Touch Screen Link Selection Enlargement for Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In touch screen based web browser environments, users face difficulties in accurately selecting link entities due to their concentration, leading to erroneous touches.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that verifies the number of link entities within a predetermined touch region, displaying them enlarged if the count exceeds a threshold, allowing for precise selection by enlarging and displaying contents within a window for user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If link entities are concentrated in a small area to save screen space, then screen space utilization is improved, but user selection accuracy deteriorates due to error touches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the selection interface from a two-dimensional concentrated layout to a three-dimensional hierarchical structure. When multiple link entities are detected in a touch region, the system displays a popup window containing enlarged thumbnails of these links, allowing users to select from multiple dimensions (original view + popup view) rather than forcing selection in the crowded original view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the link selection process into two distinct phases: (1) initial touch detection on the main screen, and (2) secondary selection in the popup window. This segmentation separates the detection function (main screen) from the selection function (popup window), allowing each to be optimized independently for its specific purpose.
2Measurement precision
If the touch region size is increased to improve selection accuracy, then user selection accuracy is improved, but the number of link entities that can be displayed simultaneously deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic touch region that automatically adjusts its size and scope based on the density of link entities detected. When multiple links are present in a region, the system dynamically expands the touch region to include all relevant links, ensuring accurate detection without requiring the user to manually adjust the region size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds a popup window (containing enlarged link thumbnails) within the overall browser interface. This nested structure allows the system to maintain the original compact layout while providing an additional layer of enlarged display for selection, effectively nesting one interface within another to resolve the space-accuracy contradiction.
3Measurement precision
If link entities are enlarged to improve selection accuracy, then user selection accuracy is improved, but the screen space available for other content deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the enlarged link thumbnails from the main browser content area and places them in a separate popup window. This extraction allows the enlarged display to coexist with the original content layout, as the popup window occupies a separate visual layer that does not permanently reduce the screen space available for other content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic display of enlarged links only when needed (i.e., when a user touches a region containing multiple links). The popup window appears temporarily during the selection process and then disappears, allowing the full screen space to be restored for other content. This periodic action ensures enlarged display is provided on-demand without permanently sacrificing screen real estate.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus is provided for more easily selecting a desired one of a plurality of corresponding link entities displayed on a touch screen. The method includes verifying the number of link entities which exist within a touch region of a predetermined size around a touch point, and if the number of the link entities which exist within the touch region of the predetermined size is greater than or equal to a threshold value, displaying a window which enlarges and displays contents displayed on the touch region of the predetermined size by a certain magnification, and then waiting for touch and selection of one of the corresponding link entities enlarged and displayed on the window.