Contextual Omni-Directional Navigation Icon for Mobile UI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current application navigation systems on mobile and wearable devices require reserved gestures for navigation, limiting their use for other functions and lacking an efficient way to indicate the current content page, thereby compromising screen space and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A navigation mechanism, such as a virtual joystick or trackball, is displayed as an icon on the screen, allowing users to interact with it for navigation while reserving other gestures for different functions, and the icon changes appearance based on the current content page to indicate the user's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a page title is included at the top of a content page to indicate current location, then the user can identify which content page they are viewing, but screen space is reduced and cannot be used for other purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the navigation mechanism and current page indication into a single icon element. The icon serves dual purposes: it acts as a navigation control and simultaneously displays the current content page through its appearance characteristics, eliminating the need for separate page titles
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation icon is designed to perform multiple functions: it enables navigation to different content pages and simultaneously indicates the current page through its appearance. This multi-functional design replaces the traditional separate page title element, maximizing screen space utilization
2Ease of operation
If gestures such as swiping or double-tapping are reserved for navigation between pages, then navigation functionality is achieved, but these gestures cannot be used for other purposes within the application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the navigation function from general gesture interactions by introducing a dedicated navigation icon. Users interact with the icon for navigation purposes, while the rest of the screen remains responsive to standard gestures for other application functions, eliminating gesture conflicts
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation icon acts as an intermediary element that handles navigation operations. By directing navigation interactions to this specific icon rather than using screen-wide gestures, the system allows other gestures to be used for their intended purposes without conflict
3Ease of operation
If a navigation mechanism is displayed on the screen to enable navigation between content pages, then navigation functionality is provided, but screen space is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a compact navigation icon with localized interaction areas that allow directional input. The icon's appearance characteristics (such as highlighted sides) provide navigation cues without requiring large display areas, maximizing screen space while maintaining usability
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for omnidirectional application navigation are provided. In example embodiments, a navigation icon associated with a first user interface context is caused to be displayed on a device. A change is sensed, by a device, of a change from the first user interface context to a second user interface context. A graphics database is accessed. From the graphics database, a graphic which is associated with the second user interface context is identified. Responsive to the change from the first user interface context to the second user interface context, the navigation icon is changed using the identified graphic from the graphics database.