Touch-Sensitive Display Gesture Map View Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manipulating user interfaces with three-dimensional maps on electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are cumbersome and inefficient, placing a significant cognitive burden on users and wasting energy, particularly in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that allows users to select map views using gestures on a touch-sensitive display, entering a map view selection mode by detecting specific gestures, which replaces the current view with a new view from a chosen location on the map, reducing the number of required user inputs and streamlining the selection process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional mouse-based inputs or keyboard-based inputs are used to move, rotate, tilt, zoom and adjust a three-dimensional map view, then the map view can be manipulated, but the process is tedious and creates a significant cognitive burden on the user

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of map view manipulationVSAvoidcomplexity of input sequence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical input devices (mouse, keyboard) with touch-sensitive surface gestures. Users directly touch and drag the display surface to manipulate the three-dimensional map view, eliminating the need for complex sequences of mouse clicks or keyboard commands. This substitution simplifies the interaction model and reduces cognitive burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch-sensitive display surface serves dual functions as both the display medium and the input device. The surface itself detects gestures and translates them into map view manipulations, eliminating the need for separate control devices. This self-service approach streamlines the interaction and reduces operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If conventional methods are used to manipulate three-dimensional map views, then the map can be adjusted, but it takes longer than necessary, thereby wasting energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of map view selectionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads and maintains the three-dimensional map data in ready state, so that when a user performs a gesture, the map view can be instantly adjusted without requiring time-consuming data retrieval or processing. This preliminary preparation reduces the time and energy required for each interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The touch-sensitive surface continuously tracks finger movements and provides real-time map view adjustments as the user drags across the display. This continuous feedback and adjustment eliminates the need for multiple discrete steps, reducing both the time and energy required to achieve the desired map view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3249361B1Device, method, and graphical user interface for selection of views in a three-dimensional map based on gesture inputs

Publication Date: 2021.09.22 APPLE INC

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AI summary

An electronic device displays a first map view of a map that includes one or more map objects on a touch-sensitive display. While displaying the first map view from a first perspective, the device detects a first input to select a respective map object as a target object, and detects a second input to display a second map view of the target object from a different perspective.