Touch Screen Playlist Folder Sorting via Path Gestures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices lack an efficient method for dynamically managing and displaying playlists on touch screens, particularly in responding to multi-touch gestures and maintaining user interaction with hierarchical folder structures.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device employs a control unit that detects and responds to various touch gestures, such as continuous movement, flick, drag, and rotate, to generate new folder names, sort folders based on storage paths, and abbreviate storage paths, providing visual, auditory, and haptic feedback while allowing users to rearrange and interact with playlist structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the playlist displays detailed hierarchical folder structures with full storage paths, then the information completeness is improved, but the screen space utilization and ease of operation deteriorate due to the limited display area and complex navigation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display structure dynamically adjusts between detailed and abbreviated views based on user interaction. When a folder is selected, its storage path transitions from a static display element to a draggable, movable element that can be reassigned to different playlist positions, enabling flexible reorganization without permanent structural changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The storage path information is segmented into hierarchical components (folders and subfolders) that can be independently manipulated. Each folder name in the path can be individually dragged and dropped to create new folder assignments, allowing granular control over playlist organization while maintaining information completeness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the system allows free dragging and dropping of folder elements to rearrange playlists, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple gesture recognition requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen interface uses universal drag-and-drop gestures that serve multiple functions: selecting folders, repositioning them in the playlist, and assigning them to different parent folders. The same basic gesture mechanism handles both navigation and reorganization tasks, reducing the need for separate control mechanisms despite the increased operational capabilities

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

3Measurement precision

If the electronic device displays full storage paths for all folders in the playlist, then the measurement precision of folder identification is improved, but the area of display and readability deteriorate due to screen space constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolder identification precisionVSAvoiddisplay area
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display dynamically adapts its level of detail based on the interaction state. During normal viewing, abbreviated folder names are displayed to maximize screen space utilization. When a folder is selected or being manipulated, the full storage path becomes visible to ensure precise identification, creating a dynamic balance between readability and precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2787506B1Electronic device and method of displaying playlist thereof
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2787506B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2787506B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2787506B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A user interface method employed by an electronic device displays a folder playlist playable by an application, on a touch screen and detects a touch selecting one folder in the displayed folder playlist. A touch gesture is detected comprising a continuous movement of a touch and performs a sorting operation using a name representation of a storage path of a folder where the touch is detected, in response to the continuous movement of the detected touch gesture.