Interactive Image Slices for Space-Efficient Catalog Browsing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital imaging in electronic catalog services and network services faces challenges in efficiently and interactively presenting multiple items of varying types and dimensions within a limited user interface, making it difficult for users to organize and interact with large quantities of item images effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of interactive image slices that can be cropped and scaled, allowing users to dynamically update the display by expanding or contracting images based on user input, such as cursor movement or touch gestures, while maintaining a static configuration beyond a certain distance to prevent visual overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple item images of varying types and dimensions are displayed within a limited user interface, then the quantity of information presented increases, but the organization and interaction difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display area into multiple zones with different image configurations. A first portion of the user interface displays images in a condensed grid layout, while a second portion displays selected images in a expanded view. This segmentation allows numerous item images to be organized into manageable groups, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining access to all items.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional grid display to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement by expanding selected images into a new display dimension. When users interact with images in the first portion, those images are extracted and displayed in the second portion with enhanced visibility and interaction capabilities, adding a temporal and spatial dimension to the browsing experience.
2Manufacturing precision
If full-sized images are displayed for all items, then image detail and quality improve, but the display space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by displaying images at different resolutions and sizes in different portions of the interface. The first portion displays thumbnails or condensed views of multiple images, while the second portion displays full-sized images with high detail. This localized approach to image quality allows the system to optimize display space by showing only full-resolution images where they are most needed, rather than uniformly displaying all images at maximum quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic image scaling and transformation. Images in the first portion can be dynamically expanded into the second portion when selected, transitioning from a condensed state to a full-sized state. This dynamic behavior allows the interface to adapt to user interaction, providing high-quality full-sized images on-demand without permanently occupying the display space that would be required if all images were displayed at full size simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interactive features are added to allow dynamic image updates, then user interaction capability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the user interface with distinct display portions and establishing the framework for image transformation before user interaction occurs. The system is pre-programmed with the logic to expand images from the first portion to the second portion, and to maintain state information about which images are selected. This preliminary setup reduces the complexity of real-time processing during user interaction, as the basic structure and response protocols are already in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary display structure between the condensed image grid and the full-sized image view. Rather than directly transforming images from thumbnail to full-size, the system uses a second portion of the user interface as an intermediate zone where selected images are expanded and displayed with enhanced interaction capabilities. This intermediary layer simplifies the interaction model by providing a clear transition path and reducing the cognitive load on users while managing system complexity through structured state transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for generating and updating an efficient configuration for display of item images, in order to present the contents of a collection of item images to a user in a space-efficient and visually pleasing manner. For example, an initial configuration can be generated including thin slices of each image. The thin slices can be symmetrically cropped versions of the corresponding image designed to still convey a high degree of detail about the depicted item. When a user interacts with the thin slices, for example, by hovering a cursor or through a touch event, the initial configuration can be updated to gradually expand slices and contract full size images based on the user input.