Rotational Prism GUI Navigation for Compact Screen Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) often require large screens to display navigation options and can be confusing for users, especially on smaller devices, due to their hierarchical structure and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A rotational navigation system that displays GUI controls as faces of a three-dimensional solid, allowing users to navigate through a plurality of unique function sets by rotating a uniform prism around a central axis, using a touch screen or similar input device to receive rotational commands and switch between different function sets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hierarchical GUIs are used to display navigation options, then comprehensive function organization is achieved, but screen space requirements increase and user confusion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional hierarchical menus to a three-dimensional rotating prism interface. Each face of the prism represents a different functional category, and users navigate by rotating the prism vertically to cycle through functions within each category. This dimensional change allows comprehensive function organization without requiring proportional increases in screen space.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface is segmented into distinct functional faces on the prism, with each face representing a specific category (e.g., audio, video, messaging). This segmentation allows users to access different function sets by rotating to different faces, providing comprehensive organization while keeping each individual view compact and manageable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hierarchical menus are used, then comprehensive navigation options are provided, but ease of operation decreases due to user confusion
Solution Approach 1:
By organizing functions in three dimensions rather than two-dimensional hierarchies, the system provides comprehensive navigation options while improving ease of operation. The vertical rotation naturally cycles through functions in a predictable sequence, reducing cognitive load compared to traditional menu hierarchies where users must track their position through multiple levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface dynamically rotates to present different function sets based on user input. This dynamic behavior makes navigation more intuitive than static hierarchical menus, as the system actively adapts to user needs by rotating to the appropriate face and cycling through functions, rather than requiring users to manually traverse complex hierarchical structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If hierarchical GUI structure is used, then functional categorization is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements functional categorization through a three-dimensional prism structure rather than complex hierarchical code. Each face of the prism represents a functional category, and the rotation mechanism provides a simple, uniform interface for accessing all functions. This geometric abstraction reduces the apparent complexity of the GUI structure while maintaining comprehensive functional organization.
Data Source
AI summary
For rotational graphical user interface navigation, a display module displays a first face of a uniform prism rotatable only about a central horizontal axis. The uniform prism includes a plurality of faces. Each face has Graphical User Interface (GUI) controls for a unique function set. Only one face of the uniform prism is visible at a time. Each face is displayed with a geometric shape conforming to a face geometry of the multidimensional solid when the multidimensional solid is being rotated, and a face is displayed as filling a screen when the multidimensional solid is not being rotated. An input module receives a rotational command. The rotational command rotates the uniform prism around the central horizontal axis. The rotation module rotates the uniform prism to display a second face in response to the rotational command, displaying the rotation of the uniform prism.