Virtual Home Screen Button Gesture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for mobile terminals to return to the home screen either damage the physical home screen button due to frequent use or obstruct the use of other applications with a persistently displayed virtual button.
Innovation Solution
A method and mobile terminal implementation that detects specific screen gestures to display a virtual home screen button only when needed, allowing users to tap it to return to the home screen, thereby avoiding physical button wear and minimizing interference with other applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a physical home screen button is used to return to home screen, then the operation is convenient and quick, but the physical button is easily damaged due to frequent use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical home screen button with a virtual button displayed on the touchscreen. The virtual button is triggered by a specific gesture (swiping upward from the bottom edge of the screen), substituting the mechanical pressing action with a touch-based gesture control. This eliminates wear and damage to physical components while maintaining the quick return-to-home functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the home screen button functionality on the touchscreen display. Instead of relying on the physical button hardware, the system renders a visual representation (virtual button) that replicates the home screen return function. When users perform the designated gesture, the virtual button activates and returns them to the home screen, providing a durable alternative to the physical button.
2Ease of operation
If a virtual home screen button is always displayed on the current page, then it provides easy access to home screen, but it obstructs the use of other applications on the current page
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic virtual home screen button that appears and disappears based on user interaction. The button is not permanently displayed but is dynamically triggered by a specific gesture (swiping upward from the bottom edge). After activation, the button disappears, allowing the full screen to be used for applications. This dynamic appearance and disappearance resolves the conflict between accessibility and screen real estate.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual home screen button operates on a periodic basis rather than being continuously displayed. It appears temporarily when the user performs the triggering gesture, performs its function, and then disappears. This periodic activation pattern ensures that the button is accessible when needed but does not occupy screen space during normal application usage.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of information processing technologies, and disclose a method used by a mobile terminal to return to a home screen, a mobile terminal and a storage medium. The method includes: determining whether the screen touching gesture is a gesture for displaying a virtual home screen button; displaying the virtual home screen button when the screen touching gesture on the current page is the gesture for displaying the virtual home screen button, and detecting whether the virtual home screen button is tapped; and returning from the current page to a home screen if the virtual home screen button is tapped. After it is detected that a screen touching gesture on a current page is a gesture for displaying a virtual home screen button, the virtual home screen button is displayed.