Display Grid Fold Marks for Compressed Data Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Two-dimensional data grids often exceed the available viewing area of a display window, forcing users to scroll or navigate extensively to find relevant information, especially on small screens.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to compress and hide irrelevant data by generating visible graphical fold marks, allowing users to selectively hide rows or columns, with options to reveal hidden information through controls and indicators, enabling targeted data display on electronic program guides and spreadsheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all data in the two-dimensional grid is displayed, then complete information is available, but the display area is exceeded and users must scroll extensively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the two-dimensional grid into visible and hidden portions using fold marks. The grid is divided into segments that can be independently displayed or hidden, allowing users to view only relevant portions without scrolling through the entire grid. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining information completeness (all data remains in the grid structure) while reducing navigation complexity (users see only necessary segments).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts specific rows or columns from the visible grid and hides them behind fold marks. By taking out less relevant information and separating it from the main view, the system maintains complete information availability while reducing the visible display area requirements and minimizing scrolling needs.
2Ease of operation
If irrelevant data is hidden to fit display area, then viewing comfort improves, but users lose access to hidden information
Solution Approach 1:
The fold mark serves as an intermediary element between the visible and hidden portions of the grid. It visually indicates that additional information exists behind the fold, acting as a mediator that tells users hidden data is available and can be accessed by interacting with the fold mark. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining viewing comfort (irrelevant data is hidden) while preserving accessibility to hidden data (fold marks indicate and enable access).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual indicators including color changes and graphical representations on fold marks to signal hidden information. These visual cues change or appear differently to indicate the presence of hidden data, allowing users to understand that information is concealed without actually seeing it, thus maintaining viewing comfort while indicating accessibility.
3Productivity
If the grid is compressed to show only relevant information, then display efficiency improves, but visual indication of hidden content is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color changes and graphical fold marks that are visually distinct from the grid content. These indicators use different colors, shading, or graphical representations to clearly signal the presence of hidden information, ensuring that even in compressed views, users can easily detect where content has been folded away without compromising display efficiency.
4Loss of information
If fold marks are added to indicate hidden content, then user awareness of hidden information improves, but display clutter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies fold marks locally only at specific boundaries where information is hidden, rather than adding universal indicators throughout the entire grid. This localized approach provides user awareness of hidden content exactly where needed while minimizing the addition of display elements in areas where no information is hidden, thus reducing overall display clutter.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method includes generating code for displaying a two-dimensional media programming schedule grid, receiving a command to compress the grid at a first location along a first dimension, and generating code for displaying the grid with visible graphical fold marks defining a fold area near the first location along the first dimension.