Touchscreen Input via Graphical Item Coupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional user input methods for electronic devices, such as keypads, are often inconvenient and inefficient, requiring multiple key presses to access and enable functions, especially on devices with hierarchical menu structures.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing a touch sensitive display that allows users to control the device by coupling graphical items with a trace on the screen, where each item has an identity, enabling actions based on the coupled items, allowing for single-input operation and easy access to multiple functions without scrolling through menus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a keypad is used for user input, then the device can be controlled, but it requires multiple key presses and is inconvenient for accessing functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical keypad system with a touch-sensitive display system. Instead of pressing physical keys to navigate hierarchical menus, users interact with graphical items on a touch screen, eliminating the mechanical input method and enabling more efficient function access through direct touch interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional linear keypress sequencing to two-dimensional spatial relationships on the display. Users can visually perceive and directly select functions through their spatial arrangement on the touchscreen, eliminating the need to scroll through hierarchical menu structures and reducing the time required to access functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a hierarchical menu structure is used, then functions can be organized, but it requires several key presses to access and enable chosen functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments functions into distinct graphical items displayed on the touchscreen, each representing a specific function or option. This segmentation allows users to visually identify and directly select desired functions without navigating through hierarchical menus, significantly improving the speed of function access while maintaining organized function presentation.
3Productivity
If multiple graphical items are displayed simultaneously, then functions can be accessed without scrolling, but the display complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal touch-sensitive display interface that can handle multiple graphical items simultaneously. The display system is designed to present multiple function options at once, allowing users to access functions without scrolling through menus, thereby improving productivity while the system manages display complexity through efficient rendering and interaction handling.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling an electronic device including a touch sensitive display the method including displaying a plurality of graphical items on the touch sensitive display where each graphical item has an identity; detecting a coupling, formed by a user, of at least two graphical items, the coupling including, a trace on the touch sensitive display between the at least two graphical items; and, performing an action dependent upon the identity of the coupled graphical items.