Terminal Search Interface Using Thumbnail Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in selectively finding and obtaining desired search results due to the overwhelming amount of information provided after a keyword search, and existing search interfaces do not effectively organize or display search results in a user-friendly manner.

Innovation Solution

A terminal with a search unit that retrieves information based on a keyword and a display unit that presents search results as graphic images, allowing users to interact with these images through touch inputs to view, store, and navigate search results efficiently, including the option to display additional related information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If search results are displayed in full detail on a webpage, then complete information is provided, but user ability to selectively find and obtain desired results deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch result information completenessVSAvoiduser ability to selectively find desired results
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The search result information is segmented into multiple thumbnail images, each representing a portion of the search results. Users can view multiple segments simultaneously on the screen and selectively click on the thumbnail corresponding to their desired information, making it easy to find specific results without being overwhelmed by all information at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Thumbnail images serve as an intermediary between the complete search results and the user interface. Instead of displaying all text and information directly, the system uses visual thumbnails as a mediator that allows users to quickly scan and select desired results through image recognition rather than reading all text content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If an enormous amount of search result information is provided at once, then information completeness is improved, but user difficulty in selectively obtaining desired results worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of search result informationVSAvoidsearch interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The large volume of search result information is divided into multiple manageable thumbnail segments that can be displayed simultaneously. Each thumbnail contains a portion of the search results, allowing the system to present a large quantity of information in an organized, grid-based layout that reduces interface complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of displaying the actual full-text search results, the system creates simplified visual copies in the form of thumbnails. These thumbnail copies represent the essential content of each search result without requiring the full information to be displayed, thereby reducing the apparent complexity of the interface while maintaining access to the complete information set.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Quantity of substance

If search results are displayed in a scrollable format, then information capacity is improved, but user ease of selectively obtaining results worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch result capacityVSAvoiduser ease of selecting search results
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The search results are transitioned from a one-dimensional scrollable text format to a two-dimensional grid of thumbnails. This dimensional change allows more results to be visible simultaneously on the screen without requiring scrolling, and users can easily scan across both dimensions to find and select desired results by clicking on the corresponding thumbnail.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2835746B1Terminal and method for controlling the same
Publication Date: 2019.05.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2835746B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2835746B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2835746B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A terminal including a display unit configured to display a search screen for entering a search keyword; and a controller configured to retrieve information associated with the entered search keyword, display a preset number of graphic images representing search result information extracted from the retrieved information on the display unit, display the search result information of a corresponding graphic image on the display unit in response to a first input, and change the corresponding graphic image to another graphic image representing other search result information extracted from the retrieved information in response to a second inp