Dynamic Gesture Disambiguation Threshold for Touch Input

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces often inaccurately interpret user gestures, leading to inefficiencies and a cognitive burden, as users may need to undo and retry gestures to achieve the desired operation, particularly in battery-operated devices where this wastes energy and time.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dynamic disambiguation threshold that adjusts based on the initial characteristics of a gesture, such as location and speed, to differentiate between navigation and annotation operations, allowing the device to accurately perform the intended action on the first attempt.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a fixed gesture interpretation method is used, then the device structure is simple, but the gesture interpretation accuracy is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture interpretation accuracyVSAvoidgesture recognition system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the gesture interpretation system adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts the disambiguation threshold based on real-time gesture characteristics such as speed, duration, and pressure. This allows the same gesture input to be interpreted differently depending on its dynamic properties, thereby improving interpretation accuracy without requiring a completely complex new system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of the disambiguation threshold from a fixed value to a dynamic value that varies based on gesture characteristics. By adjusting this threshold parameter according to measured gesture properties (speed, duration, pressure), the system achieves more accurate gesture interpretation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If gesture interpretation is inaccurate, then the system is simple, but the user efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser operation efficiencyVSAvoidgesture interpretation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using the measured characteristics of the gesture (speed, duration, pressure) to adjust the interpretation threshold in real-time. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from the gesture properties and make accurate interpretations, thereby improving user efficiency without sacrificing interpretation precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Use of energy by moving object

If undo-and-retry actions are required, then the system structure is simple, but the energy consumption is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidoperation completion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the correct gesture interpretation threshold before the gesture is fully executed. By analyzing initial gesture characteristics and adjusting the threshold in advance, the system ensures accurate interpretation on the first attempt, preventing the need for undo-and-retry actions that would waste battery power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed disambiguation threshold is used, then the system is simple, but the adaptability to different gesture characteristics is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture type differentiation capabilityVSAvoidthreshold adjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the disambiguation threshold parameter from fixed to variable based on gesture characteristics. By adjusting this single parameter dynamically, the system achieves high adaptability to different gesture types (tap, swipe, click, drag) without introducing complex multi-parameter control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10042549B2Device, method, and graphical user interface with a dynamic gesture disambiguation threshold
Publication Date: 2018.08.07 APPLE INC

AI summary

An electronic device with a display, a touch-sensitive surface, one or more processors, and memory detects a first portion of a gesture, and determines that the first portion has a first gesture characteristic. The device selects a dynamic disambiguation threshold in accordance with the first gesture characteristic. The dynamic disambiguation threshold is used to determine whether to perform a first type of operation or a second type of operation when a first kind of gesture is detected. The device determines that the gesture is of the first kind of gesture. After selecting the dynamic disambiguation threshold, the device determines whether the gesture meets the dynamic disambiguation threshold. When the gesture meets the dynamic disambiguation threshold, the device performs the first type of operation, and when the gesture does not meet the dynamic disambiguation threshold, the device performs the second type of operation.