Web Browser Gesture Interface for Mobile Page Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in inputting complex commands on mobile web browsers due to small touchscreen displays, where menu icons are small and hard to touch, leading to errors and inconvenience, and gesture functions often overlap with screen scroll functions, requiring complex motions and user learning.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that detect gesture motions on the address window region of a web browser to perform page switch-related functions, such as touch and drag actions, allowing users to switch pages without clicking specific buttons, thereby simplifying interface operations and avoiding gesture-motion overlap with screen scrolling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional interface with menu icons is used on a mobile web browser, then the interface structure is simple and familiar, but the menu icons become smaller than the user's finger or stylus making it difficult to touch and causing errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of touching menu iconVSAvoidsize of menu icon
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional menu icons to three-dimensional virtual buttons that can be manipulated through gesture motions. The virtual buttons are generated in response to user gestures and provide a larger, more touchable interface element while maintaining the compact form factor of mobile devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces gesture motions as an intermediary between the user and the web browser interface. Instead of directly touching small menu icons, users perform gesture motions that are detected and translated into interface actions, effectively mediating the interaction and solving the touch difficulty problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If gesture functions are implemented to map various functions to gesture motions, then functions can be performed without touching menu icons, but the gesture function overlaps with screen scroll function requiring complex gesture motion and user learning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of performing function without touching menu iconVSAvoidcomplexity of gesture motion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different gesture recognition rules to different regions of the touchscreen. Specific gesture patterns are mapped to specific functions based on the region where the gesture is detected, allowing simple, intuitive gestures for common functions while maintaining screen scrolling functionality without overlap or complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If menu icons are displayed in a fixed region on the screen, then the interface layout is stable, but it causes inconvenience to the user in interface operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of interface layoutVSAvoidconvenience of interface operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces static menu icons with dynamic virtual buttons that are generated in response to user gestures. The virtual buttons appear at relevant locations on the screen based on the detected gesture motion, providing both layout stability through controlled positioning and operational convenience through context-aware placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9361019B2Apparatus and method for providing web browser interface using gesture in device
Publication Date: 2016.06.07 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An apparatus and method provide a web browser interface in a device. A method for providing a web browser interface in a device includes recognizing a gesture motion on an address window region of a web browser, determining a page switch-related function mapped to the recognized gesture motion, and performing the determined page switch-related function.