Thumbnail Grouping for Drag-and-Drop Document Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for managing multiple scanned documents require users to selectively drag and drop image data pages one by one, which is time-consuming when dealing with a large number of pages.

Innovation Solution

A system that automatically groups thumbnails based on drag-and-drop operations, allowing users to move thumbnails between document areas by determining the direction of the drag and grouping adjacent thumbnails accordingly, thereby simplifying the process of organizing and editing multiple document pages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users select and drag individual image data pages one by one, then precise control over each page is achieved, but the operation time increases significantly when dealing with large numbers of pages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrag-and-drop operationVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual thumbnail objects into a single selectable group. When a user selects one thumbnail, the system automatically includes adjacent thumbnails (before and after the selected one) into the selection group, allowing all thumbnails in the group to be moved simultaneously in one drag-and-drop operation, thus reducing operation time while maintaining precise control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically determining and grouping adjacent thumbnails before the user completes the drag operation. The grouping logic is pre-established based on spatial adjacency and document area relationships, so when selection starts, the group is already formed and ready for immediate movement, eliminating the need for manual selection of each thumbnail

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If all thumbnails are selected manually before dragging, then complete control over thumbnail movement is achieved, but the complexity of the operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethumbnail selectionVSAvoidselection process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining which thumbnails should be grouped together based on their spatial relationships and document area assignments. The grouping logic autonomously identifies adjacent thumbnails and forms appropriate groups without requiring user intervention or complex selection procedures, thereby simplifying the operation while maintaining control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11144189B2Determination and relocation of movement targets based on a drag-and-drop operation of a thumbnail across document areas

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 CANON KK

AI summary

An apparatus and method for moving thumbnails on a screen is provided. In a case where thumbnails desired by a user among a displayed list of thumbnails are moved by a drag-and-drop operation, if the number of thumbnails as movement targets is large, it takes time to perform a selection operation. Where one of a plurality of thumbnails displayed as a list is dragged and dropped by a user, based on a drop position, a thumbnail group including the dragged thumbnail and thumbnails positioned on a first side of the dragged thumbnail or on a second side, opposite the first side, of the dragged thumbnail among the displayed list of thumbnails is determined as a movement target for subsequent movement thereof.