Dynamic Menu Adaptation for Consumer Electronics Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumer electronics devices with multiple features and functionalities present users with cumbersome navigation through hierarchical menus, making it inconvenient to access features and functionalities.

Innovation Solution

A method for customizing menus on consumer electronics devices involves preparing menu definitions, generating configuration information, transmitting it to the device, and monitoring usage data, allowing users to dynamically modify menu structures and settings over a network, including options for parental control and localization based on device location and language.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hierarchical menu structure is used to organize multiple features and functionalities, then the device can provide comprehensive features and functionalities, but the user burden to navigate through menus increases and convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeatures and functionalitiesVSAvoiduser burden to navigate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The menu structure transitions from a static hierarchical design to a dynamic adaptive design that automatically reconfigures based on user behavior patterns. The system continuously monitors navigation data and adjusts menu arrangements in real-time, allowing the menu structure to evolve and adapt to individual user preferences and usage patterns, thereby reducing navigation burden while maintaining comprehensive feature access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback loop where user navigation behavior is continuously monitored and analyzed. This feedback information is used to automatically adjust and optimize menu structures, creating a closed-loop system that learns from user interactions and continuously improves navigation efficiency. The feedback mechanism enables the system to identify frequently accessed features and reposition them for easier access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple menu layers with many options are provided to cover all features, then the device functionality is comprehensive, but the number of menu screens to navigate increases and convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeature coverageVSAvoidnavigation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the comprehensive menu structure into dynamically generated navigation paths based on user behavior patterns. Instead of presenting all features through a deep hierarchical structure, the system divides and reorganizes menu items into context-relevant groups and shortcuts, creating multiple navigation paths that allow users to reach frequently accessed features through fewer screens while maintaining access to all device functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis of user navigation patterns to pre-configure optimized menu structures before users need them. By anticipating user needs based on historical behavior data, the system proactively reorganizes menu items and creates shortcuts in advance, so that when users access the device, the menu structure is already optimized for their specific usage patterns, eliminating unnecessary navigation steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed menu structure is used for device configuration, then the device is easy to manufacture and deploy, but the ability to adapt to different user preferences and markets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice configurationVSAvoidcustomization capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a universal menu framework that can serve multiple functions and adapt to different user preferences, markets, and usage scenarios. The underlying menu structure maintains a standardized foundation for ease of manufacture, while the adaptive layer enables the same hardware platform to provide customized menu configurations for different user groups, regions, and applications, making the device universally applicable without sacrificing customization capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic parameter changes in menu configuration without requiring physical device modifications. By storing and applying different menu configuration parameters based on user profiles, geographic location, and usage patterns, the same device can be rapidly reconfigured for different markets and user preferences, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving high adaptability through software-based parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9600390B2Menu usage statistics collection and reporting

Publication Date: 2017.03.21 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

Customizing menus for a consumer electronics device, including: preparing menu definitions for the menus to be customized on the consumer electronics device; generating menu configuration information using the prepared menu definitions; transmitting the generated menu configuration information to the consumer electronics device; and monitoring and tracking menu usage data of the consumer electronics device. Keywords include customization of menus and consumer electronics device.