Terminal Level Model for Cross-Application Object Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of electronic terminals face complexity in using and switching between different applications and devices due to non-uniform object and application management, leading to difficulty in adopting new features and increased manufacturer dependency.

Innovation Solution

A terminal-level model that manages objects independently of applications, using a uniform descriptive structure for Unified Terminal Objects (UTOs) across levels, enabling cross-application use by normalizing objects and providing a unified interface for user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If each manufacturer defines its own objects and applications, then manufacturer-specific customization is achieved, but user portability and ease of switching between manufacturers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturer customizationVSAvoiduser portability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into three distinct levels: object level (manufacturing-independent data structures), application level (manufacturer-specific implementations), and representation level (user interface). This segmentation allows manufacturer customization at the application level while maintaining portability through standardized object level definitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The object level acts as an intermediary layer between manufacturer-specific applications and universal data representations. By introducing this intermediate standardized layer, the system enables seamless object portability across different manufacturer applications while preserving customization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If objects are managed application-specifically, then application functionality is optimized, but cross-application object reuse deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoidcross-application object reuse
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The architecture separates object management into object level (universal creation, storage, updating independent of applications) and application level (application-specific processing). This segmentation enables objects to be created and managed universally while being processed application-specifically, thus achieving both cross-application reuse and optimized functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The object level provides universal object management capabilities that serve all applications. Objects defined at this level can be reused across multiple applications without duplication, enabling cross-application object reuse while maintaining application-specific processing through the application level interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If a uniform platform is implemented, then user experience consistency across devices is improved, but manufacturer and operator differentiation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturer differentiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by making the object level universal and standardized while allowing the application level to have manufacturer-specific characteristics. This enables uniform user experience at the object representation level while preserving manufacturer differentiation capabilities at the application implementation level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The solution adds a vertical dimension to the system architecture with three hierarchical levels. This dimensional change allows uniformity to be enforced at lower levels (object level) while permitting differentiation at higher levels (application level), thus resolving the contradiction between consistency and customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP1857932B1Method for cross-application utilisation of objects in electronic end equipment, terminal level model and electronic end equipment
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 VODAFONE GMBH
  • EP1857932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1857932B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The method involves managing an object e.g. ring tone, in an object plane (1) and creating the object by an application interface (1.2) of an application plane (2), which has applications (2.1- 2.5). The object is processed in the application plane in an user-specific manner, where the application-plane is communicated with the object-plane over an object interface. The application plane is provided with a hardware-interface (3.3) at a display and an input device (4.1) in the representation plane, and the object is created for a viewer in an observable manner. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a terminal level model for cross-application utilization of an object in an electronic terminal (2) an electronic terminal for cross-application utilization of an object.