UI Framework for Multi-Device Screen Space Abstraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for displaying user interfaces across multiple electronic devices require significant low-level programming to manage combined virtual and physical screen spaces, discouraging application developers due to the need to account for different screen sizes, form factors, and device functionality.

Innovation Solution

A UI framework that abstracts the management and handling of combined virtual and physical screen spaces, allowing application logic to be rendered transparently across multiple devices without the need for custom low-level programming, enabling seamless adaptation to changing environments and device configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If custom low-level programming is used to manage combined virtual and physical screen spaces across multiple devices, then cross-device functionality can be achieved, but the complexity of development increases significantly and discourages application developers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-device functionalityVSAvoidprogramming complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a UI framework as an intermediary layer between the application developer and the complex low-level programming required for multi-device UI management. This framework handles screen space abstraction, device configuration variations, and coordinate transformations automatically, allowing developers to write application logic without directly managing the complexity of combined virtual and physical screen spaces across different devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If application developers account for different screen sizes, form factors, and device functionality, then UI compatibility across devices is improved, but the time and effort required for development increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUI compatibilityVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UI framework performs preliminary actions by pre-defining abstraction layers for screen space management, device configuration detection, and coordinate system transformations. These foundational components are established before application development begins, automatically adapting to different screen sizes, form factors, and device functionalities without requiring developers to manually account for each variation during the development process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If a UI framework abstracts screen space management, then ease of development is improved, but the system requires a more complex framework structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of developmentVSAvoidframework structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UI framework is segmented into distinct modular components: screen space abstraction layer, device configuration detection module, coordinate transformation engine, and UI rendering manager. Each segment handles a specific aspect of multi-device UI management independently, allowing the framework to provide comprehensive functionality while maintaining manageable complexity through clear separation of concerns and standardized interfaces between modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2632130B1System and method for displaying a user interface across multiple electronic devices
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2632130B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2632130B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2632130B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A system and method are provided for displaying a user interface using multiple electronic devices. The method comprises providing a first user interface framework (36a) on a first electronic device (10) having a first display screen (34); the first user interface framework determining that a second display screen (34) on a second electronic device (18) is available via a connection between the first and second electronic devices; the first user interface framework using application logic (56) from an application (38) on the first mobile device to determine a first user interface portion (62) to be displayed on the first display screen and a second user interface portion (64) to be displayed on the second display screen; and the first user interface framework providing data associated with the second user interface portion to the second electronic device.