Dynamic Thumbnail Window for Application Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in rapidly and conveniently switching between applications on smart terminals, as existing solutions like the 'flashback' function require significant adaptation by third-party app providers and limit the display of information, leading to poor user experience and inefficient information access.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for displaying applications using a dynamic thumbnail window, allowing users to view and switch between applications quickly, with the ability to display complete information in the foreground and reduce power consumption by running applications in a reduced-size window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If applications are suspended in the background, then power consumption is reduced, but user access to application information becomes slow and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the application interface in the form of a dynamic thumbnail window that displays application information in real-time. This copy allows users to access application content without fully launching the application, thus saving power while providing quick information access. The thumbnail window is a simplified representation that consumes fewer resources than the full application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the application display into a compact dynamic thumbnail window that can be positioned anywhere on the screen. This segmented approach allows the application information to be displayed in a reduced form factor, consuming less power while remaining accessible. The thumbnail can be moved to different screen positions for convenient access without requiring the full application to be active.
2Ease of operation
If the flashback function is implemented, then application switching is enabled, but third-party app providers face significant adaptation requirements and information display is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic thumbnail window mechanism serves multiple functions: it displays application information, enables application switching, and provides a unified interface for all applications regardless of their type. This universal approach eliminates the need for third-party app providers to implement specific flashback adaptations, as the system automatically generates thumbnails for any application through standard interface capture.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring applications to implement complex flashback functionality, the system creates visual copies (thumbnails) of the application interfaces through standard display capture. This copying approach simplifies the implementation burden on third-party developers while still enabling convenient application switching and information access.
3Loss of information
If applications run in full-screen mode, then complete information is displayed, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by displaying application information in a concentrated, localized thumbnail window rather than spreading it across the full screen. This localized display maintains the essential application content while using a smaller portion of the display resources, thereby reducing power consumption. The thumbnail can be positioned at the location where the user needs the information most.
Solution Approach 2:
The thumbnail window is dynamic in size, position, and content updates. It can be resized, moved to different screen locations, and updated in real-time to reflect application state changes. This dynamic behavior allows the system to optimize power consumption by displaying information only where and when needed, rather than maintaining full-screen displays continuously.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for displaying an application (APP) includes: when an APP is running at the terminal, an operation triggering display of the APP in form of a dynamic thumbnail window is received. When the operation is received, the dynamic thumbnail window corresponding to the APP is displayed. The APP is run in the dynamic thumbnail window.