Notification Display Timer for Accidental Selection Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of electronic devices may accidentally select options beneath pop-up notifications due to the notifications timing out, leading to unintended actions as they do not have a clear indication of the remaining display time.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that generate a first display object representing an event and a second display object indicating the display time, which updates based on elapsed time, allowing users to visually track when the notification will disappear without requiring positive dismissal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pop-up notification is displayed for a predefined duration without additional indicators, then the notification can be dismissed automatically after timeout, but users may accidentally select options underneath the notification due to lack of clear time indication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by introducing a visual timer indicator that continuously shows the remaining display time of the notification. This feedback mechanism allows users to understand how much time remains before automatic dismissal, enabling them to make informed decisions about whether to interact with the notification or wait for it to timeout, thereby preventing accidental selections of underlying options
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a timer indicator as an intermediary element between the notification and the underlying interface options. This intermediary provides temporal information without blocking the underlying content, mediating between the automatic dismissal function and the need to prevent accidental selections by giving users clear time awareness
2Reliability
If a timer indicator is added to show remaining notification time, then users can prevent accidental selections, but the device complexity increases due to additional display objects and update mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the timer indicator with the notification display by positioning it within or adjacent to the notification area. The timer indicator is integrated into the existing notification rendering pipeline, combining multiple functions (notification display, timing visualization, and user guidance) into a unified display structure that reduces overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The timer indicator serves multiple functions simultaneously: it visualizes the remaining notification time, provides feedback to users about automatic dismissal timing, and prevents accidental selections of underlying options. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby managing device complexity while achieving reliable accidental selection prevention
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating display objects comprises operating a processor to: detect an occurrence of an event; define a display time associated with a predefined duration following the occurrence of the event; generate a first display object for display for by a display device for the predefined duration, wherein the first display object is representative of the detected event; output the first display object on the display device; generate a second display object for display by a display device for the predefined duration, wherein the second display object is indicative of the display time; output the second display object on the display device; and update the second display object based on an elapsed time of the predefined duration. A device and executable computer program for performing the steps of the method is also provided.