App Icon Corner-Mark Message Access for Faster Unread Handling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The current message processing methods on electronic devices are cumbersome and inefficient for quickly locating specific application programs with unread messages, as they require swiping and clicking operations due to the vertical arrangement and lack of priority sorting in notification bars.

Innovation Solution

A message processing method that allows users to interact with a corner mark on an application icon to display unread messages in a message window, enabling quick viewing, replying, locking, and deleting operations, with options for vertical or horizontal display modes and temporary storage of important messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If unread messages are arranged vertically in notification bar based on time without priorities, then all messages can be displayed, but users cannot quickly locate specific application programs and operation process becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage viewing operationVSAvoidtime to locate specific message
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The notification bar is segmented into multiple rows, with each row representing a different application program. This segmentation allows users to quickly locate specific applications by their icon position rather than scrolling through a vertical list, directly reducing the time to locate specific messages while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a one-dimensional vertical arrangement to a two-dimensional grid layout where messages are organized by rows (applications) and columns (message items). This dimensional change enables users to quickly identify and access messages from specific applications by looking at the horizontal row position, eliminating the need to swipe through vertical lists and significantly reducing location time.

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

2Area of stationary object

If unread messages are displayed in vertical arrangement limited by screen length, then all messages fit on screen, but users need to swipe up and down to find corresponding unread messages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay area utilizationVSAvoidmessage access operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into multiple horizontal rows, each dedicated to a specific application program. This segmentation allows the notification bar to utilize the full screen width effectively, displaying multiple application messages simultaneously without requiring vertical scrolling, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining efficient display area utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a two-dimensional grid layout that充分利用 the screen's horizontal and vertical space. By organizing messages in rows and columns rather than a single vertical list, the system maximizes display capacity while enabling direct access to any message through simple horizontal or vertical navigation, eliminating cumbersome swiping operations.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If notification bar displays messages from multiple application programs, then comprehensive message coverage is achieved, but complexity of locating messages from specific applications increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-application message supportVSAvoidmessage location complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification bar is divided into distinct horizontal rows, with each row assigned to a specific application program. This segmentation provides clear visual separation between different applications, allowing users to quickly locate messages from specific applications without being overwhelmed by mixed content, thus maintaining simplicity despite supporting multiple applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each row in the notification bar has a distinct local quality characterized by its dedicated application icon and associated messages. This local differentiation allows users to immediately identify which application a message belongs to by looking at the row's icon, reducing the complexity of locating messages from specific applications while maintaining comprehensive multi-application support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4239471B1Message processing method and apparatus, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP4239471B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4239471B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4239471B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application discloses a message processing method and apparatus, and an electronic device, which belong to the technical field of communication. The message processing method includes: receiving a first input performed on a target region on a first icon; where the target region includes a corner mark associated with a first unread message, and the first unread message includes at least one unread message of an application program corresponding to the first icon; and displaying the first unread message in response to the first input.