Adaptive Floating Controls for Navigation Interface Clutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current navigation devices face challenges in providing a seamless user interface for integrated mapping applications that support location browsing, map searching, and route navigating operations, often cluttered with unnecessary controls and lacking adaptability across different modalities.
Innovation Solution
The development of a novel user interface design for a touch-sensitive device with a multi-touch interface, featuring a minimalistic approach with adaptive floating controls, gestural inputs for 2D/3D map manipulation, and intuitive navigation features like a compass and page curl mechanism, optimizing screen space for interactive maps while maintaining a consistent interaction model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional navigation devices include multiple controls for different modalities (driving, hiking, cycling), then comprehensive navigation functionality is achieved, but the user interface becomes cluttered and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control system that adapts to different navigation modalities (driving, hiking, cycling) through a single interface. The control elements are designed to be modality-agnostic, automatically adjusting their behavior and appearance based on the current navigation context, thereby providing comprehensive functionality without interface clutter
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface employs dynamic control elements that change their properties (visibility, position, appearance) based on the current modality and user interaction state. Controls are not static but adapt in real-time to provide relevant functionality for the active navigation mode while maintaining a clean overall interface
2Ease of operation
If full-width screen controls are used in mapping applications, then comprehensive control functionality is provided, but less map space is available for user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into discrete, floating control elements rather than a continuous full-width bar. Each control is independently positioned and sized to provide necessary functionality while minimizing intrusion into the map display area, allowing users to access controls without sacrificing significant map space
Solution Approach 2:
Controls are implemented as floating elements that can be positioned at various locations on the screen rather than being confined to a single full-width band. This spatial distribution across multiple dimensions allows comprehensive control functionality while preserving maximum map visibility and interaction space
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple controls are displayed simultaneously for different tasks (browsing, searching, routing, navigating), then all functions are accessible, but the interface becomes cluttered
Solution Approach 1:
The interface dynamically adjusts control visibility and positioning based on the current task context. When a user is browsing, searching, routing, or navigating, the system automatically displays only the most relevant controls in prominent positions, while making other controls accessible through contextual menus or gestures, thereby providing full functionality without permanent clutter
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the interface are assigned different control densities based on task requirements. The area around the map center maintains high visibility for navigation controls, while secondary controls are positioned in less prominent areas or accessed through contextual interactions, creating a balanced distribution that avoids clutter while maintaining versatility
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide a mapping application that provides routing information to third-party applications on a device. The mapping application receives route data that includes first and second locations. Based on the route data, the mapping application provides a set of routing applications that provide navigation information. The mapping application receives a selection of a routing application in the set of routing applications. The mapping application passes the route data to the selected routing application in order for the routing application to provide navigation information.