User Interface Manager for Seamless Peripheral Connection Across System Status Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
When a computer workstation transitions from a logged-on to a locked status during an ongoing peripheral connection establishment, users are often prevented from completing the connection due to the locked status preventing further user input, as the application awaiting input is unable to proceed.
Innovation Solution
A user interface manager detects changes in system status and manages multiple user interfaces by transmitting state requests and responses between modules, canceling active threads, and selecting appropriate user interface modules based on the system status to facilitate seamless interaction with Windows services across logged-on, locked, and logged-off states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the workstation transitions to locked status during peripheral connection establishment, then security is improved, but the connection establishment process is interrupted and cannot be completed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by saving the state of user interface modules and pending operations before the system status changes. When locked status is detected, the system preserves the connection establishment context and restores it after unlocking, allowing the operation to resume without interruption to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (state management layer) that mediates between the locked status restriction and the pending connection operation. This intermediary saves and restores the operational context, allowing the connection establishment to proceed seamlessly across status transitions without direct user intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple user interface modules are maintained for different system statuses, then adaptability to different states is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal state management mechanism that works across all user interface modules regardless of system status. Instead of creating separate management logic for each status (logged on, locked, logged off), a single multi-functional state saving and restoring system handles all transitions, reducing overall complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter being managed from specific interface module states to a generalized operational context state. By abstracting the state information to essential parameters (pending operations, connection context) rather than full interface module states, the system reduces complexity while maintaining the ability to adapt to different system statuses.
Data Source
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AI summary
A user interface manager, interposed between a Windows service and user interface modules that communicate with the Windows service in distinct system status scenarios, can record interaction between the Windows service and each of the user interface modules. The recorded interaction, along with information collected from the user interface modules, can be used in conjunction so that user interaction with a first one of the user interface modules may continue with a second one of the user interface modules after a switch from one system status (e.g., logged on) to another system status (e.g., locked). Alternatively, responsive to the switch from one system status to another system status the user interface manager may simply stop the executing user interface module so that the interaction may be started over in the new system status.