Non-Touch Terminal Menu Navigation via Key Signal Thresholding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-touch portable terminals cannot provide menus in a page scheme without adding inefficient key buttons for page movement.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that output menu pages with icons arranged in columns and rows, allowing key signal input to determine if it exceeds a preset reference value for page movement, enabling intuitive navigation without additional keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a non-touch portable terminal uses conventional menu display methods, then the terminal structure remains simple, but the terminal cannot provide menus in a page scheme without adding additional key buttons
Solution Approach 1:
The existing arrow keys are made multi-functional by introducing a reference value threshold. When the input signal exceeds the reference value, the arrow keys perform page movement function; when it does not exceed, they perform menu selection function. This allows the same keys to serve multiple purposes without adding additional buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of the input signal by introducing a reference value threshold. The interpretation of the arrow key signal depends on whether it exceeds this reference value, enabling the same physical keys to trigger different functions (page movement vs. menu selection) based on the signal parameter.
2Ease of operation
If additional key buttons are added for page movement, then page navigation becomes possible, but the device complexity increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The arrow keys are designed to perform dual functions: menu selection and page movement. By monitoring whether the input signal exceeds a reference value, the system determines which function to execute, eliminating the need for separate page navigation buttons.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing arrow keys serve themselves by taking on additional functionality. Instead of requiring dedicated buttons for page movement, the arrow keys autonomously perform both menu selection and page navigation based on the signal characteristics.
3Device complexity
If arrow keys are used for menu selection, then the terminal structure remains simple, but page movement becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a reference value parameter that changes the interpretation of the arrow key signal. When the signal exceeds the reference value, it triggers page movement; otherwise, it performs menu selection. This parameter-based differentiation enables multiple functions from a single key set.
Solution Approach 2:
The arrow keys are transformed into multi-functional input devices that can perform both menu selection and page movement operations, depending on the signal characteristics, thereby increasing the adaptability of the terminal without adding more keys.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for providing a user interface in a portable terminal without a touch screen are provided. The method includes outputting one of a plurality of menu pages, each menu page including a plurality of icons respectively linked to a specific function and arranged in multiple columns and rows, determining whether a key signal requesting movement is input, determining whether the input key signal exceeds a preset reference value when the key signal is input, and moving another of the plurality of menu pages when the input key signal exceeds the preset reference value, and moving a focus on the output menu page when the input key signal does not exceed the preset reference value.