Notification Categorization for Limited Display Wristwatches

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic wristwatches with limited display and storage capacity struggle to effectively display notification information received from external devices, such as smartphones, due to their low resolution and small display area, making it difficult for users to reliably recognize the type of notification information they have received.

Innovation Solution

An information terminal system that categorizes and prioritizes notification information, transmitting bitmap data indicating the category of new information to an electronic wristwatch, ensuring that the user is efficiently aware of the type of notifications, including special events like birthdays and purchase anniversaries, by registering categories as display targets based on time of acquisition and priority, and displaying this information on the wristwatch's limited display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If notification information is displayed on electronic wristwatch, then user can be informed of received information, but display area and storage area are limited making it difficult to display notification information effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification information display effectivenessVSAvoiddisplay area

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The notification information is segmented into distinct categories (e.g., email, calendar, messages) and represented by separate bitmap icons. Each category is independently identified and displayed, allowing the limited display area to effectively convey multiple types of notifications through categorical segmentation rather than attempting to display all notification details simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of displaying the actual notification content or full information, the system creates simplified bitmap representations (icons) that copy only the essential categorical information. These bitmap icons serve as visual copies that convey the type of notification without requiring the space needed for full text display, thus resolving the contradiction between information completeness and display area limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Loss of information

If high-resolution and large-sized display is mounted, then notification information can be displayed effectively, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification information display qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by displaying only the essential categorical information through bitmap icons rather than attempting to display complete notification content. This partial display approach provides sufficient information for the user to understand the notification type while consuming significantly less power than a full-resolution display would require.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The display parameters are changed from high-resolution full-content display to low-resolution categorical icon display. By changing the display parameter from showing complete notification text to showing simplified bitmap representations, the system maintains effective notification delivery while reducing power consumption to acceptable levels for battery-operated devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If multiple categories of notification information are displayed, then user awareness is enhanced, but display complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification category recognitionVSAvoiddisplay management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple notification categories are segmented and represented by distinct bitmap icons, each uniquely identifying a specific type of notification. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple categories simultaneously without increasing complexity, as each category has its own standardized visual representation that can be independently managed and displayed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

All notification categories are treated homogeneously by representing them through the same visual mechanism (bitmap icons). This homogeneous approach simplifies display management, as the system uses a consistent method to represent diverse notification types, reducing the complexity that would arise from implementing different display strategies for different categories.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

Data Source

PatentUS20240064225A1Information terminal, notification information management method, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2024.02.22 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

An information terminal includes: a processor: in response to information of a first category being acquired, stores the first category as display target information; in response to information of a category to which second notification information being acquired at a timing after the information of the first category is acquired, and if the category is the first category, stores the first category as the display target information; and in response to information of the category being acquired, and if the category is a second category different from the first category, stores the second category as the display target information.