Rotating Icon SDK for Mobile App Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices face limited display space for presenting multiple application icons, making it difficult for users to discover and install new applications.
Innovation Solution
A rotating icon software development kit (SDK) embedded in mobile applications that requests an application launcher to display different icons in the same location, effectively multiplying display space by rotating icons, and provides deep links for easy installation of new applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple application icons are displayed simultaneously, then user discovery of new applications is improved, but display space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotating icon mechanism where icons dynamically change positions and roles over time. A single icon location displays different applications at different times, with the selected icon becoming animated or highlighted to indicate interactivity. This dynamic approach allows multiple applications to be discovered through a limited display space by cycling through them systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the time dimension to the icon display system. Instead of attempting to display multiple icons simultaneously in space, the system rotates through different icons at the same spatial location across different time intervals. This temporal dimension effectively multiplies the display capacity without requiring additional screen real estate.
2Area of stationary object
If icons are rotated in the same position, then display space is efficiently used, but user confusion may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual differentiation techniques where the selected or active icon in the rotation sequence is distinguished through animation, highlighting, or visual emphasis. This allows users to clearly identify which icon is currently selected and actionable, preventing confusion despite multiple icons rotating through the same position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic visual feedback where the selected icon exhibits animated behavior or visual changes to indicate its active state. This dynamic differentiation maintains user clarity by clearly showing which application is currently selected and ready for interaction, even as other icons rotate through the position.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communication device. The mobile communication device comprises a display, a processor, a non-transitory memory, an application launcher stored in the non-transitory, and a first mobile application comprising a rotating icon software development kit (SDK) stored in the non-transitory memory. When the first mobile application is executed by the processor, the SDK requests the application launcher to present application icons in a rotation sequence in a same position on the display, where the application icons comprises a first icon and a second icon, when the first icon is selected, the application launcher launches the first mobile application, and when the second icon is selected, the application launcher launches the first mobile application, an alternative activity of the first mobile application is performed, and the first mobile application accesses a link to a second mobile application associated with the second icon, where the link references an application data store.