Adaptive Virtual Key Repositioning for Mobile Display Orientation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing user equipment designs, such as mobile phones, face inconvenience when switching between landscape and portrait modes, as system keys are often placed on the sides, making it difficult for users to access them, thereby affecting user operation and experience.

Innovation Solution

A display control method that detects changes in screen direction using sensors like G-sensors, thermal identifying devices, or face recognition, and moves system visual keys to the title bar, allowing users to operate them from the top, thereby improving accessibility and user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If system keys are placed on the sides of the display screen, then the device layout is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but user accessibility to keys deteriorates in landscape mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice layoutVSAvoiduser accessibility to keys
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the key position adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the position of virtual keys based on the detected screen orientation (portrait or landscape mode), ensuring keys remain accessible regardless of device orientation. This resolves the contradiction by allowing a simplified side-placement layout in portrait mode while automatically repositioning keys for accessibility in landscape mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positional parameter of virtual keys based on screen orientation detection. When the screen rotates from portrait to landscape mode, the system changes the key position parameter from side placement to top or bottom placement, maintaining user accessibility across different orientations while preserving the simplified side-layout benefit in portrait mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If system keys are placed in fixed positions below the display screen, then device structure is simplified, but user operation convenience deteriorates when screen direction changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoiduser operation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the virtual key position adaptive to screen orientation. Instead of using fixed physical key positions, the system dynamically repositions virtual keys based on real-time detection of screen direction changes, ensuring operational convenience is maintained across different orientations while keeping the physical device structure simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses virtual key copies that can be repositioned on the screen interface. Rather than moving physical keys, the system creates and repositions visual representations (copies) of system keys in different locations (side, top, or bottom) based on screen orientation, maintaining simple device structure while improving operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If key icons are only switched to position next to the title bar, then implementation is simple, but user convenience is still insufficient in landscape mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation complexityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the parameter change approach by not only changing key position but also adjusting the placement location options based on screen orientation. In landscape mode, the system changes the placement parameter to offer top or bottom positions in addition to side positions, providing better user convenience while maintaining relatively simple implementation through virtual key repositioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution facilitates user operation by allowing direct access to system keys from the title bar, even in landscape mode, enhancing user experience and allowing more content to be displayed on the screen by releasing the previous key area.

Implementation Method 1

detects changes in screen direction using sensors like G-sensors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2869540B1Display control method and user equipment
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 MEIZU TECH CO LTD
  • EP2869540B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2869540B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2869540B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention discloses a display control method and a user equipment. The display control method includes: detecting, by a user equipment, a current screen direction in real time; and placing a system visual key in currently displayed title bar of the user equipment when the user equipment determining an occurrence of a change of the current screen direction. In addition, a user equipment is provided and includes a detection unit configured to detect a current screen direction in real time; and a setting unit configured to place a system visual key in currently displayed title bar of the user equipment when the detection unit determining an occurrence of a change of the current screen direction.