Temporal Synchronization via Dropable Flag Markers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users interacting with different graphical user interface devices face difficulties in synchronizing when viewing a sequence of events, especially in special and temporal domains, leading to challenges in collaboration.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that allows users to drop a flag in the graphical representation, which is displayed at every time point, enabling the second user interface device to temporally adjust the representation to the time point the flag was dropped, facilitating synchronization without manual navigation of multiple domains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If users manually navigate multiple domains to synchronize their views, then synchronization precision can be maintained, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to complex manual coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization precisionVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that receives location information from multiple user interface devices and automatically determines synchronized time points. This mediator handles the complex coordination logic, freeing users from manual synchronization tasks while maintaining precise temporal alignment through automated server-side processing of location data and time point determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring location information from multiple user interface devices and using this data to automatically adjust and maintain synchronized time points. The server processes ongoing location updates and dynamically determines appropriate time points, creating a closed-loop system that maintains synchronization precision without requiring manual user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If users manually navigate temporal domains to synchronize their views, then the reliability of collaboration can be maintained, but the productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming manual coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollaboration reliabilityVSAvoidcollaboration productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing user interface devices to automatically send their location information to the server, which then autonomously determines synchronized time points and manages the synchronization process. This eliminates the need for users to manually coordinate, maintaining collaboration reliability through automated location-based synchronization while significantly improving productivity by removing time-consuming manual navigation tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that automates the collaboration coordination process by receiving location data from multiple devices, determining appropriate synchronized time points, and managing the synchronization logic. This intermediary handles all temporal coordination tasks, ensuring reliable collaboration through centralized control while enhancing productivity by eliminating manual coordination overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the system displays the graphical representation at different time points for different users, then the ease of operation is improved by allowing independent viewing, but the loss of information increases as users cannot see the same temporal context

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent viewing capabilityVSAvoidtemporal context information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from location information to dynamically determine when synchronization should occur. Users can independently view the graphical representation at different time points based on their location, but the server continuously monitors location data and triggers synchronization events to restore shared temporal context, thus preventing information loss while maintaining viewing independence during non-synchronized periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The synchronization state is dynamic rather than static. Users can independently navigate and view different time points based on their location, but the system dynamically adjusts to synchronized states when location data indicates the need for temporal alignment. This dynamic approach allows independent viewing capability while recovering shared temporal context information when collaboration requires it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4451099A1Temporally synchronising first and second users of respective first and second user interface devices
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 BAE SYSTEMS PLC
  • EP4451099A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4451099A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4451099A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method of temporally synchronising first and second users interacting with a graphical representation of a sequence of events on respective first and second user interface devices. The computer-implemented method comprises: displaying, on each of the first and the second user interface devices, the graphical representation; receiving, from the first user interface device, a user input dropping a flag dropped at a location in the graphical representation; displaying, by the first and the second user interface devices, the flag at the location and at every time point of the graphical representation; receiving, from the second user interface device, a user input selecting the flag; and temporally adjusting, on the second user interface device, the graphical representation to a time point that the flag was dropped