Icon Board Interface for Multifunction Electronic Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users of multifunction electronic devices face difficulties in navigating complex hierarchical menus, leading to reduced operation efficiency and negative user experience due to the need to frequently switch between menu levels to find desired functions.
Innovation Solution
An icon board based operation interface is implemented, displaying main functions and their frequently used sub-functions on a screen, with sub-function icons generated based on historical usage data, allowing users to quickly access and control all functions through a visual representation of function boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hierarchical menu interface is used to display function options, then the electronic device can provide comprehensive function selection, but users experience difficulty in navigating and controlling all function options
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hierarchical menu structure into a flattened icon board interface, where main functions and frequently used sub-functions are displayed together on the same screen level. This segmentation eliminates the need for users to navigate through multiple menu hierarchy levels, directly addressing the contradiction by maintaining comprehensive function selection while significantly improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a vertical hierarchical menu structure to a horizontal icon board layout, changing the dimensional organization of the interface. This dimensional change allows users to access functions laterally across the screen rather than vertically through multiple levels, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive function display and user navigation ease.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hierarchical menu structure is implemented, then all function options can be displayed, but users must frequently switch between menu levels to find desired functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the menu structure by displaying main functions and their frequently used sub-functions on the same screen level rather than in separate hierarchical levels. This segmentation eliminates the time-consuming process of switching between menu levels, allowing users to access all needed functions in a single view and significantly reducing selection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-organizing and pre-displaying frequently used sub-functions alongside main functions on the icon board before users need to access them. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for users to search through multiple menu levels, directly reducing the time required for function selection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex operating procedures are used, then comprehensive function control is achieved, but operation efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex operating procedures into simplified single-step selections on the icon board. By displaying main functions and frequently used sub-functions together, users can select desired functions in a single action rather than through multiple hierarchical navigation steps, directly improving operation efficiency while maintaining comprehensive function control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts frequently used sub-functions from the hierarchical menu structure and places them directly on the icon board alongside main functions. This extraction eliminates the need for users to perform complex multi-step procedures to access these functions, significantly improving operation efficiency while preserving full function control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device and a method for implementing an icon board based operation interface thereof are provided. In the method, a plurality of areas within a screen frame on a screen of the electronic device are arranged for respectively displaying a plurality of function boards, in which each of the function boards is corresponding to one of a plurality of main functions supported by the electronic device. For each main function including at least one sub-function, a sub-function icon thereof is generated according to a relevant historical operating information, and a main function icon of the main function and the sub-function icon of each sub-function are displayed together on the function board of the main function.