Application Switching Interface Gesture Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing multiple recently used applications on portable electronic devices are cumbersome and inefficient, leading to a cognitive burden on users and excessive energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a touch-sensitive device with a method that displays an application switching user interface, allowing users to interact with it using gestures such as swipes, to efficiently manage recently used applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single application is displayed at a time on small-screen portable devices, then the interface is simple and easy to operate, but the user cannot see and manage multiple recently used applications efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-application view to a multi-application view by introducing a new dimensional perspective. When the user performs a specific gesture (e.g., swiping from the edge or pressing a home button), the interface transforms to display multiple recently used applications in a grid or list format, allowing users to see and manage multiple applications simultaneously without complicating the normal single-application usage experience
2Device complexity
If conventional methods are used to switch between applications, then the system is simple to implement, but the process takes longer than necessary and wastes energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares the application switching interface in advance by maintaining a cache or stack of recently used applications in memory. When the user initiates a switch, the pre-prepared interface is immediately displayed without requiring time-consuming retrieval or processing, thus reducing switching time while keeping the implementation relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fully loading or reinitializing applications during switching, the system creates lightweight copies or representations of recently used applications in the switching interface. These copies allow users to view and select applications quickly without the overhead of complete application restoration, reducing both time and energy consumption
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional application switching methods are used on battery-operated devices, then the implementation is straightforward, but power is consumed more quickly reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The system updates the recently used applications list periodically or on-demand rather than continuously refreshing the interface. The application switching interface is activated only when the user performs a specific gesture or action, and remains active only for the duration needed to complete the switching operation, minimizing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining simple implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for application switching (such as recent usage history and application icons) and displays it in a minimized interface. By extracting and displaying only the necessary elements rather than full application interfaces, the system reduces processing and rendering power consumption while keeping the implementation straightforward
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An electronic device displays an application switching user interface. The device, while displaying the application switching user interface, detects a touch gesture by a contact that starts within the application switching user interface and includes movement by the contact in a first direction. In response to the touch gesture that starts within the application switching user interface and includes movement by the contact in the first direction: if the touch gesture includes movement by the contact in the first direction and started at a location that corresponds to an application representation corresponding to a respective application, the device closes the respective application; and, if the touch gesture includes movement by the contact in the first direction and started at a location that corresponds a predefined region in the application switching user interface that is outside of the representations of respective applications, the device ceases to display the application switching user interface and displays an application launching user interface.