Mobile Terminal Virtual Dashboard Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communications devices face navigation challenges due to limited screen size and complex navigation requirements, leading to ergonomic issues and difficulty in accessing applications, especially with the introduction of web browsers.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize foreground and background picture data on a display unit, where the positions and amounts of these data sets are dynamically adjusted based on user input, creating a virtual dashboard with a third dimension for enhanced navigation, allowing relative changes in position that simulate depth and movement, thereby simplifying the access to applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the screen size is increased to accommodate more applications and improve navigation, then the number of displayable icons and navigation capability is improved, but the device weight, size, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension (depth) to the navigation interface by implementing a dashboard metaphor where applications are arranged in multiple layers. The foreground displays active applications while background applications are accessible through depth-based navigation, allowing more applications to be accessed without increasing screen area. This dimensional transformation resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced navigation capability within the same physical screen constraints.
2Productivity
If more applications are displayed on the limited screen area, then application accessibility is improved, but the icon size must be reduced making them harder to distinguish
Solution Approach 1:
By organizing applications in a three-dimensional dashboard space with foreground and background layers, the patent allows multiple applications to be displayed simultaneously without reducing icon size on the limited screen area. The depth dimension provides additional space for application icons while maintaining their distinguishability, as only a subset of icons is displayed at any given time in the foreground.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the application display into multiple layers (foreground and background), allowing applications to be organized in distinct groups. This segmentation enables more applications to be accessible without crowding the foreground display, as background applications can be accessed through the depth-based navigation system without competing for screen space with foreground icons.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the navigation complexity is increased to accommodate more applications, then application variety is improved, but the ergonomic strain and user fatigue increase
Solution Approach 1:
The depth-based dashboard navigation provides an intuitive spatial metaphor that reduces cognitive load compared to traditional flat navigation. Users can visually perceive the relationship between foreground and background applications, making navigation more natural and less fatiguing. The third dimension organizes applications in a visually intuitive manner that accommodates variety while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Method in a mobile communications device, comprising: providing foreground picture data, providing background picture data, displaying the background and foreground picture data according to determined first positions and amounts on said display unit, receiving direction data, determining, based on the received direction data, a second position and amount of the background picture data and foreground picture data to display, respectively, wherein the relative change of position of the background picture data is different from the relative change of position of the foreground picture data. Also disclosed is a mobile communications device.