Hierarchical Palette Interface for Small Screen Command Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smaller screen devices face limitations in usable space, leading to functionality and usability issues with graphical control elements, as developers often neglect screen size constraints when designing applications, resulting in impaired performance and navigation on these devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an application command control system that dynamically adapts to smaller screens by using a hierarchical structure of palettes and command elements, which are vertically scrollable and intelligently organized to maximize space efficiency, allowing for robust functionality and usability similar to larger devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If graphical control elements are designed without considering screen size limitations, then functionality and usability are maintained on larger displays, but functionality and usability deteriorate on smaller screens
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical control interface is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels including top-level palettes and drill-in palettes. Each palette contains specific command elements organized by function, allowing the interface to present only relevant controls at each level rather than overwhelming the user with all controls simultaneously. This segmentation enables robust functionality to be maintained while adapting to small screen constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the control interface structure. Instead of arranging all controls in a single flat layout, controls are organized across multiple levels (top-level palettes, drill-in palettes, sub-palettes) that can be navigated through. This adds a depth dimension to the interface, allowing comprehensive functionality to be accessed through structured navigation rather than requiring all controls to be visible at once.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple command elements and functions are included in graphical control elements, then functionality is enhanced, but usability and navigation become impaired on small screens
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface implements a nested structure where drill-in palettes are contained within top-level palettes, and sub-palettes are contained within drill-in palettes. Each nested level provides additional functionality related to the parent level's command elements. This nesting allows comprehensive functionality to be packaged in a compact hierarchical structure that adapts to small screens while maintaining robust capabilities through progressive disclosure.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface structure is dynamic rather than static. Palettes can be expanded and collapsed based on user interaction, allowing the interface to adapt its complexity level. The system dynamically presents only the necessary command elements at each moment, reducing perceived complexity while maintaining full functionality available through navigation. This dynamic behavior allows the interface to scale between simple and complex states based on user needs.
3Area of stationary object
If graphical control elements are made compact for small screens, then space efficiency is improved, but functionality may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting controls into hierarchical palettes, each palette can be compact in size while the overall system provides extensive functionality. Individual palettes display only relevant controls for the current context, keeping each view compact and manageable. The full functionality is achieved through the collection of all palettes across the hierarchy, not requiring any single palette to contain all controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent compensates for reduced two-dimensional screen space by utilizing a third dimension—hierarchical depth. Instead of trying to fit all controls into the limited planar space, controls are distributed across multiple hierarchical levels. This allows compact presentation at each level while maintaining comprehensive functionality through the stacked layers of palettes, effectively trading area for depth in the interface structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the present disclosure describe application command control for small screen display. When detecting a display width associated with a processing device is equal to or less than a threshold value, the processing device launches an application command control programmed for display on small screens. The application command control interfaces with an application and comprises a plurality of top-level palettes and a plurality of drill-in palettes programmed for the application. A top-level palette for the application is vertically scrollable and comprises a collection of rows comprising one or more selectable command elements. A row of the one or more command elements of the top-level palette comprises a drill-in feature that when selected presents a drill-in palette. A drill-in palette is vertically scrollable and comprises one or more rows of selectable command elements.