Single Timer Animation Coordination API
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interfaces on devices face challenges in interpreting various user inputs and providing intended functionality due to limited display size, processing capability, and software limitations, making it difficult to implement smooth scrolling, gesturing, and animating operations effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of application programming interfaces (APIs) that facilitate transferring function calls between user interface software and software applications to perform scrolling, gesturing, and animating operations, including methods for starting and determining the progress of animations based on a single timer, and implementing rubberbanding and gesture operations such as scaling and rotation transforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple animations are started simultaneously in a user interface, then the user experience becomes more dynamic and engaging, but the processing load and timing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple animation timing operations into a single shared timer mechanism. The UI framework maintains one central timer that coordinates all animation progress, replacing what would otherwise require multiple independent timing systems. This merging reduces the number of timing components from N (one per animation) to 1, directly resolving the complexity issue while preserving full animation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single timer is designed to serve multiple animation operations simultaneously, making it a universal timing mechanism. Rather than dedicating separate timers to each animation, this universal timer handles progress tracking, completion detection, and coordination for all active animations through a unified interface, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Ease of operation
If the user interface software directly interprets all user inputs, then the responsiveness is improved, but the processing overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between hardware inputs and application software. The UI framework acts as a mediator that receives raw user inputs, interprets them according to framework rules, and translates them into standardized function calls that applications can handle. This intermediary processing reduces the burden on individual applications while maintaining responsive input handling through centralized interpretation.
Solution Approach 2:
The input processing function is segmented into distinct layers: hardware input detection, framework-level interpretation, and application-specific action execution. This segmentation allows each layer to handle specific tasks independently, reducing overall complexity while improving responsiveness at each stage of the processing chain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If scrolling operations allow free movement beyond display edges, then user freedom is improved, but visual confusion and interface stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action through rubberbanding effects that prevent excessive scrolling before it causes interface instability. When scrolling approaches display boundaries, elastic resistance forces are applied to pull the scroll position back toward valid regions. This preemptive counter-action maintains interface stability while still allowing users considerable scrolling freedom within reasonable limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The scrolling behavior transitions from static boundary enforcement to dynamic elastic resistance. Rather than hard stops at display edges, the system applies variable resistance forces that increase as scrolling approaches boundaries, creating a dynamic, physics-based scrolling experience that adapts to user input intensity and direction while maintaining interface stability.
Data Source
AI summary
At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for animating a display region, windows, or views displayed on a display of a device. The method includes starting at least two animations. The method further includes determining the progress of each animation. The method further includes completing each animation based on a single timer.