Non-linear Calendar View for Mobile Display Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices struggle to efficiently display large ranges of calendar data due to limited display sizes, memory, and processing capabilities, leading to slow response times and the hiding or minimizing of non-core time increments, which results in users missing important calendar events.
Innovation Solution
A non-linear calendar view is implemented, where commonly-used time increments are displayed linearly, and less frequently used time increments are compressed, allowing all time increments to be visible without significant delays, and dynamically fetching additional data as the user navigates through the calendar view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional linear calendar view displays all time increments equally, then all calendar events are visible, but display space is wasted on non-core hours and mobile device screens cannot accommodate full 24-hour views
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating display space allocation based on the importance of time increments. Core business hours (e.g., 9 AM - 5 PM) are displayed with standard height, while non-core hours are compressed to smaller heights. This allows the calendar to preserve visibility of all events while optimizing display space usage on mobile devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the calendar view responsive to user interaction. When users scroll or drag the calendar view, the system dynamically adjusts which time increments are compressed and which are displayed at full height. This dynamic adaptation allows the interface to maintain information visibility while accommodating mobile screen constraints.
2Reliability
If mobile devices download and store large amounts of calendar data locally, then calendar views can be displayed without network connection, but device memory and processing capacity are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing calendar data into manageable chunks that are loaded on-demand rather than downloading entire calendars. The system segments calendar views into visible portions and retrieves only the necessary data segments when users navigate to specific time periods, reducing memory requirements while maintaining reliable access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading calendar data for commonly accessed time periods (such as current week or month) into local storage. This allows the device to display calendar views without network connection for these pre-loaded periods, while avoiding the need to store entire year-long calendars that would exceed memory capacity.
3Ease of operation
If traditional calendar interfaces display equal space for all hours, then navigation is simple, but users must scroll through large durations to find events and response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by compressing non-core hours to smaller visual spaces while maintaining full interactivity. Users can still tap or drag on compressed time periods to access events, but the compressed layout reduces the total scrolling distance needed to view the full 24-hour range, decreasing response time while preserving ease of operation through maintained interactivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for displaying increments of time in a calendar view. Method receives a selection of commonly-used increments of time for the calendar and allots equal amounts of display space in the calendar view for each commonly-used increment. The method allots less display space for other increments of time that are not commonly-used as compared to space allotted for the commonly-used increments. In another embodiment, a system presents a calendar view having a plurality of increments of time and events in a display. The system includes an input device for receiving a selection of commonly-used increments of time and a processor configured to alter the calendar view by displaying the commonly-used increments of time linearly with equal amounts of display size for commonly-used increments of time and decreasing the size of other increments of time in proportion to their proximity to commonly-used increments.