Touchscreen Content Filtering via Object Type Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reduced size of touchscreen devices makes it difficult to maintain legibility of documents and select objects accurately, leading to inadvertent selections and decreased ease-of-use due to cluttered interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that filters document objects on a touchscreen by identifying the type of object touched and generating a filtered user interface, excluding objects of different types, using a processor to determine the location and type of the touch signal and applying pressure or touch patterns to trigger the filtering process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the physical size of computing devices is reduced, then device portability and integration are improved, but document legibility and object selection accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cluttered interface by filtering and displaying only selected object types (e.g., form fields) separately from other objects (e.g., hyperlinks, images). This segmentation allows users to focus on specific interactive elements without distraction from surrounding clutter, thereby improving selection accuracy on small screens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the interface by providing sequential views - first showing a preview of filtered objects, then transitioning to a focused view when the user selects an object type. This dimensional change allows complex information to be presented in manageable stages, improving legibility and selection accuracy on limited screen space.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple object types are displayed in close proximity, then information density is improved, but inadvertent selections increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts selected object types from the mixed cluttered interface and displays them separately in a filtered view. By taking out form fields from among hyperlinks, images, and other elements, the system maintains information density while eliminating the harmful effect of inadvertent selections caused by object proximity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary filtering mechanism that sits between the user and the cluttered interface. This intermediary layer allows users to select object types and view filtered results, mediating the interaction between the user and the complex interface, thereby preventing inadvertent selections while preserving access to all objects.
3Measurement precision
If zooming and panning functionalities are added, then object selection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and ease-of-use deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary filtering of objects based on user-selected types before display. By pre-organizing and filtering objects according to their types, the system eliminates the need for zooming and panning to locate specific objects, thereby improving selection accuracy without adding operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, a touch signal corresponding to contact of the user device touchscreen by a user of a user device is received from a touchscreen sensor of the user device. A location of the user's contact and a document object, which is included within a document displayed on the touchscreen at the location of the user's contact, are determined. An object type corresponding to the document object is determined, and a set of document objects, which are also included in the document, having object types matching the determined object type are identified. A filtered user interface is generated that includes the set of document objects. The set of document objects is extracted from a larger set of document objects. The larger set of document objects includes certain objects with object types that do not match the determined object type. These non-matching objects are excluded from the user interface.