Virtual Slide-to-Lock PTT Feature for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing PTT communication applications require users to continuously select or hold a virtual 'Hold-to-Talk' feature, leading to inconvenience and potential interruptions, as well as issues with false message creation and bandwidth consumption due to the need for continuous activation.

Innovation Solution

A virtual Slide-to-Lock feature that allows users to activate a PTT locking function by sliding their finger from one region to another on a touch-sensitive display, enabling message creation without continuous selection of the PTT feature, and can be used with both progressive and store-and-forward type PTT applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users continuously hold or select the Hold-to-Talk feature, then messages can be created and transmitted, but user convenience deteriorates and interruptions may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage transmission reliabilityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically activating the PTT locking function when the user slides the finger across the display, eliminating the need for continuous user input. This preliminary activation ensures reliable message transmission while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The PTT locking function enables self-service operation where the system maintains the talk state automatically once activated. The user initiates the function with a single slide gesture, and the system sustains the communication state without requiring continuous user input, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the Talk feature is used for near real-time communication, then full-duplex communication is enabled, but false messages may be inadvertently created and bandwidth consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidfalse message creation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by requiring a deliberate slide gesture to activate the PTT locking function, which prevents inadvertent activation. The sliding motion serves as a confirmation action that distinguishes intentional message creation from accidental activation, thereby reducing false messages while maintaining communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If continuous holding of PTT feature is required, then message transmission can proceed, but user convenience deteriorates particularly for long periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage transmission durationVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically maintaining the PTT locking state for the duration of communication. The user activates the function once with a slide gesture, and the system sustains the talk state throughout the conversation period, enabling long-duration communication without requiring continuous user input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The PTT locking function enables self-service operation where the system maintains the talk state automatically once activated. This allows messages to be transmitted over extended periods without user intervention, resolving the contradiction between transmission duration and user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If the Slide-to-Lock feature is implemented, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePTT activation convenienceVSAvoidfeature implementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical continuous-hold interaction with a digital slide gesture recognition system. The slide-to-lock feature uses touch screen coordinate detection and motion threshold calculations to activate the PTT locking function, substituting simple continuous contact with a more sophisticated but user-friendly gesture-based activation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8948804B2Virtual slide-to-lock feature for push-to-talk communication applications

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 VOXER IP LLC

AI summary

A virtual Slide-to-Lock feature for communication devices running a PTT application. When the Slide-to-Lock feature is activated, a PTT locking function on the communication device is activated. As a result, messages on the communication device may be created, without the need of the user to continuously hold or select a Hold-to-Talk or similar PTT feature. In one non-exclusive embodiment, the virtual Slide-to-Lock feature is activated when a finger is moved from a first region to a second region on a touch-sensitive display screen and de-activated with the opposite motion.