Dynamic Time Interface Using Radial Timeline Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for indicating time on context-specific user interfaces are cumbersome, inefficient, and often require complex user interactions, consuming unnecessary time and energy, especially on battery-operated devices with limited display space.
Innovation Solution
Implementing faster and more efficient methods for displaying time on electronic devices, including showing user interface objects at different locations on a clock face with varying appearances based on time scales, allowing for customizable and intuitive time representation without requiring extensive display real estate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If existing techniques use complex user interfaces to indicate time, then information completeness is improved, but user interaction time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface dynamically transitions between different display modes (clock face mode, linear timeline mode, radial timeline mode) based on user needs and context. The system automatically adjusts the complexity and type of time representation without requiring users to manually configure settings, thereby maintaining information completeness while reducing interaction time.
Solution Approach 2:
The time indication system is segmented into multiple independent visual elements that can be selectively displayed. Users can choose to display only the clock face, or add linear timeline markers, radial timeline indicators, or other elements as needed. This segmentation allows the interface to provide complete time information when needed while allowing simplified views when users need quick references.
2Measurement precision
If existing techniques use multiple graphical elements and markings to indicate time, then measurement precision is improved, but display area requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs radial timeline markings that utilize the radial dimension of the clock face to encode time information. Instead of expanding the interface horizontally or vertically, the system uses angular and radial positions to represent time intervals, allowing multiple time indicators to coexist within the same display area without increasing the overall footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple layers of time information are nested within the clock face structure. The clock face itself serves as the base layer, with linear timeline markers, radial timeline markers, and other graphical elements overlaid or integrated into the same visual space. This nesting allows the system to provide precise time measurement without requiring additional display real estate.
3Loss of information
If existing techniques require users to decipher textual and numerical markings, then information density is improved, but cognitive burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color-coded indicators to represent different time concepts and urgency levels. For example, different colors can indicate different time intervals, event types, or priority levels. This color-coding system allows users to quickly grasp time information at a glance without needing to decipher complex textual or numerical markings, thereby reducing cognitive burden while maintaining information density.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface provides visual feedback that adapts to user interactions and context. When users view the clock face, the system can highlight relevant time intervals, show upcoming events, or adjust the visibility of different markers based on the current time, user preferences, and contextual information. This adaptive feedback mechanism makes the time information more intuitive and easier to process without increasing cognitive load.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to providing electronic devices with faster, more efficient methods and context-specific user interfaces for indicating time. Such methods and interfaces optionally complement or replace other methods for indicating time. Such methods and interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a more efficient human-machine interface. For battery-operated computing devices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase the time between battery charges.