Graphical Timeline Data Prefetching for Low-Latency Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer interfaces limit the ability to view information across multiple applications simultaneously and introduce significant user-perceptible latency when fetching data for graphical timelines, hindering the adoption and efficiency of data display.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for pre-fetching data objects tagged with future times on graphical timelines, reducing latency by fetching only the data likely to be displayed, and organizing data into data packages associated with user access and content rules, displayed on timelines representing different classes of data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If data is fetched from remote storage devices or local hard disks, then data can be retrieved, but user-perceptible latency increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching data from remote storage devices before the user actually needs it. The pre-fetching module proactively retrieves data and stores it in a local cache, so when the user requests the data, it is already available locally, eliminating the perceptible latency that would otherwise occur during data fetching.
2Quantity of substance
If all data is fetched for display, then complete information is available, but unnecessary data transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data into discrete data objects with associated metadata, allowing the pre-fetching module to selectively retrieve only the necessary portions. Instead of fetching entire datasets, the system divides data into manageable units and retrieves only those needed for the current display context, reducing unnecessary data transmission and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-fetching module performs partial actions by retrieving only the portion of data likely to be needed soon, rather than all available data. The system uses heuristics and user behavior patterns to determine the optimal partial dataset to fetch, avoiding the excessive action of retrieving complete datasets while ensuring sufficient data is available for display.
3Ease of operation
If graphical timelines are used to display data, then information context and simultaneity are enhanced, but data fetching latency creates a barrier to adoption
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a local cache as an intermediary between the remote storage device and the graphical timeline display. This intermediary stores pre-fetched data locally, allowing the timeline to display information immediately from local memory rather than continuously querying remote storage, thereby eliminating the latency barrier to adopting graphical timelines.
4Productivity
If multiple applications are viewed simultaneously, then productivity increases, but interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the functionality of multiple applications into a unified graphical timeline interface. Instead of requiring users to switch between separate application windows, the timeline consolidates data from multiple sources and applications into a single, coherent visual representation, allowing simultaneous viewing and comparison without increasing perceived interface complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques for aggregation, display, and sharing of data. Graphic items representing data objects identified by a data package may be displayed on timelines. Each timeline may be associated with a respective class of data, and each graphic item displayed on a respective timeline may represent one or more of the data objects in the class associated with the respective timeline. A prediction may be made regarding which data will be displayed in the near future. A pre-fetch request may be generated, and the predicted data may be retrieved from a remote server and stored in a local data cache before the user requests that the predicted data be displayed.