Dual Scrollable Interface for Content Preview and Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for navigating and previewing content items on touch-sensitive electronic devices are cumbersome, inefficient, and place a significant cognitive burden on users, particularly in battery-operated devices where they also consume excessive energy.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that displays concurrently two scrollable areas on a touch-sensitive device's display, allowing users to scroll through graphical objects representing content sets and a list of content items, with gestures enabling selection and playback of content item portions, thereby streamlining navigation and previewing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional methods are used for navigating and previewing content items, then the interface is simple, but the cognitive burden on users is significant and navigation is tedious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecognitive burdenVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into two distinct scrollable areas: a first scrollable area displaying graphical objects representing sets of content items, and a second scrollable area displaying detailed content item information. This segmentation allows users to navigate and preview content simultaneously without cognitive overload, as each area has a specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a two-dimensional scrolling interface where users can independently scroll horizontally in the first area to select different content sets and vertically in the second area to navigate content items. This dimensional approach transforms the traditional single-list navigation into a spatial mapping system that reduces cognitive burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If conventional sequential navigation methods are used, then the interface is simple, but navigation time is excessive and energy is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation speedVSAvoidnavigation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by displaying multiple graphical objects representing different sets of content items in the first scrollable area simultaneously. Users can preview multiple content sets at once without sequential navigation, allowing them to identify and select desired content more quickly before detailed viewing in the second area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous useful action by allowing simultaneous scrolling and previewing in both areas. While users scroll through the first area to select content sets, the second area continuously displays relevant content item information, eliminating idle time and keeping the interface constantly useful throughout the navigation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Use of energy by moving object

If conventional content previewing methods are used, then the device structure is simple, but energy consumption is excessive in battery-operated devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcontent selection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by displaying only relevant portions of content items in the second scrollable area based on the selection from the first area. Instead of loading or displaying all content simultaneously, the system selectively renders content information based on user navigation state, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining efficient content selection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2562633B1Device, method and graphical user interface for navigating and previewing content items
Publication Date: 2016.03.30 APPLE INC
  • EP2562633B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2562633B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2562633B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A portable electronic device displays concurrently a first predefined scrollable area and a second predefined scrollable area distinct from the first predefined scrollable area. The first predefined scrollable area includes a plurality of graphical objects and is configured to scroll in a first direction. Each of the plurality of graphical objects represents a respective set of content items. The second predefined scrollable area includes a list of content items and is configured to scroll in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. The device detects a gesture that corresponds to selection of a first graphical object of the plurality of graphical objects in the first predefined scrollable area; and, in response to detecting the gesture, plays respective portions of one or more content items in the set of content items that correspond to the selected first graphical object.