Touch Panel Spatial Data Sharing Without Special Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data transfer technologies between multiple terminals lack intuitive user operability, as they require special sensors to determine spatial relationships, increasing costs and complexity, and fail to intuitively display data transfer directions between terminals.

Innovation Solution

A communication apparatus with a flexible, transparent touch panel and display unit that sets a shared region by detecting overlapping areas between terminals, allowing users to visually recognize and control data sharing without the need for special sensors, using a CPU and communication module to manage data transfer based on user interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If special sensors (magnetic, infrared, ultrasonic, GPS, imaging apparatus) are used to detect spatial relationships between terminals, then the accuracy of spatial relationship detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial relationship detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the spatial relationship detection function from specialized sensors and implements it through the existing touch panel display system. By detecting which terminals are positioned over the display area and their relative positions, the system achieves spatial awareness without requiring magnetic sensors, infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, GPS receivers, or imaging apparatus with ranging functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch panel display serves multiple functions: it displays information to users and simultaneously detects the spatial positions of nearby terminals through touch detection capabilities. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated spatial detection sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If special sensors are mounted in terminals to grasp spatial relationships, then the intuitiveness of data transfer is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintuitiveness of data transferVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the requirement for expensive special sensors by extracting spatial detection functionality to the display system. Terminals can be manufactured with standard touch panels without adding magnetic, infrared, ultrasonic, GPS, or imaging sensors, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining intuitive spatial-based data transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the existing, inexpensive touch panel infrastructure instead of expensive specialized sensors. The touch detection capability already present in smartphones and tablets is leveraged for spatial relationship detection, avoiding the need for costly sensor components that would increase manufacturing expenses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If virtual data transfer direction is displayed independently of actual terminal position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the accuracy of spatial representation is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of data transfer operationVSAvoidspatial relationship accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the virtual data transfer direction display with the actual terminal positions on the display. The directional indicators are generated based on the detected spatial relationships between terminals, ensuring that the visual representation accurately reflects the physical arrangement while maintaining intuitive operation for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2702749B1Communication apparatus, communication control method, and computer-readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2702749B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2702749B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2702749B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method is provided for enabling sharing of data. The method comprises defining a sharing region corresponding to a portion of a surface of an apparatus. The method further comprises enabling sharing of data with an external device in response to user input associating the data with the sharing region.