Touchscreen Shape Recognition for Application Launch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in efficiently accessing and implementing applications on personal electronic devices due to cluttered menus and the laborious process of locating desired applications, especially on small devices like cellular telephones.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows users to access applications by drawing specific shapes on a touchscreen, where the shape is compared to a stored code shape, and if matching, it triggers a linked action, enabling customization and efficient access to functions or applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If application icons are positioned on the desktop display for easy access, then access speed is improved, but the display becomes cluttered and practicality is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional icon placement on the display screen to a temporal dimension where shapes are drawn over time. Instead of spatial arrangement of icons, the system uses time-based shape drawing sequences that are processed and matched against stored code shapes, effectively moving the interaction from spatial to temporal domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the application selection function from the visual display area entirely. Rather than placing icons on the screen, the system extracts application identification to the shape drawing input method, allowing the display to remain clear while applications are selected through drawn shapes that are processed separately.
2Ease of operation
If traditional menu navigation is used to locate applications, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical navigation system (menu browsing, icon clicking) with a gesture-based shape drawing system. Instead of navigating through hierarchical menus or locating specific icons, users draw shapes that are recognized and mapped to applications, substituting physical navigation mechanics with intuitive gesture input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to define their own shape codes for applications, creating a personalized interface that adapts to individual user preferences and habits. The shape recognition system automatically processes drawn shapes and matches them to stored code shapes, providing self-adapting operation without requiring complex configuration.
3Productivity
If shape recognition is implemented for application selection, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing by storing code shapes and their associated applications in advance. When a user draws a shape, the system compares it against pre-stored code shapes, eliminating the need for real-time complex analysis and enabling rapid application selection through straightforward pattern matching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the application selection problem from spatial parameter matching (icon positions, menu hierarchies) to temporal and geometric parameter recognition (shape drawing sequences, coordinate patterns). This parameter transformation simplifies the recognition process while improving selection efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices provide a quick and intuitive method to launch a specific application, dial a number or send a message by drawing a pictorial key, symbol or shape on a computing device touchscreen, touchpad or other touchsurface. A shape drawn on a touchsurface is compared to one or more code shapes stored in memory to determine if there is a match or correlation. If the entered shape correlates to a stored code shape, an application, file, function or keystroke sequence linked to the correlated code shape is implemented. The methods also enable communication involving sending a shape or parameters defining a shape from one computing device to another where the shape is compared to code shapes in memory of the receiving computing device. If the received shape correlates to a stored code shape, an application, file, function or keystroke sequence linked to the correlated code shape is implemented.