Touchscreen Contact Search via Dual Initial Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Searching through large corporate directories on touch display devices is time-consuming due to the cumbersome nature of touch keyboards, which lack tactile feedback and often result in accidental key presses, slowing down the process of narrowing down contact searches.
Innovation Solution
A quick directory search system that allows users to filter contacts using the first letter of both the first and last names through a graphical user interface on a touch display device, eliminating the need to type text on a keyboard or keypad, by displaying alphabetized identifiers for selection and using drag-and-drop or slide techniques to narrow down the search results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch keyboard is used to enter text for directory search, then text input capability is improved, but typing speed and accuracy deteriorate due to lack of tactile feedback and small key size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical touch keyboard input system with a visual selection system using pointers and highlighted letters. Instead of physically pressing keys, users select letters by positioning pointers over them, which are then used to filter the directory. This substitution eliminates the tactile feedback problem while maintaining text input capability through a more efficient visual interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pointers as intermediary elements between the user and the directory data. The pointers serve as mediators that select letters from the alphabet, which then automatically filter the contact directory. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for direct keyboard typing while achieving the same search function more efficiently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a touch keyboard is used for directory search, then text entry flexibility is improved, but search time increases due to accidental key presses and cumbersome operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sequential mechanical keyboard typing process with a parallel visual selection process. Multiple letters can be selected simultaneously by positioning pointers, and the system automatically processes the selection to filter the directory. This eliminates the time loss from accidental presses and sequential typing while maintaining flexibility in what can be searched.
3Device complexity
If traditional keypad input is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but search efficiency deteriorates in large corporate directories
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the touch display serve multiple functions: it acts as both the display screen and the input interface. The same touch-sensitive display used for showing information also responds to pointer movements and selections for directory searching. This multi-functionality improves search efficiency without adding separate physical input devices, maintaining device simplicity while enhancing productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a directory search system. Searching can be provided in a very intuitive manner through a graphical user interface that is part of a search application provided on an electronic device. The search system can employ a first letter of a first name combined with a first letter of a last name to quickly find contacts to dial without the use of a keyboard. Each letter can be associated with a pointer that is slidable along alphabet identifiers. By filtering contacts within the directory using the first letter of the first name and first letter of the last names, the user can retrieve a short list of potential contacts that the user wishes to retrieve information about. With thousands of possible entries, filtering using the first letter of the first name and the first letter of the last name often returns a short list of matches.