Social Networking Media Reel Interface for Touchscreen Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional user interfaces on handheld devices for social networking services are inadequate in facilitating interactions with a large number of media items and fail to leverage the unique characteristics of input devices, such as touchscreens, leading to inefficient navigation and input processes on devices with smaller screens and limited input methods.

Innovation Solution

A client device user interface that displays social information and media items in separate areas of the screen, allowing users to navigate through media items by scrolling and swiping, enabling convenient viewing and interaction with a large number of media items by shifting and selecting items for enlarged display or playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional user interfaces are used on handheld devices for social networking services, then the interface is simple and familiar, but the interface fails to facilitate efficient interaction with a large number of media items and does not leverage touchscreen characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of interaction with media itemsVSAvoidcomplexity of user interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into distinct functional areas: a media display area showing multiple media items in a grid layout, and a separate information area displaying details about the selected media item or user. This segmentation allows efficient browsing of many media items while keeping the interface organized and manageable, resolving the contradiction between interaction efficiency and interface complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interface transitions from traditional linear navigation to a two-dimensional grid layout where media items are arranged in rows and columns. Users can swipe horizontally to navigate between different sets of media items and vertically to scroll within sets, adding a spatial dimension to navigation that dramatically improves browsing efficiency without significantly increasing perceived interface complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Weight of moving object

If handheld devices with smaller screens are used to access social networking services, then the device is portable and convenient, but the device can display a smaller number of media items simultaneously requiring navigation through multiple views

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportability of deviceVSAvoidnumber of media items displayed simultaneously

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple pages or views of media items are merged into a single continuous swipeable interface. Instead of requiring users to navigate through separate screens or pages, all media items are displayed in an extended grid that can be scrolled horizontally and vertically, allowing users to access many more media items within the limited screen space while maintaining portability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The interface utilizes both horizontal and vertical dimensions for displaying media items in a grid layout, with additional horizontal swiping to access different sets of items. This multi-dimensional arrangement maximizes the use of available screen real estate on portable devices, allowing a larger quantity of media items to be displayed and accessed simultaneously compared to traditional single-direction scrolling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If handheld devices lack full keyboards or mouse devices, then the device has simpler input mechanisms, but the process of inputting alphanumeric characters requires more time and mental focus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of input devicesVSAvoidtime required for input operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is designed to be primarily navigable through touchscreen swiping gestures rather than requiring alphanumeric input. Users can swipe to navigate, select items, and interact with content, making the system self-service in the sense that it minimizes the need for complex input operations. This resolves the contradiction by reducing time loss through input operations while maintaining simple touchscreen input mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The interface replaces traditional mechanical input methods (keyboards, mice) with touchscreen gesture-based navigation. Swiping, tapping, and scrolling gestures substitute for typing and clicking, dramatically reducing the time and mental focus required for input operations while keeping the input device itself simple and integrated into the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9052806B2User interface for presenting media items of social networking service in media reel

Publication Date: 2015.06.09 META PLATFORMS INC

AI summary

A user interface for a mobile device allows a user of a social networking service to conveniently view information of a related user and media items associated with the related user. The user interface enables the user to select a view of a related user by providing first user inputs. Each view has a defined section that displays media items associated with the selected user. The displayed media items in the defined section can be varied in response to receiving second user inputs. The user can select a media item in the defined section for further view or other actions.