UI Navigation Engine Position Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face frustration navigating through menu items and pages on electronic devices without user-friendly navigation tools, especially on smaller interface screens which often lack mice, touch pads, wheels, or sliders.
Innovation Solution
A user interface system that determines the number of items to display based on screen parameters, highlights displayed items to indicate their position in a list, and adds additional menu levels in response to user focus, allowing users to view current and potential selections simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional navigation devices (mouse, touch pad, wheel, scroll bar, slider) are used, then navigation functionality is provided, but user frustration and confusion increase on devices without these tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical navigation systems (mouse, touch pad, wheel, scroll bar, slider) with a visual indication system. Instead of requiring physical navigation tools, the system uses visual cues (such as highlighting displayed items to indicate their position in a list) to enable navigation through menu items and pages, thereby eliminating the need for complex input devices while maintaining navigation functionality.
2Productivity
If more menu items are displayed at once, then navigation efficiency improves, but the interface screen space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the menu items into multiple levels (first level, second level, etc.) and displays a limited number of items at each level. This segmentation allows the system to manage screen space efficiently by showing only relevant items at the current level while maintaining the ability to access other items through hierarchical navigation, thus improving navigation efficiency without requiring excessive screen real estate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the interface by adding multiple menu levels. Instead of displaying all items in a single flat list that would require excessive screen space, the system organizes items into levels where users can navigate through hierarchy. This dimensional change allows efficient use of limited screen area while maintaining comprehensive access to all menu items.
3Loss of information
If the system displays all menu items at once, then complete information is provided, but user focus and orientation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by highlighting specific displayed items to indicate their position in the list and by displaying different numbers of items at different levels. This selective emphasis guides user focus to relevant information while maintaining context about the overall structure. The system provides local cues (highlighting, position indicators) that help users orient themselves without requiring display of all items simultaneously, thus preserving information completeness while enhancing user focus.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method for user interface navigation engine is provided. A number of items to display is determined based on an interface screen parameter. The number of items is displayed based on the numerical position on a list selected for display. A displayed item is highlighted, wherein a position of the highlighted displayed item on a screen indicates a position relation of the displayed number of items to the count of items in the list.