Terminal Device Menu Display Order Customization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Terminal devices display menu items in an order managed by the service provider, which can reduce user convenience and make it difficult for users to find frequently used services.

Innovation Solution

A terminal device with a control device that receives server-side display order information and stores terminal device-side display order information, allowing it to display object images according to either the server-side or terminal device-side order, enabling users to customize the display order of menu items.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the terminal device displays menu items in the server-managed display order, then the service providing apparatus maintains centralized control over the display order, but user convenience deteriorates because users cannot easily find frequently used services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoiddisplay order management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display order management is segmented into two independent parts: server-side display order (received from service providing apparatus) and terminal device-side display order (stored locally in the terminal device). This segmentation allows the terminal device to independently manage its own display order without affecting the server's control, thereby improving user convenience while maintaining centralized service management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device stores the server-side display order information in advance in its storage unit. When a menu screen is displayed, the terminal device checks whether stored display order information exists and uses it if available. This preliminary action allows the terminal device to quickly switch to user-preferred display orders without real-time server communication, improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the terminal device allows users to customize display order, then user convenience improves, but the system complexity increases due to managing multiple display order types

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu navigation easeVSAvoiddisplay order information management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display order management system is made dynamic by allowing the terminal device to switch between server-side display order and terminal device-side display order based on availability. The control device determines which display order to use by checking whether terminal device-side display order information is stored, enabling flexible adaptation without complex user configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device creates a local copy of the server-side display order information and stores it in its storage unit. This copy can then be used independently to determine menu item display order, reducing the need for continuous server communication and simplifying the user interface while maintaining the ability to customize display orders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If the terminal device always uses server-side display order, then centralized control is maintained, but unnecessary screen transitions occur when users need to access frequently used services

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice access efficiencyVSAvoidtime for screen transitions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device stores server-side display order information in advance and makes it available for immediate use. When users need to access services, the terminal device can quickly switch to using the stored display order information without requiring screen transitions or real-time server requests, thereby reducing time loss and improving service access efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9648140B2Terminal device, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program for terminal device, and system

Publication Date: 2017.05.09 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A terminal device may receive server-side display order information transmitted from a server device. The server-side display order information may indicate a server-side display order, designated on a server side, of a plurality of object images included in a display screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. A terminal device may store terminal device-side display order information when a predetermined operation is received. The terminal device-side display order information may indicate a terminal device-side display order which is an order different from the server-side display order. A terminal device may display, in the display screen, the plurality of object images: in accordance with the server-side display order when a storage unit of the terminal device is not storing the terminal device-side display order information; and in accordance with the terminal-side display order when the storage unit is storing the terminal device-side display order information.