Dynamic Media Carousel and AR Bar for Large Mobile Collections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media sharing platforms face inefficiencies and non-intuitiveness in navigating large collections of media content, particularly on mobile devices, due to display limitations and lack of intuitive interfaces.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic menu system that includes a media carousel and an Augmented-Reality (AR) bar to facilitate efficient navigation through media content, utilizing live camera data for input and category selection, and applying AR overlays to enhance content presentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a simple interface is provided for navigating media content, then ease of operation is improved, but the efficiency of accessing relevant media content deteriorates when collections grow to hundreds of thousands of items

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidcontent access efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into multiple functional components: a media carousel for visual browsing, an AR bar for category selection, and live camera data integration. This segmentation allows users to access content through multiple pathways rather than navigating a single overwhelming list, maintaining simplicity while improving efficiency for large collections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces augmented reality overlays and camera-based interaction to add spatial and visual dimensions to the navigation interface. Instead of traditional linear scrolling through hundreds of thousands of items, users can interact with 3D spatial arrangements and visual categories, transforming the navigation experience from one-dimensional scrolling to multi-dimensional exploration.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If display limitations of mobile devices are considered, then the interface adapts to device constraints, but only a small portion of available media content can be presented at a given time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidvisible content quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The interface dynamically adapts its presentation based on user interaction and context. The media carousel automatically adjusts its display parameters, and the AR bar dynamically filters and reorganizes content based on camera input and user selections. This dynamic behavior allows the interface to maximize the use of limited screen real estate while providing access to the entire content collection through progressive disclosure and smart filtering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary filtering and organization of media content based on categories, tags, and user preferences before presentation. By pre-organizing hundreds of thousands of items into logical groups and using camera data to anticipate user intent, the interface prepares relevant subsets of content in advance, allowing users to see meaningful portions of the collection without being overwhelmed by the total quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If traditional navigation interfaces are used for large media collections, then device complexity remains low, but the interface becomes non-intuitive and difficult to use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidinterface intuitiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses live camera data to automatically understand user intent and pre-filter content without requiring users to manually navigate through categories or search interfaces. The camera captures environmental context, and the system self-adjusts the media presentation based on this input, making the interface more intuitive while keeping the underlying system architecture relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical navigation interfaces (buttons, menus, scrolling lists) with augmented reality overlays and camera-based gesture control. This substitution eliminates the need for complex multi-step navigation through hundreds of thousands of items, replacing it with intuitive visual selection and spatial interaction that feels more natural and less like operating a complex system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3948583B1Dynamic media selection menu
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 SNAP INC
  • EP3948583B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3948583B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3948583B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dynamic media menu that comprises a media carousel to present collections of media content, and an Augmented-Reality (AR) bar to receive inputs to identify a media category.