Expandable App Recommendation Cards for Home Screen Space Limits

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Solution Overview

Problem

The limited space on electronic device home screens restricts the number of application recommendations, making it difficult for users to find desired apps, as current suggestion cards are often of a fixed size and limited in capacity, failing to meet user expectations for more recommendations without disrupting the home screen layout.

Innovation Solution

An application recommendation slot displaying method that allows users to interact with electronic devices to dynamically expand suggestion cards, revealing additional recommendation slots through sliding gestures, enabling preview and enlargement of card sizes to accommodate more recommendations without altering the home screen layout.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the number of applications displayed on the home screen is increased to provide more information, then the information completeness is improved, but the layout complexity and visual clutter increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidlayout complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The home screen is segmented into multiple layers: a first layer displaying commonly used applications with simple icons, and a second layer displaying less frequently used applications. This segmentation allows the system to present information in a structured, hierarchical manner that reduces visual clutter while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the display by implementing a timeline view where applications are arranged chronologically based on usage frequency. This transforms the traditional two-dimensional grid layout into a multi-dimensional visualization that accommodates more applications without increasing horizontal or vertical clutter.

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

2Ease of operation

If all applications are displayed simultaneously on the home screen, then the accessibility is improved, but the visual clarity and ease of identification deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication accessibilityVSAvoidvisual clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-processes application data to determine usage frequency and automatically generates the timeline arrangement before user interaction. This preliminary action organizes applications in an optimal sequence that balances accessibility and visual clarity, eliminating the need for users to manually arrange numerous icons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The home screen layout is made dynamic and adaptive rather than static. The timeline view automatically adjusts the display based on usage patterns, allowing frequently used applications to be prominently positioned while less frequently used applications are arranged chronologically, maintaining visual clarity regardless of the number of applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a traditional grid layout is used for application display, then the simplicity of the interface is maintained, but the ability to display a large number of applications efficiently is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoiddisplay efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal display framework that can accommodate different numbers and types of applications through a single timeline-based interface. This multi-functional approach allows the same interface structure to efficiently display whether there are a few or many applications, eliminating the need for different layout modes.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the organizational parameter from spatial arrangement (grid positions) to temporal arrangement (usage timeline). This parameter change allows efficient display of a large number of applications by ordering them chronologically based on usage frequency, maintaining interface simplicity while dramatically improving display efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4465620B1Application featured position display method, electronic device and readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4465620B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4465620B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4465620B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

This application provides an application recommendation slot displaying method, an electronic device, and a readable storage medium, and belongs to the field of electronic technologies. The method includes: displaying a card on a screen of an electronic device, where the card is used to display a first quantity of original recommendation slots of applications, and the original recommendation slot displays an application icon or a service card; receiving a first operation on the card, and in response to the first operation, displaying a second quantity of preview recommendation slots and some original recommendation slots in a corresponding position of the card, where an application icon or a service card is displayed in each preview recommendation slot; and enlarging, by the electronic device, the card from a first size to a second size when a second operation that is associated with the first operation and that is on the card is received, and displaying, on a card of the second size, a third quantity of preview recommendation slots. In this method, an operation is easy, and a user can browse more recommendation slots quickly and conveniently in a case in which a home screen layout of the user is not disrupted, so that user experience is improved.