Fluid Graphical User Interface for Mobile Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current user interface applications fail to provide a seamless and engaging experience, as they are limited in combining ease of use with playful and entertaining aspects, particularly on mobile devices with limited screen space, leading to complex navigation and difficulty in accessing a wide array of data and applications.

Innovation Solution

A fluid graphical user interface is introduced, where selectable objects corresponding to data or applications are displayed in motion across the screen, allowing user selection and manipulation, enabling dynamic and adaptive presentation that adapts to user preferences and habits, eliminating the need for deep menu structures and view switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional graphical user interface with folder icons and desktop view is used, then the interface is easy to use and simple, but it fails to provide playful and entertaining experience and limits access to vast amounts of data and applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidaccess to data and applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transforming the static desktop interface into a dynamic fluid interface where objects continuously move and flow across the screen. Objects transition from stationary icons to moving entities that can be manipulated during motion, creating an engaging and versatile interaction model that maintains simplicity while expanding functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces motion as an additional dimension to the traditional 2D static interface. By adding the time dimension through continuous object movement and animation, the interface evolves from a static arrangement of icons to a dynamic flow of objects that can be intercepted and manipulated at any point during their trajectory.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If vast array of data and applications are provided on user equipment, then service value and convenience are enhanced, but users have difficulty utilizing such equipment and searching through data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearray of data and applicationsVSAvoiddifficulty in utilizing
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service by automatically organizing and presenting objects in motion based on their categories and contextual data. The interface autonomously manages the flow of objects, grouping them by category and enabling contextual interactions without requiring users to manually search through complex menu structures or navigate multiple screens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The fluid interface creates a universal interaction model where all objects regardless of type (data or application) can be accessed through the same motion-based manipulation paradigm. Users interact with diverse content types through consistent gestures such as intercepting, dragging, and dropping objects during their flow, eliminating the need for different interaction modes for different content categories.

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

3Ease of operation

If modern user interface combines ease of use with playful and entertaining aspects, then user experience is enhanced, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies homogeneity by providing uniform treatment to all objects in the interface. Whether objects represent applications, data files, or other content types, they all follow the same motion patterns, can be manipulated using identical gestures, and respond consistently to user actions. This homogeneous approach maintains interface simplicity while enabling playful interaction across all content types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

Data Source

PatentEP2519870B1Method and apparatus for fluid graphical user interface
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP2519870B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2519870B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2519870B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A method including causing, at least in part, display of selectable objects on a graphical user interface, where each of the selectable objects corresponds to data or an application accessible via the graphical user interface. The method further includes causing, at least in part, display of the selectable objects in motion travelling across the graphical user interface based on a category of the selectable object or context dependent data, and allowing user selection and manipulation of the selectable objects displayed on the graphical user interface.