Application Icon Management Menu for Mobile Device Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for moving application icons on mobile devices are complex, leading to poor human-computer interaction performance.

Innovation Solution

An application icon moving method that displays a management menu around the icon, allowing users to easily select a sub-screen or folder for the icon to be moved to, thereby simplifying the icon movement process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the conventional drag-and-drop method is used to move application icons, then the icon can be moved to any position, but the operation process becomes complex and human-computer interaction performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveicon moving operationVSAvoidoperation process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the icon moving operation into distinct phases: selection phase (user selects target sub-screen from menu), execution phase (system automatically moves icon), and confirmation phase (menu disappears). This segmentation transforms the continuous complex drag-and-drop gesture into discrete simple steps, improving ease of operation while reducing perceived complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary management menu that acts as a mediator between the user's selection and the icon movement execution. Instead of direct drag-and-drop interaction, the user first selects the target location from the menu, which then triggers the movement. This intermediary simplifies the interaction by providing clear visual feedback and reducing the physical complexity of the gesture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the user needs to navigate to the last sub-screen to move an icon, then the icon can be repositioned, but the number of operations increases and interaction efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveicon repositioning efficiencyVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by displaying the management menu with all available sub-screen options immediately when the user selects an icon, rather than requiring the user to navigate through screens to find the target location. The system proactively presents all possible destinations, allowing the user to directly select the target sub-screen without intermediate navigation steps, thus reducing operation time and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the icon is placed at a vacant position on the last sub-screen, then the installation is completed, but the user experience deteriorates when the user wants to move the icon to a different location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveicon movementVSAvoidtime to move icon
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by displaying a management menu that shows all available sub-screens and their current icon placements when the user selects an icon. This visual feedback allows the user to immediately see where the icon can be moved and make an informed selection without trial-and-error navigation. The menu provides real-time information about target locations, reducing the time and effort required for icon movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3907592B1Method for moving application icons, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3907592B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)
  • EP3907592B1 patent drawingFigure 1(b)
  • EP3907592B1 patent drawingFigure 1(c)

AI summary

This application provides an application icon moving method and an electronic device, and relates to the field of electronic devices, to resolve the following problem: Operations of moving an icon of a newly installed application are complex, and human-computer interaction performance is relatively poor. After a first application is newly installed in an electronic device, the electronic device may display an interface including an icon of the first application. If receiving a second operation performed by a user on the icon of the first application, in response to the second operation, the electronic device may display a management menu around the icon of the first application, where the management menu includes one or more of the following identifiers: an identifier of a sub-screen of a home screen of the electronic device, or an identifier of a folder included in a sub-screen. The electronic device may receive a third operation performed by the user on a first identifier included in the management menu, and in response to the third operation, move the icon of the first application to a sub-screen or a folder corresponding to the first identifier.