Dataset Navigation UI with Pivot Zoom and Interactive Ruler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional user interface navigation elements struggle with large and expanding datasets, leading to the sub-pixel-pitch problem and difficulties in maintaining focus while zooming, as they break down in scaling and navigation precision.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that includes a pivot control zoom slider, an interactive ruler, and a multi-scale slider within a graphical user interface, allowing for consistent control and visual feedback by enabling precise zoom operations and dataset repositioning independent of dataset size, with the pivot control zoom slider allowing selection of a zoom pivot location and the interactive ruler providing interval-based navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional user interface navigation elements are used to navigate datasets, then navigation is sufficient for conventionally sized datasets, but the mapping breaks down as datasets expand in size, causing the sub-pixel-pitch problem where each pixel represents too large an amount of data to navigate at reasonable resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic zooming capability that allows the data resolution to change interactively. Users can zoom in to examine smaller portions of data or zoom out to see larger portions, making the navigation system adaptable to different dataset sizes. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling precise navigation even as the overall dataset expands beyond conventional sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the dataset into manageable segments that can be navigated through hierarchical levels. By segmenting the data and providing multi-level navigation (overview at high level, detailed view at lower levels), the system maintains navigation precision even for large datasets that would otherwise cause sub-pixel-pitch problems at a single resolution level.
2Ease of operation
If zoom operations are performed from a fixed center location, then zooming is simple to implement, but users cannot easily zoom into specific sections of interest that are not at the center, requiring additional repositioning steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges zoom and pan operations into a single integrated control mechanism. Users can perform zoom operations from any location in the viewport by combining zoom intent with position specification, eliminating the need for separate steps to reposition and zoom. This integration maintains ease of operation while reducing the complexity of multi-step procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a data navigation engine that generates user interface navigation elements for navigation large and expanding datasets. The user interface navigation elements may include a pivot control zoom slider for adjusting the data resolution with respect to different zoom pivot locations, an interactive ruler for consistent visual feedback and navigation of intervals of data within the dataset, a context bar for viewing the data proximate to a current view, and a multi-scale slider for repositioning the dataset within the current view. These user interface navigation elements provide the end-user with consistent control and visual feedback while navigating the dataset, independent of the size of the dataset or the portion of the dataset displayed within the current view. Therefore, large and expanding datasets can be navigated more effectively relative to prior art approaches.