Drag Menu Radial Interface for One-Handed Mobile Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operating a mobile device with one hand is inconvenient due to limited access to screen elements, especially when precise interactions are required, and hidden elements in submenus are difficult to access, making single-hand operation challenging on touch-sensitive screens.
Innovation Solution
A Drag Menu system that displays a base icon and context/global menu items in a partial ring around it, allowing users to access menu items with a drag gesture, providing visual, haptic, or sound feedback for action confirmation, enabling single-hand navigation and interaction without changing grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If menu items are displayed in traditional locations on the screen, then the menu structure is complete and functional, but the ease of access with one hand deteriorates because elements are hidden or require precise interaction outside the convenient thumb area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional two-dimensional screen layout to a three-dimensional radial arrangement where menu items are positioned around the base icon in concentric rings. This dimensional change allows all menu items to be accessible from a central location with one hand while maintaining complete menu functionality. The base icon serves as the center point, with context menu items in an inner ring and global menu items in an outer ring, creating spatial organization that optimizes single-hand operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested menu structure where context menu items are arranged in an inner ring surrounding the base icon, and global menu items are arranged in an outer ring surrounding the context menu items. This nesting approach allows the menu to maintain hierarchical organization while placing all items within the reachable area of a single hand. The nested arrangement ensures that frequently used items are closer to the center while less frequently used items are positioned in the outer ring, all within one-hand operation range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all menu items are displayed on the screen, then the complete functionality is available, but the screen space consumed increases and the ease of single-hand operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension around the base icon to organize menu items, allowing all functional elements to be displayed within a compact circular area rather than spreading across the entire screen. The concentric ring arrangement maximizes the use of radial space while keeping the overall menu footprint small and centered on the screen, making it easily accessible with one hand while maintaining complete functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If precise touch elements are placed outside the convenient thumb area, then the functionality is complete, but the ease of operation with one hand deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions all touch elements from traditional screen locations to a radial arrangement centered on the base icon. The inner ring for context menu items and outer ring for global menu items are both positioned within the natural reach of a thumb or finger when holding the device in one hand. This dimensional reorganization ensures that all functional elements remain accessible with one hand while maintaining complete functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different positioning qualities to different types of menu items based on their functionality and usage frequency. Context menu items in the inner ring are positioned for quick access, while global menu items in the outer ring are positioned for secondary access. This local differentiation optimizes the ease of operation for each element type while maintaining overall single-hand operability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus configured to implement a Drag Menu for providing data service includes selecting menu items from a menu of a mobile device. A processor of a mobile device causes a base icon to be displayed on a touch-sensitive display of the mobile device at a position easy to access by a user of the mobile device with a finger of a hand of the user when the user is holding the mobile device with only the hand. This causes the processor to display a plurality of context menu items in at least a partial ring around the base icon. The processor also causes a plurality of global menu items to be displayed on the display in at least a partial ring around the context menu items. The processor accesses or implements an action associated with one of the menu items in response to the user using a drag gesture from the base icon to one menu item on the touch-sensitive display.