Unified Dialer Calculator Interface for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic devices do not support compatibility between telephone and calculation functions, making it inconvenient for users to access the calculator application, as the interfaces for both functions are similar but lack integration, leading to the calculation function being underutilized due to its hidden placement.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with an input/output interface providing number keys and function keys, a buffer to store key values, and a controller that determines whether the user input is associated with a telephone or calculation function, allowing the same keys to be used for both functions, including the delete key, and switching between them based on specific conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate applications are used for telephone and calculator functions, then each function can be independently optimized, but the device complexity increases and user convenience deteriorates due to needing to switch between applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the telephone dialer and calculator functions into a single integrated application interface. The same keypad and display are used for both functions, eliminating the need to switch between separate applications. The system detects user input patterns to automatically determine whether calculation or telephone operations are intended, providing a unified experience that improves ease of operation while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the telephone application to perform both dialing and calculation operations using the same interface elements. The number keys and function keys serve dual purposes depending on the detected input pattern, making the device more versatile without requiring separate applications for each function.
2Productivity
If the calculator function is placed in a separate application, then the telephone function can be optimized for frequent use, but the calculator function becomes less accessible and is underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the calculator function into the telephone application, both functions become equally accessible from the same interface. Users can perform calculations immediately without navigating to a separate calculator app, thereby improving calculator accessibility and utilization while maintaining the efficiency of telephone operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different interfaces are used for telephone and calculator functions, then each function can have optimized controls, but the similarity in interfaces causes confusion and prevents integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a universal interface design where the same keypad and display serve both telephone and calculator functions. The system intelligently determines the intended operation based on input patterns, allowing one optimized interface to handle multiple functions without confusion, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided which includes an input/output interface configured to provide a plurality of number keys and function keys, a buffer configured to store a value of a key selected through the input/output interface, and a controller configured to determine, when a specific condition occurs through the input/output interface, whether the specific condition is associated with a calculation function or a telephone function and perform a telephone function or a calculation function using the stored key value based on a result of the determination. Furthermore, a delete key of the plurality of number keys and the function keys is applied in common to the calculation function and the telephone function.