Ncsoft

The 3 UI/UX patents each tackle a different layer of how players interact with and navigate virtual spaces. The sphere-based scanning mechanic translates a simple finger pan across a compact globe-shaped button into a full 3D directional vector, with visual feedback elements like a surrounding sphere overlay and a directional indicator that responds to how long the player holds the input. The automated action bar system lets players assign configurable countdown timers to individual slots, triggering repeated skill or item use without manual input, and includes a merge slot feature that consolidates multiple automated functions into a single grouped interface. Rounding out the category, the 3D mini-map filing addresses the challenge of navigating multi-layered vertical environments by allowing the map viewpoint to rotate from a flat top-down view into a 3D perspective, with floating indicators that reflect object altitude and filtering controls that help players parse crowded or stacked spaces.

The 1 Graphics patent focuses on the visual seam that appears when a player character transitions onto a mount or vehicle. Rather than switching between animation states in a single cut, the filing describes a system that uses distance-based triggers and 2 anchor points tied to specific body parts of both characters, then blends postures over time so the transition accounts for the player's current movement state and the geometry of the mount simultaneously.