Progress Indicator Display Segmentation for Mobile UI

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile technologies face challenges in clearly displaying the progress of both player and buffering processes on a progress bar, leading to reduced operational efficiency and increased power consumption due to the lack of distinct visualization of progress indicators and status indicators with similar colors.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that detects the starting and drag positions of a progress indicator on a progress bar, displaying an indicating image by combining progress and status layers between these positions for a defined period, enhancing visibility and user interaction efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the progress indicator and status indicators are displayed independently with similar colors, then the display is simple, but it becomes difficult to distinguish between player progress and buffering progress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay structureVSAvoidprogress indication clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The progress bar is divided into multiple distinct segments: a first progress bar segment showing player progress, a second progress bar segment showing buffering progress, and a third progress bar segment showing remaining content. This segmentation allows each type of progress to be visually distinguished while maintaining a unified progress bar structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different visual styles are applied to different segments of the progress bar. The first segment (player progress) uses one visual style, the second segment (buffering progress) uses another visual style, and the third segment (remaining content) uses a third visual style. This local differentiation in visual quality enables clear distinction between different types of progress while keeping the overall display integrated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the progress indicator uses a drag operation for user interaction, then user control is improved, but it causes additional power consumption on mobile terminals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interactionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The progress indicator is updated periodically to reflect the current playback position and buffering status, rather than requiring continuous user interaction. The system automatically refreshes the display at regular intervals, reducing the need for frequent user-triggered updates and thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If multiple indicators are displayed on the progress bar, then information completeness is improved, but visual clarity is reduced due to color similarity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogress information completenessVSAvoidvisual distinction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The progress bar is divided into multiple distinct segments: a first progress bar segment showing player progress, a second progress bar segment showing buffering progress, and a third progress bar segment showing remaining content. This segmentation allows each type of progress to be visually distinguished while maintaining a unified progress bar structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different visual styles are applied to different segments of the progress bar. The first segment (player progress) uses one visual style, the second segment (buffering progress) uses another visual style, and the third segment (remaining content) uses a third visual style. This local differentiation in visual quality enables clear distinction between different types of progress while keeping the overall display integrated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9658757B2Method and device for managing progress indicator display

Publication Date: 2017.05.23 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD

AI summary

The present application discloses methods and devices that are used to improve the display of a progress indictor for a program, such as an audio/video player application. A progress indicator on a progress bar is often used for the indication of the progress of a program. There may also be one or more status indicators on the progress bar. When a user drags the progress indicator along or within the progress bar and passes one or more status indicators, the computer system displays an indicating image between the starting position and the drag position in the progress bar for a pre-defined period of time. The indicating image can be generated by combining a layer associated with the progress indicator and layers associated with one or more status indicators that are passed. The current method and device make the display of progress indictor more distinctive and improve user experience.