State Machine UI Templates with Event Tables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current user interface design and customization for enterprises face challenges in modularity and reusability due to the complexity of merging changes between base and customer-modified software versions, requiring expert programming skills and leading to inefficiencies and high costs.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the generation of user interface templates with defined display areas, components, and states, along with event tables to manage transitions, allowing for customizable and upgradable user interface interactions without requiring extensive coding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standard coding techniques are used to create user interface interactions, then user interface functionality can be implemented, but expert programming knowledge is required and customization becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface customizationVSAvoidprogramming expertise required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments user interface design into separate declarative configuration files and component definitions, allowing non-programmers to customize interfaces by configuring pre-built components rather than writing code. The interface is divided into independent, reusable components that can be assembled through configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user interface designer and the underlying code implementation. Declarative configuration files serve as this intermediary, allowing designers to specify interface behavior without directly programming it, thus hiding complexity while enabling customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If user interface components are customized by customers, then specific business needs can be met, but merging changes with base version upgrades becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer customization capabilityVSAvoidmerge complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user interface into independent, modular components defined in configuration files. This segmentation allows customer customizations to be isolated to specific components without affecting the base system, making upgrades straightforward since changes are localized rather than system-wide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses declarative configuration files that define the desired state of interface components. These configuration files serve as a copy or specification layer that can be independently modified by customers without changing the underlying base code, facilitating easy merging during upgrades.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If procedural coding is used to create user interface experiences, then interactions can be implemented, but modularity and reusability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface interaction capabilityVSAvoidcode modularity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user interface into reusable, independently defined components. Each component can be configured and reused across different parts of the interface through declarative specifications, enhancing modularity and reusability while maintaining full interaction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal, reusable interface components that can serve multiple functions and be configured for different purposes through declarative parameters. These components are designed to be multi-functional and adaptable to various contexts without requiring separate custom code for each use case.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If new user interface components are integrated into existing screens, then functionality can be extended, but layout complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent integration capabilityVSAvoidlayout design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the interface layout into defined areas with specific purposes. New components are integrated by assigning them to these predefined areas through configuration, rather than requiring complex manual layout adjustments. This segmentation simplifies the integration process while maintaining design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11237705B2Configurable user interface interactions using a state machine combined with event orchestration

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 BMC HELIX INC

AI summary

Disclosed is a method of displaying a user interface, the method includes defining a template for the user interface, the template including a plurality of display areas, defining a plurality of components, each of the components configured to perform an associated user interface function, each of the plurality of components being associated with one of the display areas, defining a plurality of states, each of the plurality of states including one or more of the plurality of components, each of the plurality of states defining a configuration of the user interface, defining a table, the table defining a plurality events associated with transitioning between states; and triggering a transition between states based on look-up of the table with a received event.