Input Control Assignment for Touchscreen Gamepads
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual gamepads on touchscreens lack tactile feedback, making it difficult for users to accurately select input controls without looking at the screen, especially during continuous gameplay where breaks are infrequent.
Innovation Solution
Implementing the nearest neighbor and angle and distance techniques for input control assignment, where touches are assigned to the closest control or based on calculated angles and distances relative to previous touches, with angle and distance information maintained for input controls to enhance accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If virtual gamepad controls are displayed on a flat touchscreen surface, then the device can be used for gameplay, but users cannot accurately select controls without visual attention due to lack of tactile feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies visual differentiation through color coding and visual indicators to compensate for the lack of tactile feedback. Different controls are displayed with distinct visual characteristics that help users identify and select the intended control without looking down at the touchscreen, thereby maintaining control selection accuracy despite the flat surface limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements visual feedback mechanisms that provide users with information about their input selections through on-screen indicators. This feedback loop allows users to confirm their control selections without visual attention, compensating for the absence of tactile feedback on the flat touchscreen surface.
2Productivity
If users focus on watching the displayed video game, then gameplay immersion is maintained, but control selection accuracy decreases due to inability to see touchscreen controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to automatically determine control selection based on touch location and game context without requiring user visual confirmation. The system serves itself by interpreting touch inputs and assigning them to appropriate controls based on spatial relationships and game state, allowing users to maintain focus on the gameplay while ensuring accurate control selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures control zones and selection criteria before user interaction. By establishing predetermined touch zones and selection rules in advance, the system can automatically and accurately assign touch inputs to controls without requiring users to visually verify their selections during gameplay, thus maintaining both gameplay continuity and input accuracy.
3Loss of information
If traditional gamepad controls with raised surfaces are used, then tactile feedback is provided for accurate control selection, but the device cannot be integrated into touchscreen devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tactile feedback system of traditional gamepads with a software-based visual feedback system on the touchscreen. By substituting the mechanical raised control surfaces with visual indicators and color-coded displays, the invention adapts the tactile feedback concept to the flat touchscreen medium, enabling integration while maintaining control selection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the feedback parameter from tactile (physical) to visual (optical). By transforming the nature of feedback from mechanical touch sensation to visual display characteristics, the invention enables traditional gamepad functionality to be implemented on touchscreen devices with flat surfaces, achieving both device integration and control accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Various techniques may be employed for assigning user inputs such as a touch on a touchscreen to various input controls such as buttons or other features provided on a touchscreen. One example input assignment technique is a nearest neighbor technique, whereby a touch may, for example, be assigned to an input control that is positioned closest to the touch location. Another example input assignment technique is an angle and distance technique, whereby a touch may, for example, be assigned to an input control based on an angle and a distance of the touch relative to a prior touch.