interface with hierarchical menus and sub-menus is used to organize numerous applications, then applications are logically grouped and presented, but users require significant time and multiple clicks to locate and access desired tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the navigation system into two distinct interfaces: a traditional hierarchical menu interface for comprehensive application organization, and a springboard interface for rapid access to frequently used applications. This segmentation allows users to choose the appropriate navigation method based on their needs, resolving the contradiction between thorough organization and quick access.
Solution Approach 2:
The springboard interface acts as an intermediary between the user and the full menu hierarchy. It provides a simplified, visual dashboard that mediates access to applications by presenting icons and shortcuts that directly link to frequently used tasks, eliminating the need to traverse multiple menu levels while maintaining connection to the underlying application structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a deep menu hierarchy is used to accommodate hundreds of applications, then comprehensive application organization is achieved, but navigation becomes cumbersome and requires multiple levels of menus and sub-menus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dimensional shift in the interface by adding a visual, icon-based springboard dimension alongside the traditional text-based hierarchical menu dimension. This allows comprehensive application organization to be maintained in the background while providing a simplified, visual access point that reduces perceived interface complexity and improves navigability.
Solution Approach 2:
The springboard interface performs preliminary action by pre-selecting and displaying icons for frequently used applications before the user needs to access them. This anticipatory approach organizes applications based on usage patterns and presents them in an easily accessible format, reducing the complexity of navigation while maintaining comprehensive organization capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If traditional menu interfaces are used for task navigation, then applications can be accessed, but users must repeat navigation steps each time they need to return to a task
Solution Approach 1:
The springboard interface implements self-service by maintaining persistent visual shortcuts to frequently accessed applications and tasks. The system automatically tracks and updates usage patterns, allowing the interface to serve itself by adapting to user behavior without requiring re-navigation through hierarchical menus. This resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to user needs while maintaining ease of access.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for generating and presenting interfaces for navigating between different tasks and applications are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a runtime interface is generated based on a set of one or more attributes associated with a user. Based on the attributes, a subset of applications of a plurality of applications included in a system are identified. In a first area of a display, a first application interface is displayed for interacting with a first application instance. Links to the subset of applications are concurrently displayed in a second area of the display. Responsive to receiving input selecting one of the links, a second application interface is displayed in the first area of the display while the links to the subset of applications remain in the second area of the display.