Media Player Control Sets on Touch Screens

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for navigating and controlling media players on portable devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are cumbersome and inefficient, particularly on small screens, leading to increased cognitive burden and energy consumption in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that allows for the separate display of predefined sets of media player controls on a touch-sensitive display, enabling users to switch between them via gestures, allowing for efficient control and navigation using a single finger or thumb.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple media player controls are displayed on a small touch screen, then control functionality is improved, but cognitive burden and operation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidcognitive burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The media player controls are divided into multiple predefined sets, with each set containing a specific subset of controls. Users can switch between different sets depending on their current needs, rather than displaying all controls simultaneously. This segmentation reduces the visible complexity and cognitive burden on the user interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If more media player controls are displayed, then control versatility is improved, but screen space and navigation efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol versatilityVSAvoidnavigation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple predefined sets of controls are prepared in advance, each optimized for specific media player functions. When a user needs a particular control, the corresponding predefined set is already available for immediate selection, eliminating the need to search through or navigate to controls that would otherwise require additional time and screen space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If traditional media player control methods are used, then interface simplicity is maintained, but energy consumption increases due to longer operation time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically manages multiple predefined control sets based on user selection, eliminating the need for complex manual navigation. The touch-sensitive display efficiently detects and responds to user inputs, reducing the overall interaction time and consequently lowering power consumption during media player operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10140301B2Device, method, and graphical user interface for selecting and using sets of media player controls

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 APPLE INC

AI summary

A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display is configured to separately display sets of media player controls, including a first set and a second set. The device displays the first set while playing a first media item and detects gestures on the touch-sensitive display while displaying the first set and playing the first media item. In response to detecting a first gesture on a first media player control in the first set, the device activates the first media player control and controls playing of the first media item in accordance with activation of the first media player control. In response to detecting a second gesture, the second gesture distinct from the first gesture, the device replaces display of the first set with display of the second set and maintains playing of the first media item.