Arc Menu Index Layout for Touchscreen Thumb Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile terminal menu systems, particularly on touch-screen devices, are inconvenient for users as they require thumb movements that do not align with human engineering, leading to inaccurate operations due to the need for vertical or horizontal gestures.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for displaying an arc menu index, where index characters are arranged along an arc border line, allowing users to operate with their thumb-index finger webspace as the circle center and radius, improving positioning accuracy and user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a vertical or horizontal bar menu is used on a touch-screen mobile terminal, then the menu distribution is intuitive and clear, but the user operation convenience deteriorates because the thumb cannot flexibly move and easily clicks a non-target character

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemenu distribution clarityVSAvoiduser operation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the traditional linear menu structure into a circular arc menu layout. The menu items are arranged along a circular arc path, allowing the user's thumb to naturally follow the curved trajectory during operation. This curvature adaptation matches the natural movement pattern of the thumb, significantly improving operation convenience while maintaining menu item distinguishability and selection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Loss of information

If a vertical or horizontal bar menu is used on a touch-screen mobile terminal, then the menu distribution is intuitive and clear, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates due to the need for vertical or horizontal gestures that do not satisfy human engineering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemenu distribution clarityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The circular arc menu layout enables the thumb to move along a curved path that better matches natural finger movement patterns. This curved trajectory provides more precise control and positioning accuracy compared to linear vertical or horizontal gestures, as the thumb can more easily distinguish and target specific menu items along the arc without the limitations of straight-line movement constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP2752744B1Arc menu index display method and relevant apparatus
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2752744B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2752744B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2752744B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a corresponding apparatus for displaying an arc menu index, which are used to display index characters on an arc display bar. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: receiving a menu expanding instruction; and expanding an arc menu index on a display according to the menu expanding instruction, where the arc menu index includes an index operation area, an index pointer, and index characters; the index operation area is an area that is compassed by an arc border line displayed on the display and a display frame intersecting the arc border line, the index characters are arranged along the arc border line, and the index pointer is located in the index operation area and is configured to indicate a selected index character.