Curled Interface Roll-Up Region for Touch Screen Option Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional user interfaces for portable devices with touch screen displays are often complex and inflexible, making it difficult for users to easily interact with multifunction devices, particularly in selecting application options and navigating mapping applications.

Innovation Solution

A portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display featuring a graphical user interface that allows users to interact primarily through finger contacts and gestures, displaying a flat version of an application interface that transitions to a curled version upon detecting a user gesture on a view options icon, revealing a roll-up region with option icons, and redisplaying the flat interface with information corresponding to selected options.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physical pushbuttons are added or pushbutton density is increased to provide more functions, then the number of accessible functions increases, but the device size increases and ease of operation deteriorates due to complicated key sequences and menu hierarchies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of accessible functionsVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical pushbuttons with a touch-sensitive display that responds to finger contacts and gestures. This substitution eliminates the need for physical buttons while providing access to multiple functions through intuitive touch interactions, directly resolving the contradiction between function accessibility and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the two-dimensional surface of the touch-sensitive display to provide access to multiple functions and menu options simultaneously, rather than requiring sequential button presses. The curled version interface displays multiple option icons in a spatial arrangement that allows users to access various functions without navigating complex hierarchical menus

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional menu systems are used to allow users to access device features, then functions are accessible, but the interface complexity increases and user satisfaction decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to device featuresVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the interface into distinct functional areas and option icons within the curled version, allowing users to access specific device features directly without navigating through complex nested menus. Each option icon represents a discrete function that can be accessed independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by presenting all relevant options simultaneously in the curled version rather than requiring users to drill down through hierarchical menu levels. This inversion of the traditional menu structure reduces interface complexity while maintaining full access to device features

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Volume of moving object

If the display area is reduced to make the device more compact, then device portability improves, but the ease of interacting with the interface deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidease of interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the full two-dimensional area of the touch-sensitive display efficiently by implementing the curled version interface that organizes multiple option icons within the limited display space. This dimensional optimization allows comprehensive functionality to be accessed without requiring a larger physical device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic interface that transitions between flat and curled versions based on user interaction. The curled version dynamically organizes and presents multiple options within the constrained display area, maintaining ease of operation despite the compact form factor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8171432B2Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying and selecting application options

Publication Date: 2012.05.01 APPLE INC

AI summary

In accordance with some embodiments, a flat version of an application interface is displayed. In response to detecting a user gesture on a view options icon while the flat version of the application interface is displayed, a curled version of the application interface is displayed. The curled version of the application interface includes an image of a curled page that obscures a first portion of the flat version of the application interface, and a roll-up region in a display region formerly occupied by a second portion of the flat version of the application interface. The roll-up region includes a plurality of option icons. When a user selection gesture on one or more of the plurality of option icons is detected, the flat version of the application interface is redisplayed with information corresponding to the option icons upon which user selection gestures were detected.