Touch-Sensitive Surface Peripheral Selection via Directional Slide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interfaces for transferring multimedia content between portable devices and peripheral devices, such as set-top boxes or loudspeakers, are not user-friendly, particularly for older users who are not familiar with these devices, making it difficult to select the intended peripheral device for communication.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a portable device with a touch-sensitive surface that determines the current position and orientation using Bluetooth triangulation and a directional slide on the touch-sensitive surface to intuitively select and communicate with a peripheral device, allowing users to simply slide in the direction of the desired device for content transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional interfaces are used for device selection, then communication functionality is achieved, but user-friendliness and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of peripheral device selectionVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/menu-based device selection interfaces with a gesture-based touch interface. Users simply drag an object on the touch-sensitive surface toward the desired peripheral device, eliminating complex menu navigation and making device selection intuitive and easy to operate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects the user's dragging gesture and identifies the target peripheral device based on spatial relationship, eliminating the need for users to manually search through device lists or configure connection settings. The interface serves itself by interpreting the gesture and initiating communication automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual device selection interfaces are used, then communication functionality is achieved, but usability for non-technical users deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusability for non-technical usersVSAvoiddifficulty of interface interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex menu-driven interfaces with natural gesture-based interaction. Non-technical users can simply drag objects toward desired devices on the touch surface, making the interface as intuitive as pointing, without requiring knowledge of technical terms or navigation structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring users to search for devices within system menus, the system inverts the approach by having devices spatially represented on the touch surface and allowing users to select them through natural dragging gestures, reversing the traditional information-seeking paradigm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11362695B2Method for communication between a portable device comprising a touch-sensitive surface and a peripheral device selected by a directional slide on the touch-sensitive surface

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS

AI summary

Method for communication between a portable device comprising a touch-sensitive surface and a peripheral device selected from among at least one peripheral device, comprising the steps of: determining a current position and a current orientation of the portable device; determining a direction of a selection slide on the touch sensitive surface of the portable device, carried out by an individual's finger or by any object; defining, from among the at least one peripheral device, the selected peripheral device whose position corresponds to the direction of the selection slide; starting a communication between the portable device and the selected peripheral device.