Orientation-Based Content Sharing Interface for Reliable Device Handoff

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in efficiently sharing content with other devices, leading to increased user interaction time and battery consumption, while also requiring improved privacy management of personally identifiable information.

Innovation Solution

Electronic devices are equipped with user interfaces that allow content sharing based on device orientation and provide options to modify settings before sharing, ensuring reliable communication and minimizing redundant user inputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If traditional content sharing methods are used, then content can be shared between devices, but user interaction time increases and battery power is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction timeVSAvoidcontent sharing operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting nearby devices and pre-configuring sharing options before the user initiates content sharing. The user interface presents pre-selected sharing targets based on device proximity and compatibility, eliminating the need for users to manually search for and select recipient devices, thereby reducing interaction time while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If device orientation detection is implemented, then sharing reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesharing communication reliabilityVSAvoiddevice system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the user interface system) that processes device orientation data and translates it into meaningful sharing options. Rather than requiring direct complex interactions between multiple devices and their sensors, the intermediary system consolidates orientation detection, device identification, and sharing option presentation into a unified interface, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing perceived device complexity for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If automatic device detection is used, then sharing efficiency improves, but privacy management becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent sharing efficiencyVSAvoidpersonally identifiable information privacy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by differentiating between types of information displayed in the user interface. Device identifiers and sharing options are presented clearly, while personally identifiable information is either omitted, anonymized, or required to be explicitly authorized for display. This selective information presentation maintains sharing efficiency through automatic detection while protecting user privacy through localized information quality control in the interface display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3966659B1User interfaces for sharing content with other electronic devices
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 APPLE INC
  • EP3966659B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3966659B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3966659B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

In some embodiments, an electronic device presents an option that is selectable to share content with a second electronic device towards which the first electronic device is oriented. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents an indication to change the orientation of the electronic device when the orientation of the electronic device is outside of a range of orientations in which circuitry that identifies another electronic device with which to share content is able to function with desired reliability. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents a sharing user interface within an action user interface of an application. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents one or more options for changing one or more settings associated with an item of content before sharing the content.