Viewport Navigation for Focusable Visual Content
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Navigating mixed visual content with both interactive and non-interactive elements on display devices with uniaxial input devices, such as video game controllers, is challenging due to limited input methods, especially for paginated content, which complicates reading and interaction.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilizes a viewport interface template to identify focusable elements, indicate them with visual indicators, and smoothly scroll content based on user input, allowing intuitive navigation of focusable and non-focusable elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a multi-axis human interface device (mouse, touchpad) is used to navigate visual content, then navigation flexibility and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity and accessibility for users without such devices worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables a uniaxial input device (remote control with directional buttons) to perform multiple navigation functions including scrolling through content, selecting focusable elements, and navigating between pages. The same device can handle both linear scrolling and hierarchical navigation tasks that traditionally required multi-axis devices like mice or touchpads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary software layer that translates uniaxial input device commands into effective navigation actions. This mediator interprets simple directional inputs and converts them into complex navigation sequences, enabling full-featured content navigation through a limited input interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If uniaxial input devices (remote controls) are used for navigating paginated content, then device simplicity and accessibility are improved, but navigation precision and interaction capability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback by highlighting focusable elements and showing cursor positions in response to uniaxial input device commands. This feedback mechanism allows users to precisely locate and select elements without direct visual confirmation of each input action, compensating for the limited precision of remote control navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically scrolls content into view and positions focusable elements before user selection is required. This preliminary action ensures that when a user presses a selection button, the target element is already in the optimal position, eliminating the need for precise manual positioning that would be difficult with a remote control.
3Ease of operation
If conventional scrolling methods are used for mixed visual content, then ease of operation is improved, but ability to distinguish and interact with focusable elements worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual indicators such as color changes, borders, or background highlights to distinguish focusable elements from non-focusable content. When a element receives focus through uniaxial navigation, it is visually emphasized through color or brightness changes, making it easily distinguishable for user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent visually segments content by distinguishing focusable elements (interactive) from non-focusable elements (static content). This segmentation is achieved through visual indicators that clearly mark which elements can be selected or activated, helping users understand the interactive structure of the content without confusion.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of navigating visual content includes establishing an interface template including a viewport; obtaining visual content data; identifying at least one focusable element in the visual content data; presenting a first portion of visual content in the viewport on a display device, wherein the visual content is based at least partially on the visual content data; indicating a first focusable element in the viewport with a visual indicator; and responsive to a user input, scrolling the visual content in the viewport when a second focusable element of the visual content is not present in the viewport in a navigation direction of the user input.