Missed Call Management via Contextual Touch Interface

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices face challenges in designing user interfaces that allow easy interaction due to limited screen space, leading to complex key sequences and menu hierarchies, making it difficult for users to manage missed and prior telephone calls.

Innovation Solution

A touch-sensitive display with a graphical user interface that allows users to interact through finger contacts and gestures, displaying lists of missed calls, enabling easy selection and initiation of communications, and providing contact information with multiple modalities for response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If more pushbuttons are added to portable communication devices, then the functionality for managing calls is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall management functionalityVSAvoiduser interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pushbutton is designed to perform multiple functions depending on the context. During call management, a single pushbutton can initiate different actions (return call, view contact information, send message) based on what is currently displayed on the screen, eliminating the need for separate buttons for each function while maintaining full call management capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The user interface is made dynamic where the function of each pushbutton changes based on the current screen context. The same physical button can have different virtual functions at different times, allowing the interface to adapt to the user's current task without adding physical complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the density of push buttons is increased, then more functions are accessible, but the ease of operation decreases due to difficulty in activating desired buttons

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction accessibilityVSAvoidbutton activation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves functionality from the horizontal dimension (more buttons side by side) to the temporal dimension (different functions activated at different times). By organizing functions in time-based sequences rather than spatial arrangements, the interface provides extensive functionality while keeping each button large and easy to press

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex menu systems are used, then call management features are comprehensive, but the time required to access features increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall management featuresVSAvoidfeature access time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares multiple possible actions in advance and displays them as contextual options on the screen. When the user presses a button, the system has already prepared the relevant actions based on the current context, allowing immediate execution without requiring the user to navigate through multiple menu levels or remember key sequences

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Volume of moving object

If the screen size is reduced for portability, then the device becomes more portable, but the ease of interaction with user interface decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice portabilityVSAvoiduser interface interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface is segmented into distinct functional areas on the screen, with each area corresponding to a specific action or information type. This segmentation allows the limited screen space to be efficiently organized into manageable sections, making it easier for users to locate and interact with desired functions despite the small overall screen size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230362601A1Missed telephone call management for a portable multifunction device

Publication Date: 2023.11.09 APPLE INC

AI summary

In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device is described. A user interface is displayed while detecting an incoming call from a first phone number. In response to detecting the incoming call and in accordance with a determination that the first phone number for the incoming call does not correspond to an entry in a contact list, the first phone number corresponding to the incoming call is displayed. In response to detecting the incoming call and in accordance with a determination that the first number for the incoming call corresponds to a first entry in the contact list, a name associated with the first entry and/or a graphic associated with the first entry is displayed, without displaying the first phone number.