Workout UI Affordances for Faster Activity Rate Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for displaying user interfaces associated with physical activities on electronic devices are cumbersome and inefficient, often requiring multiple key presses and wasting user time and device energy, particularly in battery-operated devices.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of faster and more efficient methods and interfaces for displaying user interfaces, which include configuring a physical activity rate user interface with setting affordances and receiving user inputs to adjust dataset portions, thereby reducing cognitive burden and conserving power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If existing techniques are used to display user interfaces for physical activities, then the interface can provide tracking and comparison functionality, but the interface becomes complex and time-consuming requiring multiple key presses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interface operationVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the user interface into distinct affordances (visual elements) that represent different settings and configurations. Each affordance is a discrete, selectable element that simplifies user interaction by breaking down complex interface operations into simple visual selections rather than multiple key presses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces visual affordances as intermediary elements between the user and the underlying data structures. These affordances act as mediators that translate user selections into configuration changes without requiring users to understand or navigate complex data relationships directly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If existing techniques are used to configure physical activity settings, then multiple key presses are required, but this wastes user time and device energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration speedVSAvoiddevice energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent prepares visual affordances in advance that represent pre-configured settings and options. When users interact with these affordances, the corresponding configurations are already prepared and can be applied immediately, eliminating the need for multiple sequential key presses and reducing both time and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically processes user selections of visual affordances and applies the corresponding configurations without requiring additional user inputs. The interface self-updates based on user selections, reducing the cognitive burden and minimizing the number of interactions needed to complete configuration tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4249088B1Displaying user interfaces associated with physical activities
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 APPLE INC
  • EP4249088B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4249088B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4249088B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces and more specifically to techniques for displaying user interfaces associated with physical activities. Exemplary user interfaces related to activity competitions are described. Exemplary user interfaces related to a friends list for activity sharing are described. Exemplary user interfaces associated with alerts presented to a user in response to automatically determining a boundary of a workout are described. Exemplary user interfaces associated with configuring a pace alert for a workout application are described.