Ranked UI Element Presentation in Limited Display Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
User-interface skins on wireless communication devices often have limited display slots, making it difficult to effectively present all necessary user-interface display elements, as they may not have enough space to show all essential functions simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a rank-ordered listing of user-interface display elements to prioritize and select the most important ones for presentation within the available slots, ensuring that critical functions like a web browser and phone book are always accessible, regardless of the skin applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user-interface skin is applied with thematic graphics and sounds, then the visual and audible elements of the user-interface are enhanced, but the number of available display slots is limited, making it difficult to present all necessary user-interface display elements
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the user-interface by allowing skins to define a limited number of display slots, while the priority ordering mechanism dynamically selects which display elements to present based on user preferences and current context, enabling the interface to adapt between aesthetic customization and functional completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of display element selection by introducing priority ordering and contextual selection criteria. Instead of statically allocating all display elements, the system uses parameters such as user-defined priority, current application context, and frequency of use to determine which elements occupy the limited display slots when a skin is applied
2Ease of operation
If all user-interface display elements are presented simultaneously, then all functions are accessible, but the display slots are insufficient to accommodate all elements when a skin is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the most essential display elements based on priority ordering and contextual relevance, presenting them in the limited display slots when a skin is applied. Less critical elements are omitted from the immediate view but remain accessible through alternative means such as menus or secondary interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of presenting all display elements equally, the system applies partial action by selectively presenting only the top-priority elements that fit within the limited display slots. This partial presentation is sufficient to maintain ease of operation for critical functions while accommodating the aesthetic requirements of the applied skin
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for ranked presentation of user-interface display elements is disclosed. A device will hold data that indicates a priority order for selecting user-interface display elements, such as buttons, labels, etc., to present. When a user-interface skin is loaded onto the device and the skin has a limited number of slots (i.e., segments, spaces, places, etc.) for presenting user-interface display elements, the priority order will be used as a basis to select which elements to present in the available slots. For example, if the skin has only five slots for presentation of user-interface display elements, just the top five elements in the priority list will be presented. Those top five elements can then be presented in any order, such as in priority order, alphabetical order, or randomly.