Dynamic Virtual Keys for Large Touchscreen Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users experience poor usability when operating large-screen mobile terminals with touch screens, as their fingers find it difficult to reach virtual keys in fixed areas, leading to inconvenient interactions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and apparatus that displays dynamic virtual keys in a preset area around the user's finger click position, allowing for easy access and execution of functional operations by detecting and responding to finger clicks on these keys, which can also become movable based on user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If virtual keys are arranged in a fixed area of the touch screen, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ease of operation deteriorates when the screen becomes larger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual key arrangementVSAvoidfinger accessibility to virtual keys
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming static fixed virtual keys into dynamic virtual keys that can move to different positions on the touch screen. The virtual keys are no longer confined to a fixed area but can be dynamically positioned within a movable region, allowing them to adapt to different user interaction scenarios and screen sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the position parameter of virtual keys. The virtual keys can change their position from a fixed location to various locations within the movable region, and this position parameter can be adjusted based on user selection or system configuration, thereby improving accessibility on larger screens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If the screen size is increased, then the display area is expanded, but the ease of operation deteriorates as fingers find it difficult to reach virtual keys in fixed areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch screen display areaVSAvoidfinger accessibility to virtual keys
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the virtual key region movable rather than fixed. The virtual keys can be positioned within a region that can move across different areas of the touch screen, allowing users to access functional operations more easily regardless of the overall screen size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an additional degree of freedom by allowing the virtual key region to move not only horizontally but also vertically across the touch screen. This dimensional flexibility enables the virtual keys to be positioned in optimally accessible locations based on user hand position and screen orientation.

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

3Ease of operation

If dynamic virtual keys are introduced to improve ease of operation, then finger accessibility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual key accessibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a movable region that can serve multiple functions: it can contain different virtual keys for different functional operations, and its position can be adjusted to accommodate various user preferences and screen configurations. This single movable region structure replaces the need for multiple fixed key areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes to control the position and size of the movable region containing virtual keys. By adjusting these parameters programmatically, the system achieves dynamic key positioning without requiring complex hardware modifications, thereby managing device complexity through software-based parameter control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3422168B1Mobile terminal control method, device, and mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE INC OF ZHUHAI
  • EP3422168B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Disclosed in the disclosure are a method and apparatus for controlling mobile terminal, and a mobile terminal. The method includes: detecting an operation that a user finger clicks a touch screen; in a case that the operation that the user finger clicks the touch screen in a preset time reaches to a preset time, controlling the touch screen to display a preset quantity of dynamic virtual keys in a preset area, the preset area being an area within a preset range taking a clicking position of the user finger as a center, and the dynamic virtual keys including basic dynamic virtual keys corresponding to functional operations of fixed virtual keys; and detecting and responding to an operation that the user finger clicks the dynamic virtual keys and executing functional operations corresponding to the dynamic virtual key. According to the technical solutions provided by the disclosure, when the user uses a large-screen mobile terminal, in a case that the finger is not convenient to touch the fixed virtual keys of the mobile terminal, functional operations same as the touch of the fixed virtual keys are very easily implemented by touching the dynamic virtual keys; and thus the user experience can be well improved.