Virtual Shelf for Out-of-Window Status Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
In diagram user interfaces, errors associated with shapes or connectors may be hidden outside the visible portion of the diagram window, making it difficult for users to identify and address errors efficiently, as status indicators are not effectively displayed when shapes or connectors are outside the viewable area.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of out-of-window status indicators on a virtual shelf within the diagram window allows status indicators to be displayed even when associated shapes or connectors are outside the visible area, with the status indicators being moved to the edge region of the diagram window and anchored to their corresponding shapes upon selection, ensuring visibility and seamless movement with the diagram.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If status indicators are displayed only within the visible diagram area, then the diagram area is充分利用, but status indicators associated with out-of-window shapes become invisible and inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the display space from the two-dimensional diagram area into a third spatial dimension by creating a virtual shelf that protrudes from the diagram window boundary. This allows status indicators to be positioned in an extended display region while maintaining their association with out-of-window shapes, effectively utilizing space without compromising the visibility of indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual shelf acts as an intermediary element between the diagram window and the out-of-window status indicators. It provides a transition zone that holds indicators in an intermediate state, allowing them to be both visible and accessible while maintaining their logical connection to shapes outside the visible diagram area.
2Loss of information
If status indicators are moved to the edge region of the diagram window, then out-of-window indicators become visible, but the indicators may be distributed scattered and hard to locate
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual shelf is divided into multiple segments or regions corresponding to different areas of the diagram window (e.g., top shelf, bottom shelf, left shelf, right shelf). Each segment is associated with specific directional regions, allowing status indicators to be systematically organized by their spatial relationship to the diagram rather than being randomly distributed at the edges.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the virtual shelf have different characteristics and associations. For example, the top shelf is associated with shapes in the top region of the diagram, while the bottom shelf is associated with shapes in the bottom region. This localized organization allows users to predict where indicators will appear based on their knowledge of the diagram layout.
3Stability of the object's composition
If status indicators are anchored to shapes, then indicators move with shapes during zooming or moving, but indicators become invisible when shapes move outside the visible area
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the position of status indicators based on the visibility state of their associated shapes. When a shape is visible, its indicator remains anchored to it. When a shape moves outside the visible area, the indicator automatically transitions to the virtual shelf, maintaining its association while ensuring continued visibility. This dynamic behavior preserves the indicator-shape relationship while adapting to changing display conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method and system for display of out-of-window status indicators in a virtual shelf of a diagram window. A diagram framework displays a first portion of a diagram within a diagram window of a display device. The diagram comprises a set of shapes and a set of connectors representing a corresponding set of relationships between a set of objects. The framework detects that a first shape of the set of shapes at a first position of the first shape and a first status indicator associated with the first shape at a first position of the first status indicator are at least partially outside a first visible portion of the diagram within the diagram window. The diagram framework determines a second position of the first status indicator within the diagram window. The first status indicator at the second position of the first status indicator is displayed within the diagram window.