Two-Dimensional Menu Icon Layout for Small Screen Operability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multimedia playback devices lack an intuitive and user-friendly interface for selecting digital content across various types of media, leading to a disorganized appearance on small screens, which hinders user convenience and operability.
Innovation Solution
A multimedia player with a control system that displays an on-screen menu in a two-dimensional array, categorizing content by playback functions and storage mediums, using a menu controller to visually highlight focused icons, allowing easy navigation and selection of desired content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple contents are arranged in the on-screen menu to fill the entire screen, then the quantity of displayed content increases, but the appearance becomes disorganized and user interface clarity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display area into multiple regions, with each region dedicated to a specific storage medium type. This segmentation allows multiple contents to be displayed systematically without creating a disorganized appearance, as each segment has a defined purpose and structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a two-dimensional array structure for organizing icons, where function icons are arranged in one dimension and medium icons in another dimension. This dimensional organization enables comprehensive content display while maintaining visual order and logical structure through the grid-based layout.
2Ease of operation
If contents are categorized by playback function and storage medium in a two-dimensional array, then interface organization and visual appeal improve, but the complexity of menu structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal menu structure that can accommodate multiple storage medium types and playback functions through a standardized two-dimensional array framework. This universal design handles diverse content categories using the same organizational logic, reducing the perceived complexity despite the comprehensive categorization.
Solution Approach 2:
By organizing icons in a two-dimensional array with function icons in one dimension and medium icons in another, the patent creates a systematic structure that simplifies navigation. Users can locate content by following two independent dimensions rather than navigating through multiple hierarchical levels, reducing operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the menu displays comprehensive content categories across all storage mediums, then content selection capability improves, but navigation time and user effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-organizes all content into a structured two-dimensional array before user interaction, with function icons and medium icons positioned in advance according to their categories. This preliminary organization allows users to directly navigate to desired content using the structured layout without requiring sequential searching or multiple navigation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-dimensional array structure enables users to navigate content by independently selecting a function dimension and a medium dimension, effectively reducing the search space. This dimensional organization allows parallel access to different content categories rather than requiring linear navigation through all options.
Data Source
AI summary
A small-size digital device requires preferable operability and userfriendliness of the user interface. In a multimedia reproduction device (10), an operation unit (40) acquires an instruction concerning content reproduction via a user operation. A read-out unit (44) reads out a content from an external recording medium mounted as a content data storage area. A Storage unit (80) holds data on a plurality of function icons symbolizing a plurality of content reproduction function types and data on a plurality of media icons symbolizing the external recording medium types. A display processing unit (46) processes menu screen display and content reproduction. A menu unit (48) generates image data on a menu screen where a plurality of function icons and a plurality of media icons are arranged two-dimensionally according to a user function.