Media Capture Lock Affordance for One-Handed Gesture Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media capture techniques on electronic devices are cumbersome and inefficient, requiring multiple key presses or keystrokes, wasting user time and device energy, particularly in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

A media capture lock affordance for graphical user interfaces that allows users to initiate, terminate, and transition media capture sessions using intuitive gestures such as tap and hold, slide, and lift gestures on a touch-sensitive screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple key presses or keystrokes are used for media capture, then the media capture function can be implemented, but user time and device energy are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia capture operationVSAvoiduser time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical keyboard input system with a touch-sensitive display system that detects gestures (tap, slide, lift) to control media capture. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple key presses and keystrokes, directly reducing user time and energy consumption while maintaining media capture functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the input parameter from discrete key presses to continuous gesture-based input (tap, slide, lift movements). This parameter change allows for more efficient media capture operations by reducing the number of discrete actions required, thereby saving user time and device energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If multiple key presses or keystrokes are used for media capture, then the media capture function can be implemented, but device energy is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia capture operationVSAvoiddevice energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical keyboard input system with a touch-sensitive display system that detects gestures (tap, slide, lift) to control media capture. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple key presses and keystrokes, directly reducing user time and energy consumption while maintaining media capture functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the input parameter from discrete key presses to continuous gesture-based input (tap, slide, lift movements). This parameter change allows for more efficient media capture operations by reducing the number of discrete actions required, thereby saving user time and device energy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a complex user interface is used for media capture, then media capture can be performed, but the interface is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia capture functionalityVSAvoidinterface operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential media capture functionality from the complex user interface and implements it through simple gesture-based operations (tap, slide, lift) on the touch-sensitive display. This extraction eliminates unnecessary interface elements and reduces operation time while preserving core media capture capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the media capture operation into distinct gesture-based steps (tap to initiate, slide to adjust, lift to confirm), making the interface more manageable and faster to operate. This segmentation breaks down the complex operation into simple, intuitive actions that reduce overall interface operation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12530116B2Media capture lock affordance for graphical user interface

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 APPLE INC

AI summary

The disclosed embodiments are directed to a media capture lock affordance for a graphical user interface displayed by a media capture device. The media capture lock affordance allows a user to lock and unlock a capture state of the media capture device using a simple and intuitive touch gesture that can be applied by the user's finger (e.g., the user's thumb) while holding the media capture device in one hand.