Terminal Screen Information Restoration via Inclination Shadow Casting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current terminal interfaces make it difficult to access information from applications without launching the application, leading to unnecessary resource and energy consumption, as users must manually select icons or use voice commands, which may not be practical in all contexts.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses the terminal's inclination to display additional information by creating cast shadows on the screen, allowing users to view information without launching the application, by determining the inclination datum and transforming the initial representation to include selected information levels in the shadows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user manually selects an icon on the desktop to access information, then the application can be launched and information accessed, but the user's attention and manual action are required, which may not be practical in all contexts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of information accessVSAvoidtime required to launch application
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-displaying information from applications directly on the desktop interface before the user launches the application. When an application icon is displayed, relevant information (such as weather data, email previews, or calendar events) is already visible to the user. This allows the user to access information immediately without needing to manually launch the application first, thereby saving time and enabling information access in contexts where manual interaction is not practical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the application is launched to access information, then complete information is available, but resources and energy are consumed unnecessarily when only a brief view is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of informationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by separating the information display function from the full application execution. Instead of launching the entire application to view information, the system extracts and displays only the necessary information (such as weather forecasts, email subjects, or calendar entries) directly on the desktop interface. This allows users to obtain the information they need without consuming the resources and energy required to run the full application, while still providing access to complete information when needed by launching the application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the desktop displays limited icons, then the interface remains simple, but the number of accessible applications is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidnumber of accessible applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the merging principle by combining the desktop interface with application information display functionality. Instead of requiring separate full-screen application windows to view information, the system merges the application's information output directly into the desktop interface alongside the icons. This allows the desktop to simultaneously maintain its simple layout while providing access to information from multiple applications, effectively increasing the number of accessible applications without increasing interface complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2513740B1Method for restoring information on a screen of a terminal, and corresponding device, terminal, and computer program
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 ORANGE SA
  • EP2513740B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2513740B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for restoring information on a screen of a terminal including a display space, on which a graphic object is displayed in an initial representation. According to the invention, such a method includes: a step of obtaining at least one datum for tilting said terminal relative to a plane of reference; a step of selecting at least one piece of information, from among a plurality of information to be restored, on the basis of said obtained tilting datum, thus outputting at least one selected piece of information; a step of converting said initial representation into a modified representation that includes said at least one selected piece of information; and a step of restoring said modified representation of said graphic object.