One instance where I had to think unconventionally to solve a problem involved addressing a bug related to the interaction between hard keys and the user interface in an IVI system. The challenge arose with an IVI application that utilized both hard keys and soft keys. When a user pressed a hard key, such as the home button, while a critical user consent popup was displayed, the high priority of the hard key caused the screen to switch to the home screen. This resulted in the popup disappearing and then reappearing, creating an undesirable flicker effect that the client specifically requested to eliminate. 

To tackle this, I first recognized that hard key events held the highest priority in the IVI system, while our popup was initially implemented as a toast notification, which had a lower priority. I then collaborated with other teams to gain a deeper understanding of the system's event handling and the window manager's priority settings. This cross-functional teamwork was essential in identifying potential solutions. 

The key insight was to change the popup type from a toast to an overlay. Overlays have a higher priority and can coexist with hard key events without causing flickering. Given that this approach was unconventional and altered the typical priority handling, I sought and obtained client approval to ensure it aligned with their requirements. 

I then modified the window manager settings to change the popup type from toast to overlay. This adjustment ensured that when the home button was pressed, the popup remained visible without flickering, while the background transitioned smoothly to the home screen. 

Ultimately, this innovative approach successfully resolved the issue. The popup no longer flickered when a hard key was pressed, meeting the client's expectations and enhancing the user experience. This solution highlighted the importance of creative problem-solving and effective collaboration in addressing complex challenges. By thinking outside the box and leveraging cross-team expertise, we delivered a solution that not only met but exceeded the client's requirements.