Touchscreen Drag-and-Drop With Secure Multi-Touch Data Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drag and drop technologies on touchscreen devices lack efficient security features and multi-touch input support, leading to potential data access violations and disrupted system performance during data transfer operations.

Innovation Solution

An architecture that enables drag and drop functionality with integrated security features and multi-touch input support on touchscreen devices, allowing concurrent data transfers and multiple drag sessions without disrupting system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional mouse-based drag and drop is used, then precision and control are improved, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate for users with mobility impairments

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibilityVSAvoidPositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a touch-sensitive display surface as an intermediary between the user and the drag-and-drop operation. Instead of requiring direct manual manipulation of a mouse, users interact through touch gestures on the display, which translates their hand movements into precise cursor control. This intermediary enables both accessibility (through simple touch) and positioning accuracy (through gesture recognition algorithms).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical mouse system with a touch-based interaction system. The mouse requires physical manipulation of a separate device, while the touch interface allows direct interaction with the display surface. This substitution maintains positioning precision through touch coordinate tracking while significantly improving accessibility for users with various mobility impairments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If touch-sensitive display is used for drag and drop, then accessibility is improved, but the ability to precisely control cursor movement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccessibilityVSAvoidGesture recognition system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the touch interface functionality into distinct components: touch event detection, gesture recognition, and cursor control. By dividing the complex gesture recognition system into manageable segments, each handling specific aspects of touch interaction, the patent achieves both accessibility through simplified touch gestures and precise cursor control through coordinated segment operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If direct touch interaction is used, then ease of operation is improved, but control precision and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEase of useVSAvoidDrag and drop reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor touch events and adjust cursor position in real-time. Visual feedback through highlight effects and haptic feedback through vibration motors provide users with immediate confirmation of their actions. This feedback loop ensures that simple touch gestures reliably translate into precise cursor movement and successful drag-and-drop operations, maintaining both ease of use and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3625662B1Drag and drop for touchscreen devices
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 APPLE INC
  • EP3625662B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3625662B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3625662B1 patent drawingFigure 2D~2F

AI summary

A device implementing drag and drop for touchscreen devices may include a processor configured to detect a drag gesture selecting an item in a first application. The processor may be further configured to detect a touch release at an end of the drag gesture for dropping the item in a second application, and send, in response to the detected touch release, a message to the second application, the message including information for a plurality of representations of the item. The processor may be further configured to receive, from the second application, a request for a representation of the item from among the plurality of representations. The processor may be further configured to send, to the first application, the request for the representation of the item. The processor may be further configured to initiate a data transfer of the representation of the item from the first application to the second application.