Display Mode Switching with Thumbnail Popups for Window Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing devices with multiple screens face challenges in easily selecting and switching between windows displayed in multiple display areas, especially when the number of windows increases, making it difficult to manage and switch between applications.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that includes a display, memory for storing application programs, and a processor for controlling display modes. The processor switches between a one-screen mode and a two-screen mode, and in the two-screen mode, it displays thumbnail images of running application windows in one display area while hiding the active window, allowing easy selection and switching between applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the display is split into multiple display areas to run multiple applications simultaneously, then the productivity and multitasking capability are improved, but the complexity of selecting and switching between windows increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates thumbnail images as simplified copies of the actual application windows. These thumbnails display reduced representations of window contents, titles, and icons, allowing users to identify and select applications without interacting with the full-sized windows directly. This copying mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing an intermediate selection interface that maintains multitasking capability while simplifying window selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thumbnail images as an intermediary between the user and the actual application windows. When a user needs to switch applications, they first interact with the thumbnail representation rather than directly manipulating multiple full windows. This intermediary layer simplifies the selection process while preserving the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously across display areas.
2Area of stationary object
If thumbnail images are displayed in the same display area as active windows, then the space utilization is improved, but the visibility and accessibility of thumbnail images for hidden windows deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by moving thumbnail images from the two-dimensional display plane to a third dimension through popup windows. When a user needs to access hidden windows, thumbnails are displayed in floating popup windows that overlay the main display area, rather than attempting to fit them into the same flat space as active windows. This dimensional transition maintains efficient space utilization while ensuring thumbnail visibility and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic behavior where thumbnail display location and format change based on user interaction needs. Thumbnails for visible windows remain in their standard positions, while thumbnails for hidden windows are dynamically presented in popup windows that appear on demand. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal space utilization for active windows while providing easy access to hidden window thumbnails when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes: a display; a memory which stores a program of an application; and a processor which executes the program of the application stored in the memory to perform control to display a window of the application on the display. The processor performs display mode switching processing to control switching between a first display mode in which display is controlled using an entire screen area of the display as one display area, and a second display mode in which display is controlled by splitting the screen area of the display into multiple display areas, and display control processing to display thumbnail images corresponding to at least some of windows of running applications in any one of the multiple display areas with a window hidden therefrom due to a fact that the window being displayed in the display area in the second display mode is hidden.