3D Spherical Item List Interface for Mobile Search

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Solution Overview

Problem

As the number of items displayed on a mobile device's touch screen increases, users face inconvenience in searching for corresponding items due to the need for multiple scrolling operations, making it time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allows users to easily search for items by displaying a list in a three-dimensional form from the side and switching to a two-dimensional form from above, enabling users to select items more quickly through touch gestures and icon interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the number of items displayed on one screen is increased, then the information density is improved, but the time required for users to search for items increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of items displayedVSAvoidsearch time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a traditional two-dimensional list view to a three-dimensional spherical view. In the spherical interface, items are arranged radially around a central point, allowing users to see and access items from multiple angular perspectives simultaneously. This spatial reorganization enables users to navigate through large numbers of items more efficiently by visually scanning across the sphere's surface rather than scrolling linearly through a flat list, thus reducing search time while maintaining high information density.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics through an interactive spherical interface where the view can rotate and items can be dynamically selected through touch gestures. The spherical arrangement allows the display to dynamically adjust to user interactions, enabling smooth transitions between different item groups and facilitating rapid navigation. This dynamic presentation mode replaces static scrolling with fluid rotational movement, improving access speed to items in large datasets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If traditional scrolling operation is used to search for items, then the interface simplicity is maintained, but the search efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidsearch efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the conventional two-dimensional scrolling interface into a three-dimensional spherical interface. Instead of scrolling up and down a flat list, users interact with items arranged in a spherical space, allowing simultaneous visual access to multiple item groups. This dimensional transformation maintains operational simplicity through intuitive touch gestures while dramatically improving search efficiency by enabling parallel viewing of more items.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs spheroidality by organizing items in a spherical arrangement rather than a linear sequence. The curved surface of the sphere allows for optimal spatial distribution of items, creating natural viewing zones and enabling users to scan across the surface more efficiently. This curved geometry provides ergonomic advantages for touch-based interaction while increasing the effective display area, allowing more items to be accessed within the same screen real estate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP2360565B1Method and system for displaying a list of items in a mobile device
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2360565B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2360565B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2360565B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3E

AI summary

A method and system for displaying a screen in a mobile device are provided. The method includes displaying a list of items where the items are arranged in a three-dimensional form, viewed from a side, receiving a command for altering the display form of the list of items, and altering and displaying the image of the list of items, viewed from the side, into an image of the list of items viewed from above. The method and system allow a user to easily and rapidly search for a corresponding item on a screen of a mobile device.