Cross-App Screenshot Sharing Through Drag-and-Drop Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

The process of sharing a screen capture on electronic devices is complicated, leading to a poor user experience.

Innovation Solution

A picture sharing method that allows users to share screenshots by performing simple drag or tap operations, utilizing a target display interface to send screenshots to a second application, and includes features like continuous screenshot modes and filtering to reduce unnecessary screenshots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional screen capture sharing method is used (pressing shortcut key or invoking button), then screenshot can be obtained and shared, but the operation process is complicated and user experience is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreenshot sharing operationVSAvoidoperation process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the screenshot capture function and sharing function into a single integrated operation. When the user drags an icon from the first application to the second application, the system automatically captures the screenshot and initiates sharing, combining multiple steps (capture, select, share) into one seamless action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drag operation serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the trigger for screenshot capture and the initiation for sharing to the target application. This multi-functional operation eliminates the need for separate capture and sharing steps, simplifying the overall process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If continuous screenshot mode is enabled to capture multiple screenshots, then real-time sharing is improved, but memory consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreenshot sharing speedVSAvoidmemory consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary screenshot capture in continuous mode and stores these screenshots in advance. When the user initiates a drag operation, the pre-captured screenshots are immediately available for sharing, eliminating the need to wait for capture during the sharing moment and enabling real-time sharing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages memory by discarding older or unnecessary screenshots from the continuous capture sequence while retaining relevant ones. This selective retention and discarding mechanism maintains the ability to share recent screenshots quickly while controlling memory consumption by removing redundant data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4273687B1Picture sharing method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 PETAL CLOUD TECH CO LTD
  • EP4273687B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4273687B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4273687B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides a picture sharing method and an electronic device. The method includes: when a first operation entered by a user by using a target display interface is detected, in response to the first operation, obtaining a screenshot of at least one display interface corresponding to a first application; and sending the screenshot of the at least one display interface to a second application, where the target display interface includes at least one of an icon of the first application and a current display interface of the first application, the target display interface includes at least one of an icon of the second application and a current display interface of the second application, and the first operation includes dragging the at least one of the icon of the first application and the current display interface of the first application to a position area in which the at least one of the icon of the second application and the current display interface of the second application is located. According to this method, a picture sharing process is relatively fast, time costs of sharing a screen capture by the user are reduced, and use experience of the user is greatly improved.