Context-Sensitive Action Ranking for Camera Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera-based input interfaces on mobile devices overwhelm users with numerous action choices, making it cumbersome and decreasing the likelihood of mass acceptance as a powerful alternative to text input.
Innovation Solution
A live capture image recognition interface that displays available actions overlaid on an image, ranking them based on image content, device location, image capture location, date, time, and user preferences, allowing users to select the highest ranked action with a hardware camera button.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized input interface displays multiple action choices for camera-based input, then the system provides comprehensive functionality coverage, but the user experience becomes cumbersome and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the action choices into multiple ranked lists organized by different contexts (e.g., photo capture, video capture, location-based actions). Instead of presenting all actions in a single overwhelming list, the interface divides them into manageable segments that are displayed based on the current situation, making the interface less cumbersome while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the displayed action lists according to specific contexts and user preferences. Different contexts (such as taking a photo vs. video, or being at different locations) trigger different ranked lists with actions tailored to that specific situation. This ensures that users see only the most relevant actions for their current context, improving ease of operation while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system presents all available actions in a single list, then complete functionality is accessible, but navigation through the list becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-ranking actions within each context-based list according to user preferences and historical behavior. When a user enters a particular context, the system has already prepared and ordered the most likely desired actions at the top of the list. This eliminates the need for users to navigate through entire lists to find relevant actions, significantly reducing navigation time while keeping all actions accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the action lists to be dynamically reordered and reconfigured based on user interactions, contextual changes, and learned preferences. The ranking is not static but adapts in real-time, with actions that the user frequently selects being moved to higher positions in subsequent sessions. This dynamic reordering ensures that the most relevant actions are always easily accessible without requiring full list navigation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the interface requires users to navigate through multiple lists of actions, then comprehensive action selection is possible, but the selection process becomes complex and lengthy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive set of actions into multiple context-specific lists rather than presenting one large monolithic list. Each list contains actions relevant to a particular context (e.g., photo-related actions, video-related actions, location-based actions). This segmentation reduces the cognitive load on users and simplifies the interface structure while maintaining access to all actions through the appropriate context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing and pre-ranking actions within each segmented list based on user preferences and contextual relevance. This preliminary organization eliminates the need for users to manually sort or search through actions, reducing the complexity of the selection process. The system has already performed the work of organizing actions in the most likely desired order before the user even sees the interface.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides user interface methods of and systems for displaying at least one available action overlaid on an image, comprising displaying an image; selecting at least one action and assigning a ranking weight thereto based on at least one of (1) image content, (2) current device location, (3) location at which the image was taken, (4) date of capturing the image; (5) time of capturing the image; and (6) a user preference signature representing prior actions chosen by a user and content preferences learned about the user; and ranking the at least one action based on its assigned ranking weight.