Touch-Screen Incoming Call Response Zone and Gesture Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern portable communication devices often have unclear and unfriendly user interfaces for managing incoming calls, as response options become more complex, leading to user confusion and a need for improved interaction methods.

Innovation Solution

A portable communication device with a touch-screen display features an incoming-call response-initiation zone, where users can perform swipe-based gestures to accept or reject calls, with visual cues like shimmering waves suggesting the direction for selecting actions, allowing for intuitive call management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple response options are provided for incoming calls, then the device functionality is improved, but the user interface clarity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall response optionsVSAvoiduser interface clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is divided into distinct response zones (first response zone for accepting calls, second response zone for rejecting calls). This segmentation allows multiple functions to coexist without cluttering the interface, as each zone is spatially separated and has a specific purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional button-based interfaces to a spatial gesture-based interface on the touch screen. By utilizing the two-dimensional touch surface and gesture directions (swiping toward first edge vs. second edge), it adds a dimensional layer of interaction that accommodates multiple response options without increasing visual complexity.

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

2Ease of operation

If traditional button interfaces are used for call responses, then the device is simple to operate, but it lacks flexibility for varied call responses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidcall response variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces static physical buttons with dynamic touch-based gesture zones. The same touch screen area can respond to different gesture directions to provide multiple call response options, making the interface both simple (using the existing screen) and versatile (supporting multiple responses through gesture variation).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3073717B1Method and apparatus pertaining to processing incoming calls
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3073717B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3073717B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3073717B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A control circuit provides an incoming-call response-initiation zone on a touch-screen display in response to an incoming call. The control circuit then takes an incoming-call processing action in response to detecting a user's swipe-based gesture that begins in that incoming-call response-initiation zone. So configured, a user can begin a swipe in the incoming-call response-initiation zone that extends in a first direction that corresponds to accepting the call. When the user begins the swipe in the incoming-call response-initiation zone but extends that swipe in a second direction (that is, for example, opposite to the first direction) a different incoming call processing action results (such as "ignoring" the incoming call).