Radial Control Interface for Non-Linear Task Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Software applications face challenges in representing non-linear task flows, making it difficult for users to navigate and understand their position within the application, as existing navigation methods like tabs and breadcrumb trails struggle to convey relationships between activities effectively.
Innovation Solution
A radial control interface is displayed on an electronic device, featuring concentric arcs to represent parent and child activities, allowing users to select and navigate between related tasks, with highlighted sections indicating the current activity and the option to collapse the control when inactive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If tabs or breadcrumb trails are used for navigation, then users can move through the application, but the relationship between activities and the user's current position cannot be clearly indicated
Solution Approach 1:
The radial control is segmented into multiple concentric rings, with each ring representing a different level of the task hierarchy. Parent activities are displayed in inner rings while child activities are displayed in outer rings, allowing users to visually distinguish between different hierarchical levels and clearly understand their current position in the task flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional linear navigation (tabs or breadcrumb trails) to a radial/dimensional layout. By organizing activities in concentric rings radiating from a center point, the system adds a spatial dimension to navigation, enabling users to perceive hierarchical relationships and current position more intuitively through radial distance and angular position.
2Ease of operation
If a radial control interface is displayed to show non-linear task flows, then navigation clarity improves, but the interface footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radial control is designed as a dynamic interface that can expand and collapse. When not in active use, the radial control collapses to a compact form, reducing its footprint on the screen. When needed, it expands to provide full radial navigation functionality, allowing users to access non-linear task flows with clear visual hierarchy.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial control employs a nested structure where multiple levels of activities are organized in concentric rings, with inner rings containing parent activities and outer rings containing child activities. This nested arrangement allows comprehensive navigation functionality to be packed into a compact radial space, minimizing the overall interface footprint while maintaining clarity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes displaying, to a user via an electronic display, a radial control comprising a plurality of concentric arcs, the radial control including a first central section defined by a first arc of the plurality of concentric arcs, and a plurality of child sections collectively defined by the first arc and the other arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs, the plurality of child sections being delineated from one another by dividers extending between two or more arcs of the plurality of concentric arcs, wherein the first central section is associated with a parent activity and each of the plurality of child sections is associated with a child activity related to the parent activity.