Electronic Dictionary Tagging via Swipe Zone Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic dictionaries lack an intuitive method for users to mark and easily retrieve entries of interest, similar to using sticky notes in paper dictionaries.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates a touch panel and a controller that recognizes swipe operations on the screen. If a swipe is detected within a predetermined area, the controller performs a tag setting process, allowing users to set or remove tags associated with entry words using simple swipe gestures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a swipe operation is detected within a predetermined area, then the tag setting process is activated for intuitive marking, but the operation may be accidentally triggered or ambiguous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetag setting operationVSAvoidoperation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel is divided into multiple predetermined areas (first area, second area, third area) with different functions. The first area triggers tag setting, the second area triggers tag cancellation, and the third area triggers display of tagged words. This local differentiation ensures that swipe operations are context-specific, reducing accidental triggers while maintaining intuitive operation within each designated zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that interprets the location and direction of swipe operations to determine the user's intent. By analyzing whether the swipe originates from or passes through specific predetermined areas, the controller accurately distinguishes between tagging, untagging, and display requests, preventing misinterpretation of user actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple predetermined areas are defined for different tag operations, then operation versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetag operation typesVSAvoidcontrol logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel is segmented into multiple predetermined areas, each associated with a specific tag operation. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple operations (setting, canceling, displaying tags) through simple spatial differentiation rather than complex command structures, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring users to select operation modes and then perform actions, the system inverts the approach by having different physical areas automatically determine the operation type. The swipe location itself encodes the intended action, simplifying the control logic while enabling multiple operation types through spatial arrangement rather than procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12340072B2Electronic device, method for controlling electronic device, and program

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a display, a touch panel for detecting a user operation, and a controller. The controller determines, in response to detecting a swipe operation while an entry word is displayed on the display, whether or not a detected location of the swipe operation is within a predetermined area of the touch panel. If the detected location is determined to be within the predetermined area, the controller accepts the swipe operation as an operation for conducting a tag setting process for a tag associated with the entry word.