Vector-Based User Interface Navigation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interface navigation schemes, such as those using D-Pad or pointer-based controls, face inefficiencies in navigating UI elements, either restricting design with orthogonal navigation or requiring unnecessary traversal of empty screen space with pointer-based methods.
Innovation Solution
A vector-based navigation system that translates directional gestures from control devices like trackballs or gyroscopic remotes into vector movements, allowing arbitrary UI element placement and efficient navigation by expressing element relationships in 2D or 3D space using angle and magnitude components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If D-Pad input is used for navigation, then orthogonal direction navigation is supported, but user interface element placement is restricted to horizontal and vertical arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the navigation parameter system from discrete orthogonal directions (up/down/left/right) to continuous vector parameters (angle and magnitude). This allows UI elements to be arranged arbitrarily in 2D space while maintaining efficient navigation, as the vector-based system can represent any direction and distance between elements without being constrained to grid-aligned movements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pointer-based navigation is used, then UI element placement flexibility is improved, but traversal of empty screen area is required which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the navigation parameter representation from continuous pointer coordinates traversing empty space to vector relationships defined by angle and magnitude between UI elements. This allows the system to calculate direct navigation paths between elements based on their spatial relationships, eliminating the need to traverse empty screen areas while preserving arbitrary element placement flexibility.
3Productivity
If vector-based navigation is implemented, then navigation efficiency and flexibility are improved, but system complexity increases due to vector calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having each UI element automatically maintain vector information (angle and magnitude) relative to its neighbors. When navigation input is received, the system simply queries the current element's vector data to determine the next element, eliminating the need for complex centralized calculations. The vector relationships are inherently embedded in the UI structure, making the navigation system efficient without requiring complex external computation.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
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AI summary
The disclosed methods and systems are related to a navigation of user interfaces that is vector based. Vector based navigation combines the efficiency of orthogonal direction navigation (up/down/left/right) with the flexibility of pointer-based (e.g. mouse/touch-pad) navigation. User interface elements can be arranged arbitrarily in 2D (or 3D) space and described in terms of vector relationships from the currently active UI element. Directional gestures coming from control devices such as a track-ball, touch-pad, or gyroscopic remote can be translated into vector movements to affect navigation between UI elements.