Wake Screen Notification Interface for Faster Low-Power Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

User interfaces for accessing notifications on electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces are cumbersome and inefficient, leading to increased energy consumption and prolonged navigation times, particularly in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

Implement methods and interfaces that allow for faster and more efficient access to notifications through improved navigation and interaction with touch-sensitive surfaces, including wake screen interfaces, scrollable arrangements, and cover sheet user interfaces, which reduce the number and nature of user inputs and conserve power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional notification interfaces are used, then notifications can be displayed, but navigation is cumbersome and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification access efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays notifications in a carousel format on the lock screen before the user needs to access them, allowing users to view and interact with notifications without navigating through multiple screens. The carousel is pre-positioned and can be accessed directly through swipe gestures, eliminating the need to first unlock the device and then navigate to a separate notification panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification carousel is extracted from the traditional notification panel and placed directly on the lock screen. This separates the notification viewing function from the main notification interface, allowing users to access notifications in a more efficient manner without requiring full device unlock or navigation to a dedicated notification screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If traditional notification navigation is used, then notifications are accessible, but navigation time is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification access speedVSAvoidnavigation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Notifications are pre-displayed in a carousel format on the lock screen with all relevant information visible upfront. Users can swipe through multiple notifications and perform actions without navigating to different screens, as the entire notification interface is prepared and accessible in advance on the lock screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The notification carousel merges multiple notification views and interaction capabilities into a single interface on the lock screen. Instead of requiring separate screens for viewing different notifications or accessing notification options, the carousel combines these functions into one unified, swipeable interface that handles multiple notifications and actions in a single location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If notifications are displayed in traditional interfaces, then notification information is provided, but the display is confusing and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification information clarityVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification interface is segmented into individual carousel cards, each representing a separate notification. Each card is displayed independently and can be swiped through sequentially, allowing users to process one notification at a time without being overwhelmed by multiple simultaneous notifications. This segmentation reduces cognitive load and improves information clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The notification interface transitions from a traditional vertical panel to a horizontal carousel dimension. This dimensional change allows notifications to be displayed in a sequence that naturally guides user attention from left to right, with each notification occupying its own spatial zone. The horizontal arrangement reduces visual clutter and makes it easier to distinguish between different notifications and their associated actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3625666B1Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for accessing notifications
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 APPLE INC
  • EP3625666B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3625666B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3625666B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

An electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface receives notification(s) while the device is in a screen-off state. After receiving the notification(s), the device detects an input for waking the device to a screen-on state. In response, the device transitions to the screen-on state and displays the notification(s) on a wake screen user interface. The device further detects another input for dismissing the wake screen user interface and ceases to display the wake screen user interface. Afterwards, the device detects a third input for redisplaying the wake screen user interface. In response, upon determining that the third input meets notification-clearance criteria, the device redisplays the wake screen user interface without displaying at least one of the notification(s); and upon determining that the third input does not meet the notification-clearance criteria: the device redisplays the wake screen user interface and redisplays at least one of notification(s).