Text-Based Input Parsing for Data Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing graphic user interfaces face challenges in efficiently sorting large amounts of data due to cumbersome drop-down menus, which slow down users who need to generate multiple reports or sort data in various ways, making data manipulation cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that converts user input strings with a dividing symbol and two sets of characters into standardized inputs to establish the scope and scale for sorting data, allowing for easy definition of groups or buckets, thereby simplifying the data sorting process on a graphic user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional drop-down menus are used for data sorting, then the interface is easy to operate, but the user efficiency is low and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of drop-down menus with a text-based input system that uses pattern matching and regex to interpret user input strings. This substitution eliminates the need for repetitive menu navigation while maintaining ease of use through intuitive string-based commands, thereby significantly improving user efficiency and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to directly define sorting criteria through simple input strings that are automatically processed and applied. The text input system serves itself by parsing the string, generating the appropriate sort command, and executing the sorting operation without requiring additional user actions, thus streamlining the workflow and enhancing efficiency.
2Device complexity
If drop-down menus are used to sort data, then the interface is simple, but the complexity of data manipulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data manipulation process into distinct components: input string parsing, pattern matching, sort command generation, and data sorting. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks independently, reducing the overall complexity of data manipulation while maintaining a simple interface. The system breaks down complex sorting operations into manageable steps that are easier to understand and implement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user input and the data sorting operation. This intermediary consists of the pattern matching and regex processing mechanisms that translate user-friendly input strings into precise sort commands. This intermediary simplifies the interface by absorbing the complexity of pattern interpretation while presenting a simple string input interface to the user.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sorting operations are performed manually, then the data can be sorted in various ways, but the time required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining pattern matching rules and regex templates that guide the input string interpretation. These pre-established patterns enable the system to quickly and accurately translate user input into sort commands without requiring time-consuming analysis or multiple iterations, thus reducing the time required for multiple sorting operations while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages parameter changes by allowing users to modify input string parameters (such as field names, sort order, and grouping criteria) to achieve different sorting configurations. By changing these parameters in the input string, users can perform multiple sorting operations rapidly without restarting the entire process, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining adaptability and versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of converting user input into a standardized input are disclosed. An exemplary method includes receiving via a user input a string including a first set of characters and a second set of characters positioned on either side of a dividing symbol; converting the first set of characters into a first standardized input; converting the second set of characters into a second standardized input that establishes how to delineate the plurality of items of the data set into the number of groups based on the numerically sortable attribute of the data set; and displaying, on a graphic user interface, the number of groups as established by the first standardized input, each group populated by a subset of the set of the plurality of items of the data set as delineated by the second standardized input.