Touchscreen Gesture Interface for Unified Multi-Source Information Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face challenges in efficiently managing limited screen space, requiring users to navigate through multiple applications and menus to access information from different sources, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that allows users to detect gestures on the touch-sensitive display to seamlessly switch between applications, displaying additional information alongside the primary application without the need to navigate through menus, using actuators for tactile feedback and combining information from multiple sources in a single window or field.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users navigate through multiple applications and menus to access information from different sources, then information access is achieved, but navigation complexity increases and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation complexityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines information from multiple applications and sources into a single unified display window or field. Instead of requiring users to switch between separate applications to access emails, calendar events, and other information, the system merges these different information sources into one integrated view, allowing simultaneous access to multiple types of content without navigation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal display interface that can present multiple types of information from different applications simultaneously. This multi-functional display window serves as a single access point for various information sources, eliminating the need for application-specific navigation and providing a unified method for accessing diverse content types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the display shows information from multiple applications simultaneously, then information accessibility improves, but screen space management becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidscreen space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments information from different applications into distinct visual components or regions within the unified display window. Each information source (emails, calendar events, etc.) is divided into separate manageable segments that can be individually organized and displayed, allowing efficient use of screen space while maintaining accessibility to multiple information types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes multiple display dimensions (such as spatial arrangement, layering, or hierarchical organization) within the single window to accommodate information from multiple applications. By organizing information along different dimensional axes rather than requiring separate full-screen applications, the system maximizes screen space utilization while maintaining information accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If users switch between applications to view different information sources, then complete information access is achieved, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation complexityVSAvoidinformation completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple information sources into a single display window, allowing users to access complete information from different applications simultaneously in one view. This eliminates the need to switch between applications to gather complete information, reducing operational steps while maintaining information completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary organization and integration of information from multiple applications before presenting it to the user. By pre-processing and consolidating information from various sources into the unified display format, the system eliminates the need for users to perform multiple switching operations to achieve complete information access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables quick access to multiple information sources within a single screen, reducing navigation complexity and enhancing user experience by allowing continuous viewing of information from various applications, such as emails and calendar events, without the need to open separate applications.

Implementation Method 1

using actuators for tactile feedback

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTactile feedback:

Data Source

PatentUS9213421B2Electronic device and method of displaying information in response to detecting a gesture

Publication Date: 2015.12.15 BLACKBERRY LTD

AI summary

A gesture is detected by an electronic device including a display. In response to detecting a first part of the gesture, a first part of first information is displayed on the display. In response to detecting a second part of the gesture subsequent to the first part of the gesture, the display of the first part of the first information is maintained. In response to detecting a third part of the gesture subsequent to the second part of the gesture, an additional part of the information is displayed.