Gesture Trigger Interface for One-Handed Document Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices with touchscreen displays face limitations in screen size and user interface objects, making application control difficult, especially for users with one available hand, and existing touch screen interfaces do not effectively facilitate seamless navigation and interaction with electronic documents.

Innovation Solution

A gesture-based trigger system for mobile devices that allows users to navigate and interact with electronic documents by swiping along the axis of navigation, enabling the display of hidden document portions and performing actions like subscription or transaction through a series of engines including interface, display, trigger, and action engines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional touchscreen display interfaces are used with limited screen size, then the device maintains portability and compactness, but the number of visible input and output elements is limited, making application control difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication controlVSAvoidvisible interface elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the interaction space from the two-dimensional touchscreen surface to three-dimensional physical space by allowing users to manipulate virtual objects by dragging them beyond the visible display boundaries. This creates additional interaction dimensions where objects can be positioned, stored, and retrieved from areas not visible on the screen, effectively increasing the available interface space without requiring a larger physical display.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces virtual containers and drag-and-drop mechanisms as intermediaries between the user and application data. These intermediaries allow users to manipulate interface elements by dragging them to edge regions of the display, where they are then stored in virtual containers. This intermediary layer enables complex application control operations while maintaining a clean, minimal visible interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more user interface objects are displayed on the touchscreen at once, then application control becomes more comprehensive, but the screen size limitation is exceeded and other content becomes hidden

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface functionalityVSAvoiddisplay screen
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user interface into multiple functional zones: the visible display area for primary content, edge regions for virtual object manipulation, and virtual containers for stored objects. This segmentation allows comprehensive interface functionality to be distributed across different spatial zones, enabling users to access multiple interface objects without cluttering the main display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By extending interface interactions into the spatial dimension beyond the visible screen boundaries, the patent allows users to access and manipulate additional interface objects in virtual space. Objects can be dragged to edge regions and stored in virtual containers, effectively increasing the total interface capacity without increasing the physical display area.

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

3Ease of operation

If users must manipulate mobile devices with only one hand, then portability is maintained, but the ease of interaction with multiple interface elements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveone-handed interactionVSAvoidinterface manipulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where virtual objects automatically snap to edge regions and are stored in virtual containers when dragged to boundaries. This automation reduces the precision required for one-handed manipulation, as users don't need to precisely position objects within the visible area - they simply need to drag objects toward the edge, and the system handles the rest of the interaction sequence automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

By moving object storage and manipulation to edge regions and virtual containers beyond the main display area, the patent creates easier-to-reach interaction zones that are more accessible for one-handed operation. Users can interact with virtual objects by dragging them to peripheral areas that are naturally more accessible to thumb or finger movements from a single hand position.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4145261B1Application control using a gesture based trigger
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 SNAP INC
  • EP4145261B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4145261B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4145261B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for control of application actions using a modification trigger to visually modify an electronic document are disclosed. A computing device, such as a mobile computing device having a touchscreen display, can display an electronic document having a first portion and a second portion. Initially upon displaying the electronic document, the computing device displays the first portion and the second portion may lie out of view, not displayed. A user can swipe along a scroll direction, causing the second portion to be displayed. The second portion can include or otherwise be associated with a modification trigger. Upon receiving a gesture on the second portion, the modification trigger performs actions, including, for example, subscribing to a series of electronic documents and minimizing the visual display or the electronic document.