Edge Gesture Navigation for Touchscreen Dock Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for navigating between user interfaces on electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring multiple inputs and leading to errors and energy wastage, especially in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that allows for faster and more efficient navigation between user interfaces by detecting specific inputs on the edges of a touch-sensitive display, such as a long-press gesture, to display a dock with application icons at a variable location, and by using gestures to switch between different user interfaces while providing real-time visual feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional mouse-based inputs are used to close a first user interface, navigate through a multi-page home screen to identify a second user interface, and then select the second user interface for display, then the user can navigate between user interfaces, but the process is tedious and error prone, requiring multiple inputs and taking longer than necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple navigation actions (closing first UI, navigating home screen, selecting second UI) into a single gesture operation. The system detects a first input at a first location on the touch-sensitive surface and a second input at a second location, then automatically performs the sequence of closing the first user interface, navigating to the home screen, and opening the second user interface without requiring explicit user commands for each step.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-configures the navigation path and user interfaces based on detected input locations. When the system detects inputs at specific locations, it automatically determines the sequence of user interfaces to close and open, preparing the navigation path in advance rather than requiring step-by-step user direction.
2Productivity
If conventional navigation methods are used, then user interface manipulation is possible, but the methods take longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple time-consuming navigation operations into a single efficient gesture. By detecting inputs at different locations on the touch-sensitive surface and automatically executing the corresponding sequence of user interface transitions, the system reduces both the time required and the energy consumed compared to conventional step-by-step navigation.
3Ease of operation
If multiple inputs are required to navigate between user interfaces, then precise control is possible, but the process becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by automatically interpreting the sequence of user interfaces to be displayed based on the locations of detected inputs. Rather than requiring the user to manually control each navigation step, the system autonomously determines the navigation path from the first user interface through the home screen to the second user interface, reducing input complexity while maintaining operational speed.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes one or more touch-sensitive input regions. The electronic device, while displaying a respective user interface, detects a first input that is directed to a respective edge region associated with the one or more touch-sensitive input regions. In response, the electronic device displays a user interface element overlaying the respective user interface, wherein if the first input is directed to a first portion of a first edge region, the user interface element is displayed at a first location relative to the respective user interface; and if the first input is directed to a second portion of a second edge region, the user interface element is displayed at a second location relative to the respective user interface.