Touchscreen Search Interface Translation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable multifunction devices face challenges in designing user interfaces that allow easy interaction due to limited screen space and the need for complex key sequences and menu hierarchies, leading to inflexible and inconvenient search functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive display with a graphical user interface that translates application interfaces upon user movement, allowing seamless transition to a search input area for intuitive search queries across local and remote data locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If more pushbuttons are added to portable devices, then the functionality and search capability are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The search field is integrated directly into the application interface, allowing the same interface elements to serve both application-specific functions and search functions. This eliminates the need for separate search buttons or dedicated search interfaces, as the application interface itself becomes the search interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the search functionality with the application interface by displaying the search field within the application's own interface. This merging eliminates the need for separate search buttons or dedicated search interfaces, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatile search capability across different applications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex menu systems are used, then more functions can be accessed, but the ease of operation decreases due to complicated key sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The search functionality is extracted from complex menu hierarchies and placed directly within the application interface. Users can access search by simply scrolling to the bottom of the application interface, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple menu levels or remember complex key sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The search field is预先 displayed as part of the application interface structure, visible when users scroll to the bottom. This preliminary positioning allows users to access search functionality immediately without needing to navigate through complex menus or learn complicated operation sequences.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate search forms are used, then search functionality is provided, but user context and interactivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The search field is merged with the application interface, allowing users to remain within the context of the application while performing searches. The search field displays within the same interface space, maintaining visual and operational continuity between application viewing and search operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The application interface itself acts as an intermediary that seamlessly integrates both application display and search functionality. This eliminates the need for separate search forms that would break user context, as the interface smoothly transitions between showing application content and providing search capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display includes: an application interface of an application that includes an application interface region with an edge; and a search input area for entering a search query for the application. In response to detecting a movement of an object on or near the touch screen display, the application interface region is translated on the touch screen display in a first direction. In response to the edge of the application interface region being crossed while translating the application interface region in the first direction while the object is still detected on or near the touch screen display, the edge of the application interface region is displayed, and the search input area is displayed in an area beyond the application interface region.