Hierarchical UI Navigation with Concurrent Top-Level Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for navigating through hierarchical user interfaces on touch-sensitive devices are cumbersome and inefficient, leading to increased cognitive burden and energy consumption, particularly in battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A multifunction device with a display that concurrently displays a view of the top level and a lower level of a hierarchical user interface, allowing users to navigate through levels while maintaining context and providing a shortcut to return to the top level, which is hidden during content modification to prevent accidental inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the view of the top level is ceased to be displayed when navigating to a lower level, then the display space is optimized for the lower level, but the cognitive burden on the user increases and the likelihood of unintentional inputs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested view structure where the lower level view is displayed within or alongside the top level view. The top level view acts as a container or parent context that remains partially visible, while the lower level view is nested within it. This allows users to maintain awareness of the hierarchical context without losing display space, as the nested arrangement efficiently utilizes the screen real estate by showing both levels simultaneously in a structured manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-level sequential view to a multi-dimensional concurrent display. Instead of completely replacing the top level view when navigating to a lower level, the system displays both views concurrently in different spatial dimensions or regions of the screen. This dimensional approach allows users to see both the parent context and child details simultaneously, reducing cognitive burden while optimizing display space through efficient spatial arrangement.
2Ease of operation
If the view of the top level is continued to be displayed while navigating to a lower level, then the cognitive burden is reduced, but the navigation time increases and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display area into distinct regions: a primary region for the lower level view and a secondary region for the top level view. The top level view is segmented to show only essential navigational elements and context information, while the lower level receives full attention. This segmentation allows rapid switching and rendering of views, reducing navigation time while maintaining contextual awareness through the segmented secondary display region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by displaying only the essential or predefined portion of the top level view rather than the complete view. This partial display reduces the rendering and processing overhead, enabling faster view transitions and reducing navigation time. The essential context information is sufficient to reduce cognitive burden without requiring the full top level view, thus achieving a balance between context retention and navigation efficiency.
3Loss of information
If the predefined portion of the top level view is continuously displayed, then contextual awareness is maintained, but the device consumes more power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by selectively displaying the predefined portion of the top level view based on the operational state. The contextual view is displayed during navigation phases but is hidden or minimized during content modification modes. This periodic display approach maintains contextual awareness when needed while conserving power during intensive operations, as the display refresh and rendering resources are allocated only when contextual information is required for navigation decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the display configuration dynamic by adjusting the visibility of the top level view based on the current operational context. When the user is navigating or needs contextual information, the predefined portion of the top level view is displayed. When the user is engaged in content modification, the system dynamically hides the top level view to reduce power consumption. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize power usage based on real-time operational needs while maintaining contextual awareness when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunction device displays a view of a top level of a hierarchical user interface. The hierarchical user interface has a plurality of levels including the top level and one or more lower levels. In response to detecting a first input, the device displays a view of at least one of the lower levels and at least a predefined portion of the view of the top level. While displaying a view of a respective lower level and concurrently displaying at least the predefined portion of the view of the top level, the device detects a second input. When the second input corresponds to a request to enter a content modification mode for the respective lower level, the device enters the content modification mode for the respective lower level and ceases to display the predefined portion of the view of the top level.