Touchscreen GUI for Conference Call Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable devices have complex and inflexible user interfaces that make it difficult for users to manage conference calls, including adding or removing parties, converting calls, and navigating menu hierarchies, leading to user frustration and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A portable multifunction device with a touch-sensitive display and graphical user interface that allows users to interact through finger contacts and gestures, featuring a phone call user interface that includes a merge call icon to seamlessly merge active and suspended calls into a conference call, and a conference call management icon to manage call participants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional user interfaces with multiple pushbuttons and complex menu systems are used, then device functionality is comprehensive, but user operation becomes complicated and requires memorization of key sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pushbutton system with a graphical user interface (GUI) that uses visual icons and touch-sensitive display. This substitution eliminates the need for physical buttons and complex menu hierarchies, allowing users to interact with the device through intuitive graphical representations. The GUI maintains comprehensive functionality while significantly reducing operational complexity and the need for memorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses graphical icons that visually represent their functions (e.g., a phone icon for phone calls, a conference icon for conference calls). These visual copies or representations make the interface self-explanatory, reducing the cognitive load required to operate the device while preserving all necessary functions through the graphical metaphor system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional menu systems with multiple hierarchy levels are used, then device features are accessible, but user time and efficiency are reduced due to navigation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the user interface into functional zones on the display screen, with each zone containing relevant controls and information for the current operation. This spatial segmentation allows users to access multiple features simultaneously rather than navigating through hierarchical menus, significantly reducing navigation time while maintaining comprehensive feature accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional hierarchical menu structure to a two-dimensional graphical interface where multiple functions are arranged spatially on the screen. This dimensional change allows users to access features across different functional categories without traversing multiple menu levels, reducing navigation time while preserving full feature accessibility.
3Volume of moving object
If the device screen size is reduced for portability, then device compactness is improved, but user interface interaction becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the size, position, and density of graphical elements based on the available screen real estate. This parameter adjustment allows the interface to optimize for both small portable screens and larger displays, maintaining ease of interaction despite size constraints. The system can also adjust the level of detail displayed based on the current operational context.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conference call management functions are added to portable devices, then device versatility is improved, but interface complexity increases making management tasks difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conference call management interface with the existing phone interface, using the same graphical icons and interaction patterns for both regular and conference calls. This unification allows users to manage conference calls using the same intuitive gestures and visual cues they already know, adding versatility without increasing perceived interface complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to managing phone calls. In some embodiments, an electronic device with a touch screen displays a phone call user interface which includes informational items associated with phone calls. In some embodiments, when the electronic device receives a request to initiate another phone call, the electronic device displays a contacts user interface including a plurality of contact user interface objects associated with respective contacts.