Multidirectional Control for Telecommunication Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Telecommunication devices with advanced capabilities face challenges in user interaction due to their small form factor, making controls difficult to use and often underutilized, especially in paired accessories like headsets which have limited inputs.

Innovation Solution

A locally connected electronic device with a multidirectional control that allows users to interact by moving the control in patterns or durations, associating these interactions with commands for the telecommunication device, enabling actions such as voice calls, text messaging, and media control through a wireless or near-field connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If telecommunication devices include multiple inputs and controls to enable various applications and services, then the device capabilities and functionality are improved, but the device size increases and controls become difficult to use on small form factor devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice capabilitiesVSAvoidcontrols usability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a separate control device that acts as an intermediary between the user and the telecommunication device. This external controller handles the complexity of multiple inputs and controls, allowing the main telecommunication device to maintain a small form factor while still providing access to full functionality through the paired control device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device is designed to work with multiple different telecommunication devices and applications through a unified interface. A single control device can perform various functions including answering calls, rejecting calls, accessing contacts, and controlling media playback across different device types, eliminating the need for device-specific controls

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Volume of moving object

If telecommunication devices maintain a small form factor, then portability is improved, but controls become difficult to use and are often underutilized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidcontrols usability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a separate control device that acts as an intermediary between the user and the telecommunication device. This external controller handles the complexity of multiple inputs and controls, allowing the main telecommunication device to maintain a small form factor while still providing access to full functionality through the paired control device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is divided into two separate components: a compact telecommunication device and a dedicated control device. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the telecommunication device remains small and portable while the control device provides ergonomic, easy-to-use controls

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If headsets include a limited set of inputs for basic functions, then device complexity is reduced, but the range of controllable actions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol inputsVSAvoidcontrollable actions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control device is designed to work with multiple different telecommunication devices and applications through a unified interface. A single control device can perform various functions including answering calls, rejecting calls, accessing contacts, and controlling media playback across different device types, eliminating the need for device-specific controls

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device features dynamically reconfigurable buttons that can be programmed to perform different functions based on the current context and application. This allows the same physical button to serve multiple purposes - for example, the same button can answer calls during phone calls, reject calls when not in use, or control media playback during music playback, maximizing the range of controllable actions without adding more physical buttons

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8160565B2Device with multidirectional control for selecting actions to perform on a telecommunication device

Publication Date: 2012.04.17 T MOBILE US INC

AI summary

An electronic device and a telecommunication device that are locally connected and methods of utilizing those devices are described herein. The electronic device detects a pattern or duration of user interactions with a multidirectional control of the electronic device. Based on the pattern or duration and association data mapping patterns or durations to commands, the electronic device selects a command and then transmits the command to the telecommunication device. The telecommunication device enables a user to associate actions to be performed by the telecommunication device with patterns or durations of user interaction with the multidirectional control. Also, the telecommunication device receives a signal from the electronic device that is recognized as a command to perform an action, the recognition being based on association data mapping the signal to a pattern or duration of user interaction. The telecommunication device then performs the action.