Touch Screen Gesture Control for Mobile Communication Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of communication devices face difficulties in easily and conveniently selecting and executing functions, particularly in entering telephone numbers and accessing various operations on touch screen interfaces, due to the complexity of existing user interfaces and the need for multiple key operations.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication device with a touch screen interface that utilizes execution keys with long touch and slide gestures to perform functions such as calling and messaging, where short touches input numbers or symbols, long touches execute assigned functions, and sliding into icon areas activates specific functions or settings, allowing for direct access to short-cut numbers, folders, and URLs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a touch screen interface is used to display multiple functions, then the variety of available functions is improved, but the complexity of operation increases due to multiple key operations required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariety of functionsVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining gesture patterns (short touch, long touch, slide gestures) that correspond to specific functions. Users don't need to navigate through multiple menus or perform complex sequences; the gestures are prepared in advance and directly execute assigned functions, reducing operational complexity while maintaining function variety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of interaction by introducing temporal and spatial variations in touch gestures. Instead of using multiple discrete keys, the system interprets different durations (short vs long touch), directions (slide left/right/up/down), and combinations of these parameters to map to different functions, simplifying the interface while preserving versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If execution keys are assigned to specific functions, then the speed of function execution is improved, but the device complexity increases due to gesture recognition requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction execution speedVSAvoidgesture recognition system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the touch screen serve multiple functions: it acts as both the display interface and the input mechanism. The same touch screen that displays functions also detects gesture patterns to execute them, eliminating the need for separate physical buttons or keys. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while enabling fast function execution through direct gesture-to-function mapping.

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

3Measurement precision

If multiple key operations are required to select functions, then the precision of function selection is improved, but the loss of time increases due to multiple steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction selection precisionVSAvoidtime for multiple operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential selection function from the complex multi-step process and encapsulates it within single gesture patterns. By defining distinct gestures (short touch for one function, long touch for another, slide directions for different options), the system captures precise selection intent in a single action, eliminating the need for multiple sequential operations and significantly reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP1976242B1Method for controlling mobile communication device equipped with touch screen, communication device and method of executing functions thereof
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP1976242B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1976242B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP1976242B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A method of controlling a mobile communication device equipped with a touch screen, and a communication device and a method of executing functions thereof are disclosed. A method of controlling a mobile communication device, comprises displaying a plurality of execution keys on a standby screen of a touch screen, and executing different operations depending on whether the execution keys slide after the execution keys are touched.