E-book Page Turning Gesture Interface for Portable Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing e-book page turning interfaces on portable terminals are inconvenient for users, lacking ergonomic design and not allowing natural page conversion, as they primarily rely on basic directional control through key manipulation.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for turning e-book pages in a portable terminal that simulates the experience of physically turning a book by using touch-sensitive input means, where the direction and length of touch gestures determine the page transition, allowing users to intuitively navigate through pages by dragging their finger or stylus across the screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If key manipulation is used for page turning, then the interface is simple to implement, but the ease of operation deteriorates as it is not ergonomic and does not allow natural page conversion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of page turning operationVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical key manipulation system with a touch-sensitive screen interface that detects finger gestures. The touch screen detects touch coordinates and drag movements, substituting physical key presses with direct finger interaction on the display surface, thereby improving ergonomics while maintaining implementation feasibility through software processing of touch events

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that detects touch gestures and translates them into page turning commands. The touch coordinate detection and drag movement analysis act as intermediaries between the user's natural finger motion and the e-book page navigation system, enabling intuitive operation without direct mechanical interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If basic directional control is used, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation worsens as it does not provide natural page conversion experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenatural page conversionVSAvoidinterface design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic page turning where the number of pages turned is determined by the length of the drag gesture. Instead of fixed directional control, the system dynamically calculates page transitions based on the distance and direction of finger movement, providing a natural and intuitive page conversion experience that adapts to user input magnitude

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameter from binary key press detection to continuous touch coordinate and drag length measurement. By measuring the distance between touch start and end positions, the system converts a single parameter (key press) into multiple parameters (touch coordinates, drag length, drag direction), enabling nuanced control while managing interface complexity through systematic parameter processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2437152B1Apparatus and method for turning e-book pages in portable terminal
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2437152B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2437152B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2437152B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus and method for turning electronic book (e-book) pages in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes executing an e-book, determining if a touch down is input more left than a predetermined right User Interface (UI) activation region of the e-book and then, in a state where the touch down is input, a drag and touch up is input in the right direction, and, when the touch down is input more left than the predetermined right UI activation region of the e-book and then, in the state where the touch down is input, the drag and touch up is input in the right direction, displaying the just preceding page on a screen.