Tile Interface Menu Activation via Directional Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Navigating user interfaces on devices with non-touchscreen input devices, such as remote controls, is cumbersome due to the need for multiple inputs to scroll through options, increasing navigation time and computational load.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that present tile interfaces on a display device, where a highlighted tile triggers a menu icon after a predetermined duration, allowing directional inputs to activate and select options, reducing the number of inputs required to navigate and access media content item options.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional directional input navigation is used on remote controls, then users can access menu options, but the number of inputs required increases navigation time and computational load

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNavigation efficiencyVSAvoidNavigation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically highlighting the next likely item and pre-loading menu options before the user requests them. This reduces navigation time by having elements ready in advance, so when users press directional buttons, the interface is already prepared to respond immediately without requiring multiple sequential inputs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The interface dynamically adapts its behavior based on user interaction patterns. It adjusts highlighting speed, menu display timing, and prediction algorithms in real-time based on how users navigate, optimizing the balance between automation and user control to reduce navigation time without sacrificing ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If traditional directional input navigation is used on remote controls, then users can scroll through options, but the number of inputs required increases computational load

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveInterface accessibilityVSAvoidComputational load
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by only computing and displaying menu options for currently highlighted items rather than pre-computing all possible menus. It uses excessive action by predicting which items the user might navigate to next and pre-computing those specific menus, balancing computational load with interface accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes computational parameters dynamically based on user behavior patterns. It adjusts prediction accuracy thresholds, menu pre-computation depth, and highlighting algorithms based on navigation speed and user preferences, optimizing the balance between computational load and interface accessibility for different usage scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If menu icons are presented immediately on tile interfaces, then users can access options quickly, but the interface becomes cluttered and harder to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccess speedVSAvoidInterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface segments menu access into two distinct phases: a clean browsing mode where only tile interfaces are visible, and a menu access mode triggered by specific user actions. This segmentation keeps the default view simple and uncluttered while providing quick access to options when needed, resolving the conflict between access speed and interface complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interface dynamically transforms from a simple tile view to a menu-accessible state based on user interaction. Menu icons are not permanently displayed but appear temporarily when users indicate interest in a particular tile, allowing the interface to maintain simplicity by default while providing comprehensive options when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3887930B1Methods, systems, and media for navigating user interfaces
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3887930B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3887930B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3887930B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Methods, systems, and media for navigating user interfaces are provided. In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a method for navigating user interfaces is provided, the method comprising: causing, on a user interface presented on a display device, a plurality of tile interfaces to be presented, wherein a first tile interface of the plurality of tile interfaces is presented in a visual manner that indicates that the first tile interface is currently highlighted, and wherein each tile interface of the plurality of tile interfaces corresponds to a media content item that is available for presentation on the display device; causing a menu icon that corresponds to a menu interface for accessing options related to a media content item corresponding to the highlighted first tile interface to be presented in connection with the highlighted first tile interface; receiving, via an input device associated with the display device, a first directional input from a group of possible directional inputs; determining whether the first directional input is a predetermined directional input from the group of possible directional inputs that causes the menu icon to become selectable; in response to determining that the first directional input is the predetermined directional input, activating the menu icon that causes the menu icon to become selectable; upon causing the menu icon to become selectable, receiving an indication that the menu icon has been selected via the input device; causing the menu interface for accessing the options related to the media content item corresponding to the highlighted first tile interface to be presented; receiving, via the input device, the first directional input for a second time; and, in response to receiving the first directional input for the second time, causing a second tile interface of the plurality of tile interfaces to be presented, wherein the second tile interface is located in a position relative to the first tile interface that corresponds to the first directional input.