Dynamic Tile Reflow Interface for Gesture-Based Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional application-launching interfaces are tedious for users to navigate and arrange icons or labels, requiring manual scrolling and rearrangement across multiple pages, which can be confusing and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

The described techniques allow users to intuitively arrange tiles within an interface using continuous gestures, enabling easy movement and reflow of tiles across groups, with automatic repositioning and reordering to simplify the arrangement process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually scroll and rearrange icons across multiple pages in conventional interfaces, then applications can be organized and selected, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveicon arrangement processVSAvoidtime to arrange and find applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The interface transitions from a static multi-page layout to a dynamic single-page layout where the grid structure adapts and reflows automatically when icons are moved, allowing users to arrange all applications in one continuous gesture without manual pagination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the layout parameter from fixed multi-page to flexible single-page grid, where the number of columns and rows adjusts dynamically based on the number of applications and available screen space, enabling all applications to be visible and arrarrageable on one page

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If users move icons between multiple pages manually, then icons can be repositioned, but the process becomes confusing and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveicon movement processVSAvoidarrangement process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into a flexible grid of cells that can dynamically adjust its structure, allowing icons to be distributed evenly across the single page rather than being constrained to fixed pages, simplifying the movement process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The grid layout automatically reflows and reorganizes itself when icons are moved, without requiring user intervention to manage pages or positions, making the system self-adjusting and reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2751651B1Arranging tiles
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
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AI summary

This document describes techniques and apparatuses for arranging tiles. These techniques and apparatuses enable users to quickly and easily arrange tiles within an interface, such as an application-launching interface. In some cases, users may arrange tiles in an interface with as little as one continuous gesture.