Synchronized Scrolling for Multi-Dimensional Tables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display control systems for multi-dimensional tables, such as QA tables in quality function deployment, face challenges in efficiently managing scroll operations across multiple axes, leading to disjointed scrolling experiences that hinder user interaction and data correlation analysis.

Innovation Solution

A display control apparatus that synchronizes scroll operations between adjacent tables in a multi-dimensional table setup, allowing tables to scroll together with their respective axes in orthogonal directions, while keeping other axes fixed, to enhance user navigation and data correlation visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If independent scroll operations are performed on each table in a multi-dimensional table, then each table can be scrolled individually, but the user experience becomes disjointed and data correlation analysis is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescroll operation independenceVSAvoiddata correlation context

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the scroll operations of multiple adjacent tables by detecting when a scroll operation on one table should trigger synchronized scrolling of adjacent tables. This is achieved by determining spatial relationships between tables and coordinating their scroll behaviors to maintain relative positioning, thereby preserving data correlation context while allowing individual table interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The scroll synchronization mechanism dynamically adjusts based on the selected table and scroll direction. When a user scrolls a selected table, the system dynamically determines which adjacent tables should scroll in conjunction and by how much, creating a flexible and context-aware scrolling behavior that adapts to the user's focus area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple tables are scrolled independently, then each table can be navigated separately, but the multi-dimensional table structure integrity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetable navigation flexibilityVSAvoidtable structure integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the multi-dimensional table into multiple adjacent two-dimensional tables while maintaining their structural relationships. Each table can be independently selected and scrolled, but the segmentation is managed such that the overall multi-dimensional structure integrity is preserved through coordinated scroll operations that maintain the relative positions and correlations between tables.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of information

If scroll operations are synchronized between adjacent tables, then data correlation analysis is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata correlation visibilityVSAvoidscroll control mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scroll synchronization mechanism uses feedback from the selected table's scroll operation to determine the appropriate response in adjacent tables. The system detects the scroll event, identifies the selected table and scroll direction, and automatically determines which adjacent tables should scroll and by how much, creating a feedback-driven coordination system that manages complexity through intelligent automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Stability of the object's composition

If all tables scroll together in response to one table's scroll, then structure integrity is maintained, but individual table navigation capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetable structure coherenceVSAvoidindividual table control

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different scroll behaviors for different tables based on their relationship to the selected table. The selected table responds to user input directly, while adjacent tables respond based on their spatial relationship and the scroll direction. This creates localized scroll coordination that maintains structure coherence in relevant areas while preserving individual table navigation capability through selective synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11010039B2Display control apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A display control apparatus includes a control unit. In the case where, with a display unit displaying a multi-dimensional table that includes three or more axes which extend in different directions and on each of which plural items are disposed and plural tables each including plural cells that indicate a correlation between items disposed on two orthogonal axes of the three or more axes, a scroll operation is performed on a first table selected from the plural tables, a second table is adjacent to the first table in a first direction determined in advance, and the direction of the scroll operation is a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, the control unit performs control such that the first table and the second table are scrolled in conjunction with each other together with an axis that extends along the direction of the scroll operation.