UI Conversion Module for E-Paper Display Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computing devices with electronic paper displays face challenges in rendering user interfaces from applications not optimized for these displays, leading to reduced interactivity and power consumption issues due to differences in visual properties and input mechanisms compared to emissive displays.
Innovation Solution
A computing device with platform software that includes a UI conversion module to modify the UI element tree by removing or re-styling elements, allowing rendering of data on electronic paper displays, which can be cached for low power consumption and improved user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If applications are adapted to work with electronic paper displays, then power consumption is reduced and battery life is extended, but device complexity and development effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a UI conversion module as an intermediary layer between applications and the electronic paper display. This module automatically converts standard UI element trees into modified versions optimized for e-paper displays, handling the adaptation complexity centrally rather than requiring changes to each individual application. The conversion module mediates between the application's original UI design and the display's specific requirements, reducing both power consumption and development burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes UI parameters dynamically based on the display type. The UI conversion module modifies parameters such as removing animated transitions, simplifying interactive elements, and adjusting rendering characteristics to match electronic paper display capabilities. These parameter changes enable applications to run unchanged while optimizing power consumption for e-paper displays.
2Use of energy by moving object
If UI elements are removed or re-styled for electronic paper displays, then rendering efficiency is improved and power consumption is reduced, but user interface interactivity and visual quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The UI conversion module applies modifications selectively to specific UI elements rather than uniformly to the entire interface. It identifies and modifies only those elements that would consume excessive power or are incompatible with e-paper displays, while preserving the functionality and visual quality of essential interactive elements. This localized approach maintains usability while reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the UI based on the display capabilities and current context. The conversion module can adaptively modify UI elements in real-time, enabling applications to maintain full interactivity on emissive displays while automatically optimizing for power efficiency on electronic paper displays. This dynamic adaptation ensures appropriate user experience for each display type.
3Ease of operation
If content is cached for offline viewing on electronic paper displays, then user experience is improved and device independence is enhanced, but memory usage and data management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-converting and caching UI content specifically for electronic paper display before it is actually needed. The UI conversion module prepares optimized UI element trees in advance, converting standard application UIs into e-paper optimized versions and caching them for offline viewing. This preliminary conversion eliminates the need for complex runtime conversion and simplifies data management during offline use.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computing device comprises an electronic paper display, a processor and a memory. The memory is arranged to store platform software and application software for at least one application that is not adapted to work with an electronic paper display. The platform software comprises a UI conversion module comprising device-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: access a UI element tree for the application; generate a modified UI element tree for the application by removing and/or re-styling at least one UI element; and render data from the application using the modified UI element tree for display on the electronic paper display.