Touch Panel Object Transfer via Virtual Keyboard Drop Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large screen terminals with touch panels face difficulties in allowing users to easily move objects between simultaneously displayed applications due to limitations in finger reach and increased risk of operation errors from long dragging distances and discontinuous touch panels.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a detecting section that identifies an object staying in a specified area of the touch panel for a predetermined time, triggering the control section to move the second application to a droppable position, allowing users to move objects between applications without needing to drag them across the entire screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the touch panel screen size is increased to provide a larger display area, then the display area is improved, but the user cannot touch every part of the screen with their finger, making it impossible to move objects between applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidfinger reachability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual keyboard as an intermediary element that serves dual purposes: it acts as a functional input interface and simultaneously serves as a transport mechanism for moving objects between applications. When a user drags an object to the virtual keyboard area, the object is transferred to the destination application without requiring the user to reach across the entire screen distance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the virtual keyboard at the bottom of the screen, creating a dedicated drop zone area. This dimensional arrangement allows objects to be moved to applications through vertical dragging motion to the keyboard area, rather than requiring horizontal跨屏 dragging, thus solving the reachability problem on large screens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the user drags an object across a long distance to move it between applications, then the object can be moved between applications, but operation errors easily occur due to finger separation from the touch panel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject movement capabilityVSAvoidoperation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual keyboard serves as a reliable intermediary drop zone that guarantees successful object transfer. By designing the keyboard area as a designated recipient region, the system ensures that once an object is dragged to this area, the transfer to the target application is completed reliably, eliminating the uncertainty of long-distance dragging operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-defines the virtual keyboard area as a valid drop zone before the dragging operation begins. This preliminary setup ensures that the destination application is ready to receive the object, and the system has already prepared the transfer mechanism, thereby increasing operation reliability and reducing errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the touch panels are discontinuous due to housing parts between housings, then the terminal can be folded or spread, but the user cannot smoothly drag objects across the discontinuous boundary between touch panels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoldable structureVSAvoidcross-panel object movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual keyboard acts as a mediating interface that bridges the discontinuity between touch panels. By positioning the keyboard in a continuous area that spans across the housing boundary or is located in a region accessible from both panels, the system provides a smooth transition zone for object movement, eliminating the disruption caused by physical discontinuities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functionality of the virtual keyboard with the object transfer mechanism. The keyboard area is combined to serve both as an input interface and as a continuous transport pathway that spans across the discontinuous boundary, allowing objects to be moved smoothly between applications regardless of the physical gap between touch panels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10082947B2Information processing device, information processing method, and information processing program

Publication Date: 2018.09.25 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

This information processing device enables a user to easily move objects between applications simultaneously displayed on touch panels. The information processing device is provided with touch panels on which applications are simultaneously displayed. A touch panel coordinate management unit detects that an application object has existed for a prescribed time in a defined area of the touch panel when the object is being dragged. An application control unit and a display control unit move the display of the application to a position that allows the object to be dropped as a trigger for detecting the existence of the object in the defined area.