Adaptive Floating Control Cluster for 3D Mapping Interfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mapping and navigation applications have user interface shortcomings that complicate the integration of different modalities such as location browsing, map searching, and route navigating, leading to an inconvenient user experience.
Innovation Solution
An integrated mapping application with a novel UI design that utilizes a touch-sensitive screen with multi-touch interface, featuring adaptive floating controls, a 3D control for transitioning between 2D and 3D views, and a page curl mechanism for accessing secondary UI elements, minimizing on-screen clutter while maintaining a consistent interaction model across tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple controls are added to support different modalities (location browsing, map searching, route navigating), then the functionality and adaptability of the mapping application is improved, but the device complexity and UI clutter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control elements into a single floating button cluster that adapts its contents based on the current modality. Instead of having separate controls for location browsing, map searching, and route navigating scattered across the interface, all controls are merged into one unified floating cluster that dynamically adjusts its buttons and options according to the active task, thereby maintaining full functionality while reducing visual clutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating button cluster serves as a universal control mechanism that handles multiple modalities through a single interface element. The cluster adapts its contents to provide relevant controls for the current task whether it's location browsing, map searching, or route navigating, making the control system multi-functional rather than requiring separate dedicated controls for each modality.
2Ease of operation
If a full-width control bar is used to accommodate all controls, then all controls are accessible, but the map display area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves controls from a traditional full-width horizontal bar at the top or bottom of the screen into a floating cluster that can be positioned anywhere on the map display. This spatial repositioning allows controls to coexist with the map content without forcing a trade-off between control accessibility and map display area, as the floating cluster occupies minimal space and can be placed in non-intrusive locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control interface is segmented into a compact floating cluster rather than a continuous full-width bar. This segmentation allows the controls to be concentrated in a small, manageable group that doesn't span the entire screen width, thereby preserving maximum map display area while still providing access to all necessary controls through the condensed cluster format.
3Area of stationary object
If controls are minimized to reduce clutter, then the map display area is maximized, but the adaptability to different tasks is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The floating button cluster is designed to be dynamic rather than static, automatically adapting its contents based on the current modality or task. When switching between location browsing, map searching, and route navigating, the cluster dynamically adds, removes, or modifies its buttons to provide task-specific controls. This dynamic behavior ensures that the control interface remains both minimalistic and highly adaptable to different user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The control cluster changes its parameters (number of buttons, button types, configuration) based on the active task. The system monitors the current modality and adjusts the cluster's contents accordingly, transforming the control interface from a fixed structure to a flexible one that optimizes its parameters for each specific task while maintaining a compact form factor.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device that includes at least one processing unit and stores a multi-mode mapping program for execution by the at least one processing unit is described. The program includes a user interface (UI). The UI includes a display area for displaying a two-dimensional (2D) presentation of a map or a three-dimensional (3D) presentation of the map. The UI also includes a selectable 3D control (150) for directing the program to transition between the 2D and 3D presentations and for having a first appearance when the display area displays the 2D presentation of the map and a second appearance when the display area displays the 3D presentation of the map.