Patent Application
20150363083
The present application claims priority to Application No. 10 2014 211 342.3, filed in the Federal Republic of Germany on Jun. 13, 2014, which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.
The present invention relates to a user interface and to a method for adapting semantic scaling of a tile on a display unit of a user interface. In particular, the present invention relates to a user-friendly display of functionalities and to their ergonomic operation.
Conventionally, user interfaces have display units on which so-called tiles are able to be shown (e.g., as parts of a home screen). The tiles represent optically mutually delimited semantic units for accessing different functional groups and for displaying variable information in connection with the different functional groups. For example, a first tile may be allocated to a first functional scope, and when a user input is received, it can provide a multitude of information panels as well as command buttons, via which the user is able to operate the individual sub-functionalities of the functional group. However, a user may also associate a specific functionality (“favorite”) or the call-up of the particular functionality (e.g., “call home” or “(randomly) play favorite play list”) with a tile. A second tile, which represents a second functional group, may be displayed parallel to the first tile, which when selected by a user, makes it possible to display or operate corresponding sub-functionalities of the second functional group. The individual tile may already display a multiplicity of variable items of information of the allocated functional group, even without having become the target of a user interaction. When a tile is called up, unpracticed users frequently lose track of where they are currently located in the menu of the user interface. In particular, it may be difficult for users to intuitively carry out the operating steps required for a return to the home screen.
European Published Patent Application No. EP 1 959 337 A1 describes a user terminal and a method for displaying an interactivity menu, in which a zoom functionality is employed in order to increase or decrease the number of icons displayed on a display. Icons already displayed before the zoom functionality was executed will be shown in enlarged form once the zoom functionality has been activated.
It is an object of example embodiments of the present invention to make the navigation in a tile-based menu more comfortable.
A user terminal, a computer program product, as well as a signal sequence and a means of locomotion are proposed for achieving the aforementioned objective. The method of the present invention is intended to adapt semantic scaling of a tile on a display unit of a user interface. In contrast to conventional semantic scaling when executing a zoom functionality, a first number of tiles is displayed to begin with, of which at least one first tile enables a first plurality of command buttons for direct access to functionalities associated with the command buttons. In a second step, a user command is detected for the larger size display of the first tile (“zoom in”). In response, the first tile is shown in an enlarged view in a third step and displayed with a second plurality of command buttons, which differs from the first plurality, for access to functionalities associated with the command buttons. In other words, because of the second plurality of command buttons, the number of possible direct accesses to functionalities associated with the first tile is higher. Due to the zoom-in, however, the user does not lose the mental reference to the original display of the first tile (and possibly additional tiles), which increases the user acceptance and obviates a search for command buttons for a return to the original display. Especially when the user interface of the present invention is used in a means of locomotion, it is therefore possible to reduce the distraction potential that is invariably inherent in the user interface. This increases the road safety of means of locomotion equipped according to example embodiments of the present invention.
The method according to example embodiments of the present invention may preferably be developed further in that a second tile, which includes a third plurality of command buttons, is shown on the display unit in addition to the first tile, and in response to the detection of the previously described user command, the second tile is displayed in enlarged form as well, and the third plurality of command buttons is increased to a fourth plurality of command buttons. This enables a user to access more sub-functionalities of two functional groups that are shown in parallel on the display unit (associated with, respectively, the first and second tile).
In the same way it is optionally provided in example embodiments of the present invention to detect a user command for the reduced-size display of the first tile (and, provided it is displayed, a second tile as well) and in response thereto, to display the first tile (and the possibly shown second tile) at a reduced size and with a reduced fifth number of command buttons. This allows an additional, simultaneous display of further tiles and thus direct access to additional functional groups.
The number of displayed command buttons preferably rises as the size of the displayed tile(s) becomes larger. In particular, the second plurality is greater than the first plurality, and alternatively or additionally, the fourth plurality is greater than the third plurality. Depending on the selected size of the first tile following the reduced-size display, the fifth plurality may be greater or smaller than the first plurality. This ensures an always comfortable display and easy access to the command buttons, regardless of the displayed size of the tile.
The user command for the enlarged or reduced size display of the individual tile may encompass the actuation of a command button shown on the display unit. The command button, for example, may be displayed on a particular tile itself, so that a call-up of the tile and the input of a command for its enlarged display are combinable. As an alternative or in addition, a command button superordinate to all tiles may be actuated, which, for instance, displays the tile or the plurality of tiles shown in a predefined region on the home screen in an enlarged view according to the present invention. As an alternative or in addition, a previously activated tile is displayable in a larger size by actuating the superordinate command button. Tiles possibly located adjacently may be shown in enlarged form as well and displayed in parallel with the enlarged first tile. A finger spreading gesture for the enlarged display or a pinching gesture for the reduced size display of the tiles may be used as an alternative or in addition. Such gestures are able to be performed on touch-sensitive surfaces or freely in space, provided the particular user interface is set up to recognize such gestures. As an alternative or in addition, what is referred to as a dual-tap gesture (dual touching within a short period of time) may be executed in order to enlarge the display of a first tile (and possibly additional tiles) of a home screen according to the present invention. The dual-tap gesture, as well, is able to be executed and detected on a touch-sensitive surface, on an operating element provided as an alternative thereto, or freely in space in the form of a 3D gesture.
