Activity Stack Return Navigation for Multi-Interface App Backtracking

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing applications require multiple user operations to return to a previous interface, leading to complex navigation and loss of operation records, compromising user experience.

Innovation Solution

A quick interface return method that allows popping multiple activities from the stack with a single user operation, enabling direct return to a previous interface within the same or different application, with options for different user interactions and interface display modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user triggers a return button multiple times to return level by level through a stack of activities, then the user can return to a previous interface, but the user operations become complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of return navigationVSAvoidtime for return operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the activity stack structure and pre-calculates the return path. When a long-press gesture is detected, the system has already prepared the list of intermediate interfaces and can immediately execute the jump without requiring multiple sequential return operations, thus saving time and simplifying user operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the long-press gesture trigger) that mediates between the user's return intent and the system's navigation execution. This intermediary activates a special return mode that bypasses the traditional level-by-level return process, allowing direct jumping to the target interface while preserving operation records

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the user quits and restarts the application to return to a previous interface, then the user can access the main interface, but previous operation records are lost and operations need to be performed again

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of interface returnVSAvoidloss of operation records

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the activity stack structure and pre-calculates the return path. When a long-press gesture is detected, the system has already prepared the list of intermediate interfaces and can immediately execute the jump without requiring multiple sequential return operations, thus saving time and simplifying user operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the long-press gesture trigger) that mediates between the user's return intent and the system's navigation execution. This intermediary activates a special return mode that bypasses the traditional level-by-level return process, allowing direct jumping to the target interface while preserving operation records

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the system pops multiple activities from the stack with a single operation, then the return navigation is simplified and user experience is enhanced, but the processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of return operationVSAvoidprocessing load and power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by only executing the multi-activity pop operation when specifically triggered by a long-press gesture, rather than always performing complex processing. This conditional execution approach balances user experience improvement with energy conservation, as the enhanced navigation feature is activated only when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of the activity stack structure and pre-calculates the return path. When a long-press gesture is detected, the system has already prepared the list of intermediate interfaces and can immediately execute the jump without requiring multiple sequential return operations, thus saving time and simplifying user operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12572373B2Quick interface return method and electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

This application provides a quick interface return method and an electronic device. The method is applied to an electronic device. The method includes: displaying a first interface of a first application, where the first interface is associated with a first activity, the first activity is a stack top activity of a first activity stack, and the first activity stack includes the first activity, a second activity, and a third activity; receiving a first user operation; and in response to the first user operation, popping at least two activities of the first activity stack, and displaying a second interface of the first application, where the second interface is associated with the second activity; or in response to the first user operation, popping at least two activities of the first activity stack, and displaying a third interface of a second application, where the third interface is associated with the third activity.