Touchscreen Interface With Usage-Based Proactive Content Surfacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of handheld electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face inefficiencies in accessing applications and desired functions due to the need for extensive navigation and the overwhelming amount of information, leading to wasted time and battery consumption.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that proactively identifies and surfaces relevant content by collecting usage data, setting trigger conditions, and providing user interface objects on the lock screen or home screen to facilitate quick access without additional user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually navigate through applications and functions on a touch-sensitive device, then they can access desired content, but they spend excessive time and perform excessive touch inputs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessing applicationsVSAvoidtime to locate desired application

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively identifying and surfacing relevant content before the user explicitly requests it. Usage data is collected and analyzed in advance to predict what applications or functions the user will need, and these are then automatically presented on the lock screen or home screen, eliminating the need for manual navigation and significantly reducing access time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system serves itself by automatically managing content presentation without requiring continuous user input. The device monitors usage patterns, autonomously determines relevant content, and automatically updates the interface to surface this content, allowing the system to adapt and improve user experience without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If users manually navigate through applications and functions on a touch-sensitive device, then they can access desired content, but they consume excessive battery power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessing applicationsVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If users manually navigate through applications and functions on a touch-sensitive device, then they can access desired content, but the touch-sensitive display experiences excessive wear from continuous tapping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessing applicationsVSAvoidlifespan of touch-sensitive display

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If the device proactively identifies and surfaces relevant content, then user efficiency is improved and fewer inputs are required, but the system complexity increases due to data collection and analysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves multi-functionality by combining usage data collection, analysis, prediction, and automatic content surfacing into a unified framework. The same infrastructure that collects usage data for one purpose can be used to predict various types of user needs across different applications, reducing overall system complexity through shared components and processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary layer between the user and the applications. This intermediary (the proactive content surfacing system) collects usage data, analyzes patterns, and presents predicted content, thereby simplifying the user's interaction with the complex ecosystem of applications while managing the complexity internally through automated processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4340409B1Systems and methods for proactively identifying and surfacing relevant content on a touch-sensitive device

Publication Date: 2025.10.29 APPLE INC

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AI summary

Systems and methods for proactively identifying and surfacing relevant content on an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display are disclosed herein. In one aspect, the method includes executing, on the electronic device, an application in response to an instruction from a user of the electronic device. While executing the application, the method further includes collecting usage data. The usage data at least includes one or more actions performed by the user within the application. The method also includes: automatically, without human intervention, obtaining at least one trigger condition based on the collected usage data and associating the at least one trigger condition with a particular action of the one or more actions performed by the user within the application. Upon determining that the at least one trigger condition has been satisfied, the method includes providing an indication to the user that the particular action associated with the trigger condition is available.