Touchscreen Zoom Threshold Logic for Content Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable electronic devices lack an efficient method to seamlessly transition between primary content magnification levels and related additional information items based on user input, often overwhelming users with irrelevant data when zooming out.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that utilize a touchscreen to respond to zoom commands by determining if the magnification level exceeds a threshold, displaying additional information items only when beyond this level, and allowing a single user input (pinch gesture) to correspond to both zoom-in and zoom-out commands, thereby managing content display effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the magnification level is increased beyond a threshold when zooming out, then more additional information items can be displayed, but the screen becomes cluttered with irrelevant data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of additional information itemsVSAvoidscreen clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of magnification level to control the quantity of additional information items displayed. When the magnification level exceeds a threshold during zoom-out operation, the system stops displaying more additional information items, thereby maintaining screen clarity while providing sufficient information at appropriate magnification levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If multiple separate user inputs are required for zoom-in and zoom-out commands, then precise control is achieved, but user interaction complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interaction simplicityVSAvoidcommand recognition system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touchscreen interface is designed to recognize multiple types of zoom commands (tap, double-tap, pinch gestures) through a single unified interaction mechanism. This allows the same input device to perform multiple functions (zoom-in, zoom-out, adjust magnification level) without requiring separate control mechanisms, thereby simplifying user interaction while maintaining precise control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If additional information items are always displayed when zooming out, then information accessibility is improved, but user attention is分散ed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoiduser focus
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses magnification level as a control parameter to regulate information accessibility. Additional information items are displayed only when the magnification level exceeds a specific threshold during zoom-out operation. This conditional display mechanism ensures that information is accessible when needed (at appropriate zoom levels) while preventing information overload that would distract user focus at normal viewing magnification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2633382B1Responding to the receipt of zoom commands
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP2633382B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2633382B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2633382B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

Apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, having stored thereon computer-readable code, the at least one processor being configured under the control of the computer-readable code to cause primary content to be displayed on a display with a first magnification level, to be responsive to an indication of a receipt of a first zoom command, the first zoom command being for causing alteration of the magnification level from the first magnification level to a second magnification level, to determine if the second magnification level is beyond a threshold magnification level, if it is determined that the second magnification level is not beyond the threshold magnification level, to cause the primary content to be displayed on the display with the second magnification level, and if it is determined that the second magnification level is beyond the threshold magnification level, to cause a first set of one or more additional information items relating to the primary content to be displayed on the display in addition to the primary content.