Smartwatch Display Segmentation for Notification Readability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional smartwatches arbitrarily display notification information on a circular screen, reducing legibility and making the user experience less like wearing a traditional watch.

Innovation Solution

A smartwatch system that reduces the watch image size or moves it to display notification information in the empty space, allowing for customizable display positions and sizes based on gesture inputs, enabling clear and organized presentation of various notification types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If notification information is displayed on the circular watch screen, then information delivery is achieved, but legibility of time information and traditional watch feel are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification information deliveryVSAvoidlegibility of time information
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into multiple regions: a first display region for the watch image and a second display region for notification information. This spatial segmentation allows both time information and notification information to be displayed simultaneously without interfering with each other's legibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display are assigned different functions and visual characteristics. The first display region maintains the traditional watch face appearance for time reading, while the second display region presents notification information with appropriate visual hierarchy, ensuring each area optimizes its specific purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If notification information is displayed on the circular watch screen, then information delivery is achieved, but traditional watch feel is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification information deliveryVSAvoidtraditional watch feel
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into distinct functional zones where the watch image occupies the primary traditional watch area, preserving the familiar aesthetic and interaction patterns, while notification information is placed in a separate secondary area that does not disrupt the traditional watch experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Notification information is displayed in a surrounding region of the watch image rather than overlaying it, creating a spatial arrangement that maintains the traditional watch face integrity while adding notification capabilities in an adjacent dimensional space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If the watch image size is reduced, then empty space is created for notification information, but watch image visibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveempty space for notificationVSAvoidwatch image visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts the size of the watch image based on the presence and amount of notification information. When notifications are present, the watch image is scaled to an first size that creates appropriate empty space; when notifications are absent, the watch image returns to its original size, optimizing visibility for both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The display system changes the size parameter of the watch image according to the notification state. This parameter adjustment creates the necessary empty space in the surrounding region for notification display while maintaining adequate watch image visibility through controlled scaling rather than complete size reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3086187B1Smartwatch and method for controlling the same
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3086187B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3086187B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3086187B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

A smart watch (200) operatively connectable to a mobile terminal is disclosed. The smart watch (200) includes a display unit (251) configured to display a watch image (410) and a controller (180) configured to control the display unit (251) to reduce the watch image (410) when a preset event, such as a notification event, occurs and display notification information in an empty space of the display unit formed by reducing the watch image (410).