Fluid UI Icon Deformation for Gesture-Based Action Confirmation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current user interfaces (UIs) lack flexibility and adaptability, failing to align with users' mental models, as they do not provide relevant information or options during interactions, do not adapt to different contexts, and do not respond to the degrees of user commitment demonstrated by gesture duration and speed.

Innovation Solution

A method for providing flexibility in action confirmation using a fluid UI element, which estimates interaction duration and extent, causing deformation and presenting action items sequentially based on predefined thresholds, allowing users to modify their goals and selecting items, and restoring deformation without user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If discrete UI elements are used for interaction, then the interface structure is simple and easy to implement, but the user experience lacks flexibility and cannot align with users' fuzzy mental models

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in action confirmationVSAvoidUI element complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the UI element's behavior adaptive rather than static. The fluid UI element continuously adjusts its state based on interaction duration and extent, transitioning between different action confirmation states. This allows the interface to adapt to users' changing intentions during the interaction process, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and complexity by using dynamic adaptation instead of complex static structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by using interaction duration and interaction extent as continuous variables to determine UI behavior. Instead of discrete states, the system evaluates these parameters to dynamically adjust the action confirmation process. This parameter-based approach enables flexible user experience while maintaining relatively simple implementation through continuous parameter evaluation rather than complex state machines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If UI elements provide fixed interaction options, then the interface is easy to implement and maintain, but relevant information and options are not provided upfront to improve interaction goals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation provision during interactionVSAvoidinterface adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing relevant information and action options during the interaction process before the user finalizes their decision. The system evaluates interaction parameters in real-time and presents relevant information proactively, allowing users to refine their interaction goals based on the information provided. This resolves the contradiction by delivering information in advance rather than requiring complex post-interaction processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring interaction duration and extent, then providing relevant information and options based on the current interaction state. This feedback loop allows the interface to adapt to user intentions and provide appropriate information at the right moment, reducing information loss while maintaining interface simplicity through rule-based feedback mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If UI elements respond only to discrete actions, then the interaction logic is simple, but the interface cannot respond to degrees of user commitment demonstrated by gesture duration and speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse to user commitmentVSAvoidinteraction detection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes parameters by transitioning from discrete action recognition to continuous parameter evaluation. The system monitors interaction duration and interaction extent as continuous parameters, using these values to determine the degree of user commitment and adjust the action confirmation process accordingly. This parameter-based approach enables nuanced response to user intent while keeping implementation relatively simple through continuous evaluation rather than complex gesture classification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the interaction response adaptive to changing interaction parameters. The system continuously evaluates duration and extent parameters during the interaction, dynamically adjusting the action confirmation behavior based on the current state. This dynamic approach enables the interface to respond to degrees of user commitment without requiring complex interaction detection, using simple continuous parameter monitoring instead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the same UI element is used for different contexts, then the device complexity is reduced, but the interface does not adapt to different contexts such as incoming calls from close contacts vs. unknown numbers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontext adaptationVSAvoidcontext awareness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adapting the UI element's behavior to specific contexts while maintaining a unified element structure. The system modifies the action confirmation thresholds and information provision based on the calling context (e.g., close contact vs. unknown number), allowing different behavioral characteristics in different contexts without requiring separate UI elements. This resolves the contradiction by implementing context-specific quality adjustments rather than structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by adjusting interaction thresholds and information provision parameters based on context. The system evaluates contextual information and modifies the duration and extent thresholds for action confirmation accordingly, enabling the same UI element to adapt its behavior to different contexts. This parameter adjustment approach provides context adaptation while maintaining interface simplicity through a single configurable element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3308255B1Electronic apparatus and method for providing fluid user interface
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3308255B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3308255B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5A
  • EP3308255B1 patent drawingFigure 5B~5C

AI summary

An electronic device to provide a fluid user interface (UI) and a method thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a display configured to display at least one first icon, an inputter configured to receive a user command to select the at least one first icon and move the at least one first icon to another area of the display, and at least one processor configured to control the display to determine a duration to receive the user command and determine a moving distance of the user command, and display at least one second icon located around the at least one first icon based on the duration and the moving distance.