Terminal Icon Management via Segmented Function Regions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing icon management systems on terminals, such as mobile phones, face inaccuracies and inefficiencies in icon adjustment operations due to similarities between position adjustment and combination tasks, leading to misoperations and reduced accuracy.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where icons on the home screen are divided into non-overlapping function regions corresponding to different adjustment functions, allowing users to select and execute specific functions by determining the target icon and function region, thereby ensuring accurate and precise adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a terminal adjusts an icon according to a user operation without distinguishing between different adjustment types, then the operation process is simple, but the icon adjustment accuracy deteriorates due to misoperations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveicon adjustment operationVSAvoidicon adjustment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the icon adjustment operation into two distinct modes: position adjustment mode and combination mode. When a user drags an icon, the system determines the target position first, and only if the target position meets the combination condition (such as aligning with another icon) does it switch to combination mode. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple user interaction while improving accuracy by clearly distinguishing between different adjustment intentions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the terminal uses similar operations for both position adjustment and icon combination, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the reliability deteriorates due to incorrect operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveicon manipulationVSAvoidoperation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic mode switching mechanism where the system automatically transitions between position adjustment mode and combination mode based on real-time detection of the target position. During the dragging process, the system continuously monitors whether the icon approaches a valid combination target, and dynamically changes the adjustment mode accordingly. This dynamic adaptation maintains the simplicity of the dragging operation while ensuring reliable distinction between different adjustment types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the terminal requires precise distinction between position adjustment and combination operations, then the icon adjustment accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveicon adjustment precisionVSAvoidoperation recognition system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first determining the target position of the dragged icon before executing the final adjustment operation. The system pre-calculates whether the target position satisfies combination conditions (such as proximity to another icon or alignment with grid positions) and prepares the appropriate adjustment mode in advance. This preliminary determination simplifies the overall system complexity by using a straightforward sequential decision process rather than requiring complex simultaneous analysis of multiple operation parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3200061B1Icon management method and apparatus, and terminal
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3200061B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3200061B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3200061B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose an icon management method, apparatus, and terminal, which relate to the field of electronic devices, and can resolve a problem of low icon adjustment accuracy caused by a misoperation that usually occurs when the terminal adjusts an icon according to an operation of a user. The method of the present invention includes: displaying a home screen, where the home screen includes at least one target icon, the target icon has at least two non-overlapping function regions, the function regions are corresponding to different functions, and the functions are icon adjustment functions; receiving a first user instruction; determining a target icon selected by the first user instruction and a target function selected by the first user instruction, where the target function is a function corresponding to a function region of the target icon selected by the first user instruction; and executing the target function on the target icon selected by the first user instruction. The present invention is applicable to a terminal.