Dynamic Print Window Positioning for Drag-and-Drop Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information processing apparatuses face difficulties in drag and drop operations when the drop destination window is hidden behind another window, making it hard for users to drop files onto a print window due to improper window display control.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus and method involve a layout unit to position a print object at a first location and a display control unit to move the print object closer to the dragged file, ensuring it is displayed on the foreground or in the neighborhood of the drag operation, allowing easy drop operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the print window is displayed at its original layout position, then the window layout stability is maintained, but the user cannot easily perform drag and drop operations when the print window is hidden behind other windows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrag and drop operation easeVSAvoidwindow layout stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The print window's display position is made dynamic rather than fixed. When a drag operation is detected, the system automatically moves the print window closer to the dragged file's position, allowing the window to adapt its position based on user interaction needs while maintaining stability during normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of drag operations and proactively moves the print window to an accessible position before the user attempts to drop the file, ensuring the window is already visible and accessible when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9542086B2Information processing apparatus including window display control and control method thereof, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus, which issues a print instruction when a dragged file is dropped on a print object, the apparatus comprises: a layout unit configured to lay out the print object at a first position; and a display control unit configured to display, when the file is dragged, the print object at a second position which is closer to the dragged file than the first position by moving the print object from the first position.