UI Element Tagging via Machine-Readable Visual Artifacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for portraying errors in user interfaces require human interpretation of screenshots, which can lead to improper identification due to the complexity of user interfaces and limited resolution of display devices, making it difficult to accurately communicate and troubleshoot errors.
Innovation Solution
A system that assigns at least two machine-readable visual artifacts, such as QR codes, to graphical elements in a user interface, positioning them in specific locations to convey metadata attributes, allowing for automated identification and interpretation by support services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If human interpretation of screenshots is used to identify user interface elements, then the method is simple to implement, but the identification accuracy deteriorates due to complexity of user interfaces and limited display resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated identification of user interface elements by having the interface assign its own machine-readable visual artifacts (such as barcodes or QR codes) to each graphical element. This self-tagging approach eliminates the need for human interpretation of screenshots while maintaining high identification accuracy, as the machine-readable artifacts can be reliably detected and interpreted by support systems.
2Measurement precision
If machine-readable visual artifacts are assigned to graphical elements, then automated identification accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional tagging mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal machine-readable visual artifact formats (such as standard barcodes or QR codes) that can be used across all graphical elements in the user interface. This universal approach allows a single, well-understood technology to serve multiple identification purposes throughout the interface, avoiding the need for complex custom tagging mechanisms for each element type.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating complex unique identifiers for each graphical element, the system uses copies of standardized machine-readable visual artifacts that can be reliably detected. These artifacts are placed on or near graphical elements, allowing the support system to identify elements by recognizing and interpreting these standardized visual copies, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Loss of information
If multiple machine-readable visual artifacts are positioned in different locations, then metadata attributes are accurately conveyed, but the area occupied in the user interface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions machine-readable visual artifacts in specific local locations within or near their associated graphical elements, such as in corners or along edges. This local placement strategy allows the artifacts to be distributed across the interface without concentrating space usage in one area, and the positioning itself can encode metadata about the element's attributes or state.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using multiple separate artifacts that each occupy significant space, the system can encode multiple metadata attributes within a single machine-readable visual artifact by utilizing different dimensions of the code (such as different regions or layers of a QR code). This allows comprehensive metadata conveyance while minimizing the total area occupied on the interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface element identification system, including: a display device to display the user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to: assign at least two machine readable visual artifacts to a graphical element in the user interface; position the machine readable visual artifacts in different locations within the element, wherein the locations of the artifacts designate a metadata attribute for the element; and display the machine readable visual artifacts in the user interface on the display device.