Context-Specific User Interface Segmentation for Portable Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for managing context-specific user interfaces on portable devices for indicating time are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring multiple key presses and consuming excessive user time and device energy, particularly in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of faster and more efficient methods and interfaces for managing context-specific user interfaces, including touch-sensitive displays and rotatable input mechanisms, that reduce cognitive burden and conserve power by animating clock faces and providing intuitive gestures for time management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing techniques for managing context-specific user interfaces are used, then time management functionality is provided, but the interface requires multiple key presses and consumes excessive user time and device energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface efficiencyVSAvoiduser time consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is segmented into context-specific modes (e.g., clock face mode, timer mode, stopwatch mode) that can be independently activated. Each segment provides dedicated functionality for specific time management tasks, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple generic menus and reducing the number of key presses required to access time-related features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring context-specific interface modes with all necessary controls and settings for particular time management tasks. When a user activates a context mode, the interface is already prepared with relevant options visible and accessible, eliminating the need for sequential navigation through multiple screens and reducing user time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If existing techniques for managing context-specific user interfaces are used, then time management functionality is provided, but the interface requires multiple key presses and consumes excessive device energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface efficiencyVSAvoiddevice energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is segmented into context-specific modes (e.g., clock face mode, timer mode, stopwatch mode) that can be independently activated. Each segment provides dedicated functionality for specific time management tasks, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple generic menus and reducing the number of key presses required to access time-related features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring context-specific interface modes with all necessary controls and settings for particular time management tasks. When a user activates a context mode, the interface is already prepared with relevant options visible and accessible, eliminating the need for sequential navigation through multiple screens and reducing user time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If context-specific user interfaces are implemented, then user interface efficiency is enhanced and battery life is extended, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal context management framework that can handle multiple time management functions (clock, timer, stopwatch, world clock) through a common architecture. This framework provides reusable components and standardized transition mechanisms that work across different context modes, reducing overall system complexity despite the variety of functions available.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The user interface dynamically adapts its structure and content based on the active context mode. The system automatically adjusts which controls and settings are displayed without requiring manual configuration or complex menu navigation. This dynamic behavior is achieved through event-driven architecture that responds to user actions by transitioning between pre-defined context modes, simplifying the interaction model while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11740776B2Context-specific user interfaces

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 APPLE INC

AI summary

Context-specific user interfaces for use with a portable multifunction device are disclosed. The methods described herein for context-specific user interfaces provide indications of time and, optionally, a variety of additional information. Further disclosed are non-transitory computer-readable storage media, systems, and devices configured to perform the methods described herein.