Particle-Based UI Transition Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for transitioning between visual user interface elements on a display are often discrete and resource-intensive, failing to provide efficient, continuous, and dynamically controllable transitions that conserve computational and memory resources.

Innovation Solution

The method employs particles to represent visual UI elements, moving them from initial to target positions through intermediate positions, allowing for dynamic and continuous transitions without pre-creating intermediate shapes, thus reducing memory usage and enabling flexible control over the transition process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If discrete transition methods are used between visual UI elements, then the transition process is simple to implement, but the transitions are not continuous and cannot be dynamically controlled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransition control flexibilityVSAvoidtransition continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the transition process adjustable and controllable in real-time. The system allows dynamic modification of transition parameters such as speed, acceleration, and intermediate states during the transition execution, enabling continuous and flexible control between UI elements without requiring pre-defined discrete steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying transition characteristics such as position, velocity, and timing parameters during the transition process. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system achieves smooth continuous transitions while maintaining the ability to control and reconfigure the transition behavior on-the-fly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If pre-created intermediate shapes are used for transitions, then visual continuity is improved, but memory resource usage increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual continuityVSAvoidmemory resource usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using lightweight, dynamically generated intermediate representations that exist only temporarily during the transition process. Instead of pre-creating and storing heavy intermediate shape data, the system generates minimal intermediate state information on-demand and discards it after use, significantly reducing memory resource consumption while maintaining visual continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If smooth continuous transitions are implemented with many steps, then visual quality is improved, but computational resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual qualityVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing adaptive transition steps that adjust the number and density of intermediate states based on the specific transition requirements. The system uses fewer computational steps for simple transitions and only increases complexity when visually necessary, optimizing the balance between visual quality and computational resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Adaptability or versatility

If transition control is enabled during the transition process, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransition reconfigurabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a unified transition control mechanism that handles multiple transition types, parameters, and configurations through a single flexible framework. The control system can manage various transition scenarios (position changes, shape transformations, scaling) using the same underlying infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11145027B2Dynamic transitioning between visual user interface elements on a display

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 RIGHTWARE

AI summary

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided for an apparatus comprising a User Interface, UI, the method comprising generating or receiving particles, wherein each particle has a first position associated with a first shape, and storing the first positions as current positions, determining a second shape, wherein the second shape forms a first target shape for a first transition from the first shape, and a first target time for the first transition, generating and storing first target positions of the particles associated with the second shape, comparing the first target time to a current time, responsive to the first target time being larger than the current time, determining intermediate positions of the particles, based on the current positions and the first target positions of the particles, wherein the intermediate positions are closer to the target positions than the current positions and updating the user interface by using the intermediate positions of the particles to provide a graphical output on a display, storing the intermediate positions as the current positions.