In the enlarged display of the viewed tile it is preferably provided to display additional command buttons in connection with all command buttons displayed previously already. In this way the command buttons previously available on the viewed tile as well as direct accesses to the functionalities associated therewith remain available even after the enlarged display. This increases the operating ergonomics and thus the user acceptance.
A particular tile of a functional group shown on the home screen is preferably allocated from the following subject areas, and preferably no two tiles are allocated to an identical subject area:
The enlarged display of the first tile in response to the user input may preferably include an optically essentially continuous enlargement of the tile(s). This increases the user comprehension in the form of a greater visual relationship between the output display and the original display and the enlarged display. The reduced-size display may likewise correspondingly include an optically continuous down-sizing of the tile(s). This measure not only provides better user orientation, but also increases the user's joy of use.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a method for displaying a menu bar on a display unit of a user interface is proposed, especially of a means of locomotion. The method includes the steps of displaying a home screen on the display unit, detecting a wiping gesture, especially in the form of a 3D gesture executed freely in space or a touching gesture on a touch screen, and in response thereto, displaying the menu bar. The wiping gesture is preferably not allocated to any tile of the home screen. Furthermore, the wiping gesture may start at the edge or outside the edge of the display unit and be directed toward the center of the display unit. Prior to its appearance, the location where the menu bar appears may be occupied or unoccupied (black background, wallpaper, etc.). The menu bar may extend along an edge of the display unit. The menu bar can be used for the creation of new tiles or for a new allocation of functionalities to already existing tiles. In addition, functionalities that are not associated or not associable with tiles may be accessed via the menu bar. Possible functional areas to which the command buttons or (depending on the size) also tiles of the menu bar are allocated are
According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, a user interface is proposed which includes a display unit and an input unit. The display unit is designed to display a first tile which includes a first plurality of command buttons, while the input unit is designed to detect a user command for the enlarged (or reduced size) display of the first tile (or additional tiles). In response, the display unit is set up to display the first tile, which includes a second plurality of command buttons. The display of the second plurality of command buttons makes it possible to implement more direct accesses with regard to the functional group represented by the first tile. In other words, the user interface according to the present invention is designed to realize the features, feature combinations and the resulting advantages in accordance with the afore-described method, so that reference is made to the pertinent statements in order to avoid repetitions.
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a user terminal is proposed which, for instance, may be developed as a notebook, netbook, ultrabook, tablet, smartphone or other mobile wireless communications device. According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, the user terminal includes a user interface as described in detail in connection with the second aspect as the invention. The features, feature combinations and advantages result accordingly.
According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, a non-transitory computer program product (such as a data memory, for instance) is proposed, on which instructions are stored that enable a programmable processor to execute the steps of a method as recited in the first aspect of the invention. The computer program product may be developed as a CD, DVD, blue-ray disk, flash memory, hard disk, RAM/ROM, cache, etc.
According to an example of embodiment of the present invention, a means of locomotion is proposed, which may be realized as a passenger car, a commercial van, a truck, an aircraft and/or watercraft. The means of locomotion includes a user terminal developed according to an example embodiment of the present invention, as described in detail herein. The features, feature combinations and advantages result accordingly.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing.
a is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a means of locomotion according to the present invention, including components of an exemplary embodiment of a user interface according to the present invention.
b is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a user terminal according to the present invention, including components of an exemplary embodiment of a user interface according to the invention.
a shows a passenger car 10 as an exemplary embodiment of a means of locomotion according to an example embodiment of the present invention, which includes components of a user interface 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. An electronic control unit 13 (which includes a programmable processor) is provided as evaluation unit and connected for the exchange of information to a screen 11 as display unit, which includes a touch-sensitive surface 12 and an infrared LED bar 14 as input unit. Infrared LED bar 14 defines a 3D detection range 15, via which user inputs freely executed in space are detected and able to be allocated to command buttons displayed on screen 11.
b shows a tablet 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of a user terminal of the invention, which includes an exemplary embodiment of a user interface 20 according to the invention. A programmable processor 13 serves as evaluation unit and is connected for the exchange of information with a screen 11 as display unit, and with an optical camera 14 and a touch-sensitive surface 12 as input unit.
Even though the aspects according to the present invention and advantageous embodiments have been described in detail with the aid of the exemplary embodiments explained in connection with the attached drawing figures, modifications and combinations of features of the exemplary embodiments shown are possible for one skilled in the art, without leaving the scope of the present invention, whose range of protection is specified by the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2014 211 342.3 | Jun 2014 | DE | national |
