Touch Screen Region Selection for Subset Object Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of electronic devices with touch screens face inconvenience when trying to select a subset of objects, as they must either select each object individually or use an 'all' option, lacking a straightforward method to choose a specific group of objects.
Innovation Solution
An object selecting system that includes detection, determination, scaling, and selection modules to detect touch operations, define selection regions, and scale them based on user input, allowing for the selection of multiple objects within a defined area on the touch screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users select objects one by one using traditional touch operations, then each object can be selected individually, but the operation time and user effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the selection process into two distinct modes: individual object selection and region-based batch selection. By dividing the interaction model, users can quickly select multiple objects using a single gesture (region selection) when needed, while still maintaining the ability to select individual objects precisely when required. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing different selection strategies for different user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by allowing users to select only the subset of objects within a defined region rather than requiring selection of all objects or individual selection of each object. The region selection mechanism enables users to perform a partial selection action that captures exactly the needed objects, reducing time loss compared to individual selection while maintaining precision.
2Productivity
If users use the 'select all' option, then all objects are selected quickly, but users cannot select only a specific subset of objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the selection capability into hierarchical levels: individual object selection, region-based subset selection, and all-object selection. This segmentation allows users to adapt their selection strategy to the specific task at hand, providing versatility while maintaining high productivity through the efficient region-based selection method for partial selections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic selection behavior where the selection mode can be changed on-the-fly through user gestures. Users can dynamically switch between selecting individual objects, defining custom regions for batch selection, or selecting all objects, depending on their current needs. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible without sacrificing selection speed.
3Ease of operation
If the system adds region selection functionality, then partial object selection becomes efficient, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the touch screen interface universal by enabling it to serve multiple selection functions: individual object selection, region-based batch selection, and all-object selection. The same touch interface hardware and basic software architecture handle all selection modes, avoiding the need for separate specialized interfaces for each selection type. This universality reduces system complexity while providing efficient partial object selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the region definition functionality with the existing touch selection interface. Instead of adding a separate complex region-selection device or interface, the system combines region-based selection with the standard touch screen interaction model. Users define regions using natural touch gestures, and the system integrates this with the existing object selection mechanism, reducing overall system complexity while enabling efficient partial selection.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for selecting objects of an electronic device, a touch operation performed on a touch screen of the electronic device is detected. A selection region on the touch screen is determined according to a touch operation that is detected from the touch screen. The selection region is scaled according to one or more predetermined ratios when contact points of the touch operation move on the touch screen. Objects displayed on the touch screen are selected according to the determined selection region.