Touch Screen Terminal Zoom Control via Circular Region Gesture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen terminals require repetitive multi-touch or single-touch circular gestures to achieve desired zoom levels, which can be cumbersome and inefficient for users.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that designates a region on the screen through a touch and move gesture, setting an imaginary circle as a zoom-in area, allowing users to pan contents to the center and zoom in to a full screen by rotating along the circle's circumference, with magnification levels proportional to the rotation angle, enabling seamless zooming without repeated gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multi-touch scheme is used to zoom in/out by changing distance between two fingers, then zooming function is achieved, but user has to repeat the operation multiple times which is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the zooming operation into two distinct phases: (1) a touch-and-move gesture to define a circular region of interest, and (2) a rotation gesture along the circle's circumference to control zoom level. This segmentation allows each gesture to have a specific purpose, eliminating the need for repetitive multi-touch operations while providing precise control over zoom magnitude and position.
2Ease of operation
If single-touch circular gesture is used to zoom, then zooming is achieved, but the operation remains complex and requires precise circular tracing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the user to trace a circle to define the zoom region (as in prior art), this patent inverts the approach: the user makes a simple touch-and-move gesture to define a circular region, then uses rotation along the circle's circumference to control zoom. This inversion simplifies the initial gesture while maintaining precise control, reducing both operational complexity and gesture recognition complexity.
3Measurement precision
If zoom ratio is based on rotation angle of traced circle, then zoom level is controlled, but user must complete full circular motion which increases operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows the zoom operation to be completed with partial rotation along the circle's circumference rather than requiring a full 360-degree rotation. The zoom level is proportional to the rotation angle, enabling users to achieve desired zoom levels with minimal rotation, thus reducing operation time while maintaining precise control through angle-based measurement.
4Measurement precision
If zoom is centered on center of traced circle, then zoom position is determined, but user must precisely trace circle to desired location which complicates operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically determining the circular region and its center based on the user's simple touch-and-move gesture, before the user performs the rotation gesture. This preliminary region definition simplifies the subsequent zoom control operation, as users only need to rotate along the pre-defined circle's circumference without worrying about tracing precision or positioning accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for controlling screen display in a touch screen terminal. The method includes determining a zoom-in region, zooming in contents belonging to the zoom-in region at a corresponding magnification, and expressing the zoomed-in contents.