Dynamic Content Region Modification in Digital Magazines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital magazines provide users with limited information about content items, making it difficult for users to determine if content items are of interest, as they do not effectively utilize user interaction to personalize and customize content presentation.

Innovation Solution

A digital magazine server generates a personalized and customizable digital magazine by organizing content items with common characteristics into sections based on page templates, and modifies content regions in response to user interactions, such as pointer proximity and movement, to present additional information and candidate content items.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional digital magazines present content regions with fixed information, then the device complexity is low and ease of operation is maintained, but the quantity of information provided to users is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequantity of informationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The content region transforms from a static display to a dynamic one that automatically modifies its presentation based on detected user interactions. The system continuously monitors pointer position, proximity, and movement patterns, then dynamically adjusts the content region to expand, display additional information, or highlight related content items, resolving the contradiction between providing more information and maintaining system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where user interaction data (pointer position, proximity distance, movement rate) is continuously fed back to the content region, which then adjusts its state accordingly. This automatic feedback mechanism enables the content region to adapt to user needs without increasing operational complexity, as the system self-regulates based on real-time interaction data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the digital magazine application modifies content regions dynamically based on user interaction, then the adaptability to user needs is improved, but the ease of operation may be reduced due to additional interaction requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user needsVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The content region performs self-service by automatically detecting user intent through pointer interaction patterns and autonomously modifying its own presentation. The system monitors user behavior (proximity, positioning duration, movement rate) and self-adjusts to expand or highlight relevant content without requiring explicit user commands, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning additional content items and information within the content region, ready for immediate display. When user interaction thresholds are met, the system has already prepared the expanded content state, enabling rapid adaptation without requiring complex real-time processing during interaction, thus preserving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If additional content items and information are presented in the content region, then the loss of information is reduced, but the area required for presentation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloss of informationVSAvoidarea of content region

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The content region implements a nested structure where additional content items and information are embedded within or adjacent to the original content region. When expanded, the region incorporates supplementary content (descriptions, related items, metadata) in a nested arrangement that maximizes information density while minimizing the overall area required, preventing information loss without proportionally increasing display space consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10091326B2Modifying content regions of a digital magazine based on user interaction

Publication Date: 2018.10.02 FLIPBOARD INC

AI summary

A digital magazine application executing on a client device presents content retrieved from various sources to a user by presenting content regions that are each associated with various content items. When the digital magazine application identifies a type of interaction with a content region, the content region is modified to present information about various content items associated with the content region. For example, if the digital magazine application determines that a user positions a pointer at least a threshold distance from a surface of a display device for at least a threshold length of time at a location along a length and along a width of a display device where a content region is presented, the content region is modified. For example, the content region is increased in size and information describing content items associated with the content region is presented.