Unified Update Display for Mobile Applications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of cellular phone terminals face cumbersome operations when trying to confirm updates across multiple application programs, requiring sequential activation and switching between different applications to view update contents for various types of content data.

Innovation Solution

An information terminal with an update information storage, an information manager, and a display controller that stores and displays update information in chronological order across multiple application programs on a single screen using object images, allowing users to view updates from various sources without extensive operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If users sequentially activate and switch between different application programs to confirm update contents, then they can view detailed information from each application, but the operation becomes extremely troublesome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate informationVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges update information from multiple different application programs into a single unified display screen. Instead of requiring users to switch between applications, the system consolidates update notifications from various applications (e-mail, photographs, music, etc.) into one integrated interface, allowing users to view all updates in a single location without sequential activation of applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal update display function that handles multiple types of content data from different application programs through a single interface. The display screen is designed to universally present various kinds of update information (e-mails, photographs, music files, etc.) using a common structure with object images, making the system multi-functional in presenting diverse update types without requiring separate display mechanisms for each application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If users sequentially activate and switch between different application programs to confirm update contents, then they can access each application's data, but the time required for confirmation becomes extremely long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate informationVSAvoidconfirmation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-collecting and storing update information from multiple application programs in an update information storage unit. The system proactively monitors and accumulates update notifications from various applications before the user needs to view them, so that when the user accesses the update screen, all relevant information is already prepared and ready for immediate display, eliminating the need for sequential application activation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the system displays update information from multiple application programs on a single screen in chronological order, then users can easily view updates without extensive operations, but the system complexity increases due to monitoring and managing multiple applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate confirmationVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component called the 'update information storage' that acts as a mediator between multiple application programs and the display screen. This storage unit receives update information from various applications, standardizes it into a common format, and manages chronological ordering. The intermediary handles the complexity of monitoring and integrating multiple applications, while the display screen remains simple and user-friendly, presenting information in a unified chronological sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system monitors and stores update information from multiple application programs, then comprehensive update management is achieved, but the information management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent data typesVSAvoidinformation management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11269909B2Information terminal, information presentation method for an information terminal, and information presentation program

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

[Object] To enable a user to simply and easily confirm update information of a plurality of pieces of content data handled by a plurality of various application programs without any troublesome operation.[Solving Means] A plurality of update information display cards (51) are aligned and displayed on a display screen (50). The update information display cards (51) displayed on the display screen (50) are associated with different pieces of content data, and update information of the content data is individually arranged on the corresponding update information display card (51). Moreover, the update information display cards (51) on which the update information of the different types of content data are arranged are aligned and displayed on the display screen (50) in a chronological order of the updates of the content data.