Wizard Navigation List for Direct Panel Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software wizards require users to navigate through all dialog screens sequentially, limiting experienced users who want to interact with specific screens or modify single parameters without completing the entire wizard.
Innovation Solution
A navigable software wizard with a navigation list that allows users to directly access any dialog screen, displaying parameter settings, enabling users to quickly locate and modify parameters as needed, and complete the task without navigating through intervening screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional wizards require users to navigate through all dialog screens sequentially, then the wizard provides a complete guided process, but the navigation time and操作步骤 increase for experienced users who only need to modify specific parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a navigation list as an intermediary component between the user and the dialog screens. This navigation list provides direct access points to all dialog screens, allowing users to jump to specific screens without sequentially navigating through intervening screens. The navigation list acts as a mediator that decouples the linear screen sequence from user interaction, enabling both guided sequential navigation for beginners and direct access for experienced users.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wizard presents all dialog screens in sequence, then users can follow a complete guided process, but users cannot directly access specific screens or modify single parameters without completing the entire wizard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wizard interface into two distinct components: the navigation list and the dialog screens. The navigation list is divided into individual navigation items, each corresponding to a specific dialog screen. This segmentation allows the navigation list to function as an independent access mechanism while the dialog screens maintain their individual functionality. Users can interact with either component independently, providing flexible navigation without increasing the complexity of individual screen elements.
3Loss of information
If the navigation list displays parameter values settings for each step, then users can quickly locate and evaluate parameters, but the navigation list requires additional space and information display
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the navigation list items dynamically responsive to user interaction. When a user hovers over or selects a navigation item, the corresponding dialog screen's parameter information is highlighted or expanded in the navigation list. This localized information display provides parameter visibility exactly where the user needs it (in the navigation list) without requiring the entire navigation list to constantly display all parameters, thus optimizing space utilization while maintaining information accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide a navigation list allowing a user to quickly navigate to any desired panel of an application wizard. In one embodiment, the navigation list may be displayed with the application wizard. The navigation list may include links to each panel included in the application wizard. The user may select the link to a particular panel to navigate to that panel, without also having to pass through any intervening panels. Further, the navigation list may display names and settings for parameters included in each panel, thus allowing the user to quickly locate and evaluate each parameter setting included in the application wizard.