Context-Aware Screen Scroll Method for Mobile Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of mobile terminals with touch screens face inconvenience in scrolling through large lists due to the need for repeated drag or flick gestures, especially on devices with small screens where the screen is often covered by the finger during input.

Innovation Solution

A context awareness-based screen scroll method that detects ambient illuminance and movement using a motion sensor and camera module to set either a vision scroll mode or motion scroll mode, allowing for more intuitive scrolling based on user presence and device movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If drag or flick gestures are used for scrolling, then the screen can be scrolled through list items, but the user needs to continuously perform the gesture several times to reach desired items, and the screen is often covered by the finger during input

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrolling convenienceVSAvoidtime to reach desired list item
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual drag/flick gestures with automatic scroll detection based on device movement sensors. The system detects physical movement of the terminal device and automatically scrolls the list in the corresponding direction, eliminating the need for continuous finger gestures and screen coverage.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces motion sensors as an intermediary between user intent and screen scrolling. Instead of direct finger interaction, the system uses motion detection to infer scrolling intent, acting as a mediator that translates physical device movement into scroll operations without requiring finger contact with the screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the screen is used as both touch input unit and display unit, then integration is achieved, but the screen is often covered or blocked with the finger during input operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch screen functionalityVSAvoidscreen visibility during input
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual screen interaction with automatic scroll detection based on device movement sensors. The system detects physical movement of the terminal device and automatically scrolls the list in the corresponding direction, eliminating the need for continuous finger gestures and screen coverage.

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

3Ease of operation

If vision scroll mode is used based on camera detection, then scrolling can be controlled without touching the screen, but the system complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehands-free scrollingVSAvoidsensor and processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces motion sensors as an intermediary between user intent and screen scrolling. Instead of direct finger interaction, the system uses motion detection to infer scrolling intent, acting as a mediator that translates physical device movement into scroll operations without requiring finger contact with the screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2770416B1Context awareness-based screen scroll method, machine-readable storage medium and terminal therefor
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2770416B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2770416B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2770416B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A context awareness-based screen scroll method is provided. The method includes detecting information about surrounding circumstances of a terminal, setting a screen scroll mode based on the surrounding circumstances, detecting occurrence of an event corresponding to the set screen scroll mode, and executing screen scroll according to the occurred event.