Flatplan Grid Interface for Digital Reading Fluidity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital reading solutions fail to replicate the fluid reading experience of paper documents on screens, lacking unified navigation and ergonomic tools to effectively present and interact with press, magazine, and book content.

Innovation Solution

A terminal capable of being controlled by a pointing device, featuring a flatplan grid display of pages with real-time transition animations, allowing users to simulate leafing through pages with progressive zoom and optimal display quality, incorporating browsing, zoom, and thumbnail modes for seamless navigation and reading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If digital reading solutions present documents with separate tools (zoom, thumbnails) in margins, then basic reading functions are available, but the user experience remains limited and fails to replicate paper document reading fluidity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereading fluidityVSAvoidnavigation tool integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges separate navigation tools (zoom, thumbnails, page navigation) into a unified flatplan grid interface where all pages are displayed simultaneously in a scalable layout. This integration eliminates the need for separate margin tools and creates a cohesive navigation experience that directly addresses the contradiction by combining multiple functions into one unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional 2D page-by-page navigation to a multi-dimensional flatplan grid view that displays multiple pages simultaneously in a scalable arrangement. This dimensional change allows users to navigate across pages, sections, and the entire document in a single intuitive interface, replicating the fluid paper reading experience while managing complexity through spatial organization.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing solutions offer zoom tools and thumbnail grids as separate features, then document viewing capabilities are provided, but unified navigation for reading, browsing, and finding ways around is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunified navigation capabilityVSAvoidnavigation system integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flatplan grid interface serves multiple navigation functions simultaneously: it enables page-by-page reading, overview browsing, and quick navigation to any section of the document. The same unified interface adapts to different reading needs without requiring separate tools, achieving versatility while maintaining interface simplicity through consistent interaction patterns.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If press groups dematerialize publications for digital distribution, then accessibility is improved, but material and technical constraints of various reading terminals must be addressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-terminal compatibilityVSAvoidtechnical constraint management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flatplan grid interface dynamically adapts to different terminal screen sizes and resolutions by automatically adjusting the layout, scale, and navigation controls. The system remains flexible across devices from smartphones to desktops, managing technical constraints through responsive design while maintaining consistent user experience and navigation capabilities across all platforms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2480959B1Stationary or mobile terminal controlled by a pointing or input peripheral
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 MILIBRIS
  • EP2480959B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2480959B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2480959B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present invention relates to a stationary or mobile terminal controlled by a pointing or input peripheral device. The invention pertains to the field of man-machine interfaces (MMI) applied to digital reading. The aim of the invention is to provide a stationary or mobile terminal that is capable of reproducing, when used, the sensation of reading paper on a screen, of developing novel modes of reading, and of enabling press groups to render the publications thereof paperless while doing away with the material and technical limitations of various reading terminals.