Arc Touch Response for Small Screen Media Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touchscreen devices with small screens face difficulties in user interaction due to limited space for multi-finger operations, making it hard to perform gestures like pinch-to-zoom and precise media control, leading to inaccurate adjustments and user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

An operation track response method that detects arc touch operations on a touchscreen, determining the radian of the arc to adjust content, such as media playback or picture zoom, without the need for physical buttons, allowing for precise control and flexible user interaction on small screens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional gesture operations are used on small screens, then the device can be operated, but the precision and accuracy of control deteriorates due to limited operating area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidscreen area
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by introducing arc-shaped touch operations instead of traditional linear gestures. The system detects the radian of the arc formed by user touch movements and uses this angular information to control media playback. This curved interaction model allows users to perform precise operations like fast-forward, rewind, and volume control on small screens by drawing arcs of different radians, transforming the interaction from linear displacement to angular measurement which is more space-efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multi-finger operations like pinch-to-zoom are implemented, then zooming functionality is achieved, but the operating area requirement increases which is not feasible on small screens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation functionalityVSAvoidoperating area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical multi-finger pinching system with a single-finger arc-drawing system. Instead of requiring multiple fingers to pinch and spread on the screen, users simply draw arcs with a single finger, and the system calculates the radian to determine the desired zoom or media control action. This substitution dramatically reduces the physical space required while maintaining versatile functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If linear sliding gestures are used for media control, then playback progress can be adjusted, but the path displacement required is too large for small screens causing inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation convenienceVSAvoidgesture path length
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms linear sliding gestures into curved arc gestures for media control. Instead of requiring users to slide their fingers across long linear paths to adjust playback progress, users draw arcs whose radians correspond to the desired adjustment magnitude. A small arc radian produces small adjustments while a large radian produces larger adjustments, all within a compact screen area, significantly improving operation convenience on small devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP3951579A1Operation track response method and operation track response apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.02.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3951579A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3951579A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3951579A1 patent drawingFigure 5(a)~7(c)

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose an operation track response method, including: detecting a touch operation triggered by a user on a current display interface; if it is detected that a track of the touch operation is an arc, determining a radian of the arc; and adjusting, according to the radian of the arc, content presented on the current display interface, where different radians correspond to adjustment of different degrees. The embodiments of the present invention further provide an operation track response apparatus. In the embodiments of the present invention, media can still be controlled when an operating area is relatively small. The operation track response method and the operation track response apparatus are applicable to a touchscreen device with a small screen, have an extremely wide application scenario, and do not need assistance from a physical button, thereby improving practicability of the solution.