Desktop Icon Repositioning for One-Hand Interface Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Selecting applications or cards on a desktop of a terminal device with a single-hand operation is difficult, especially when they are located at the top or upper regions, requiring complex page-turning operations.

Innovation Solution

The terminal device moves icons displayed on the desktop based on a trigger operation, allowing users to activate elements in any region with one hand, and adjusts the display to include a preset region for easier access, such as scaling down or relocating icons to a lower region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the terminal device displays applications or cards in the upper region of the desktop, then the desktop can accommodate more applications, but it becomes difficult for users to select them with single-hand operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of applicationsVSAvoidsingle-hand operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic interface where the desktop automatically switches between full-desktop display mode and lower-region focused mode based on user interaction. When the user triggers the navigation point, the system dynamically repositions the display area to the lower region, making applications accessible for single-hand operation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to accommodate multiple applications while maintaining ease of single-hand access through mode switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation point serves as an intermediary element between the user and the applications. By interacting with the navigation point, the user can trigger the system to switch to a mode where applications are displayed in the lower region, making them accessible for single-hand operation. The navigation point mediates the transition between full-desktop view and single-hand accessible view, resolving the contradiction between displaying many applications and enabling easy selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal device requires page turning operations to find applications, then all applications can be displayed, but the operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication selectionVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares two display modes in advance: full-desktop mode showing all applications and lower-region focused mode for single-hand operation. The navigation point is pre-configured to trigger the switch between these modes. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex page-turning operations, as the user can directly access applications in the lower region without performing multiple sliding or lifting actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring users to scroll up or perform page-turning operations to access applications in the upper region, the system inverts the approach by switching the display to show applications in the lower region. This inversion of the traditional interaction model simplifies the operation, allowing users to access applications with a single hand without complex page-turning gestures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4404038B1Interface display method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4404038B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4404038B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4404038B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the application provide an interface display method and apparatus, applied to a terminal device. The terminal device includes a display, and the method includes: The terminal device displays a first interface on the display, where the first interface includes a first interface element; the terminal device receives a first operation, and in response to the first operation, moves the first interface element to a lower region of the first interface; and after the first interface element stops moving, if the terminal device detects that the first operation is continuously performed on the display, the terminal device displays a second interface on the display, where a second interface element corresponding to the first interface element is displayed in a lower region of the second interface. In this way, the terminal device may move an icon displayed on a desktop based on a trigger operation performed by a user on a navigation point on the desktop, so that the user can trigger an element in any region of the desktop with one hand.