Pop-Up Window Priority Management in Television UI

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the television environment, managing pop-up windows is challenging due to limited user interaction with remote controls, leading to difficulties in focusing and layering multiple windows, with existing solutions like MHP and OCAP handling conflicts at runtime but not effectively addressing key event, focus, and layering issues simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

Assigning a priority to each pop-up window and assigning a key handler, with the key handler of the window with higher priority processing user key inputs, and managing layering based on priority under the control of a user interface manager to resolve focusing and layering issues at design time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple pop-up windows are displayed on the user screen in television environment, then information presentation capability is improved, but user interaction difficulty increases due to limited remote control input events

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of pop-up windowsVSAvoiduser interaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns priorities to pop-up windows in advance (at design time) and pre-configures key handlers for each window. When multiple windows are displayed, the system automatically determines which window should receive key inputs based on the pre-assigned priorities, eliminating the need for users to manually switch focus between windows using limited remote control inputs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If pop-up windows are managed at runtime using existing methods (MHP/OCAP), then key conflicts can be handled, but focus and layering issues cannot be resolved simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekey conflict handlingVSAvoidmanagement system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the handling of key events, focus management, and layering control into a unified priority-based system. By assigning a single priority value to each pop-up window, the system simultaneously manages all three aspects (key reception, focus, and layering) through one coherent mechanism, rather than treating them as separate problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent resolves focus and layering issues at design time by pre-assigning priorities to windows, rather than attempting to manage these aspects dynamically at runtime. This preliminary configuration allows the runtime system to automatically handle all window management aspects without complex real-time decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If invisible pop-up windows are allowed to respond to user inputs, then application functionality is maintained, but unexpected key consumption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoidkey input handling
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-configures key handlers for each pop-up window based on its visibility state and priority. Invisible windows are assigned key handlers that prevent them from consuming key inputs, while visible windows are assigned appropriate handlers. This preliminary configuration ensures that only the intended window responds to user inputs, maintaining application functionality while preventing unexpected key consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1804487B1Method for the management of pop up windows displayed on user screen in television environment
Publication Date: 2016.12.07 ALTICAST CORP
  • EP1804487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1804487B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1804487B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for the management of pop-up windows displayed on a user screen in a television environment. The pop-up window management method according to the present invention is characterized in that to each of pop-up windows is assigned a priority and the pop-up windows are managed based on the priority assigned to each of the pop-up windows. In a more preferred embodiment, the pop-up window management method of the present invention comprises: a) assigning a priority and a key handler to each of pop-up windows displayed on the user screen; b) when an application to be currently executed retrieves a certain pop-up window from a user interface manager, registering the priority and the key handler assigned to the pop-up window to be retrieved; and c) when a key input is received from a user in a situation that two or more pop-up windows are being displayed on the user screen, calling the key handler of the pop-up window with higher priority and processing the key input based on the called key handler. The pop-up window management method provides various advantages such as efficient processing of the user key input, simple management of layering and focusing of the pop-up windows in the television environment with limited input events.