Floating-Window App Controls to Reduce Touch Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing user interfaces require multiple touch operations to access desired controls, making the process complex and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device displays a first control of an application in a floating window on top of its interface, determined based on display parameters such as metadata permissions, use frequency, and mapping relationships, allowing quick access to controls not initially visible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If controls are displayed in a hierarchical interface structure, then the interface remains organized and manageable, but the user must perform multiple touch operations to access desired controls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of touch operationsVSAvoidinterface structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a floating window layer that exists above the traditional hierarchical interface structure. This new dimensional layer allows controls to be displayed in a different spatial arrangement, enabling direct access without navigating through multiple hierarchical levels. The floating window superimposes controls over the existing interface, creating a two-layer structure that resolves the contradiction by providing both organization (through the window system) and accessibility (through direct display).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-displaying controls in the floating window before the user needs to access them. Instead of requiring the user to navigate through hierarchical menus to find controls, the system proactively presents relevant controls in the floating window at the appropriate time, reducing the number of operations needed while maintaining interface organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If all controls are displayed in the main interface, then the user can access controls directly, but the interface becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol accessibilityVSAvoidinterface clutter
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments controls into different display contexts: some controls remain in the main hierarchical interface structure while others are placed in the floating window. This segmentation allows the main interface to remain organized and not cluttered, while still providing direct accessibility to controls through the floating window when needed. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating control display into appropriate contexts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The floating window acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the main interface controls. It mediates the interaction by providing a selective display of controls that balances accessibility with interface cleanliness. The intermediary allows the user to access controls directly when needed while maintaining the organized structure of the main interface, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and clutter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If controls are nested within multiple interfaces, then the application maintains a clean initial interface, but the user must perform multiple navigation operations to reach desired controls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol access efficiencyVSAvoidtime for navigation operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The floating window creates a new dimensional layer that allows controls to be displayed without requiring navigation through multiple hierarchical levels. By superimposing controls over the existing interface structure, the system provides direct access paths that reduce navigation time while maintaining the clean initial interface. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by adding a direct access dimension without compromising the organized structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary display of controls in the floating window before the user needs to access them through navigation. By pre-positioning controls in this accessible layer, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming navigation operations while maintaining a clean initial interface structure. This preliminary action directly addresses the contradiction by reducing access time without compromising interface cleanliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4083791B1Control display method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4083791B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)
  • EP4083791B1 patent drawingFigure 1(b)
  • EP4083791B1 patent drawingFigure 1(c)

AI summary

A control display method and an electronic device are provided. The method includes: (S11) starting a first APP, and determining a first control of the first APP based on a first display parameter of the first APP; (S 12) displaying a first display interface of the first APP, and displaying the first control in a first floating window on the first display interface; (SI3) determining, based on a second display parameter of the first APP, a third control corresponding to the first APP; and (S14) displaying the third control in a second floating window on the first display interface of the first APP. Compared with the current technology, more controls may be provided in this method, so that operations that need to be performed by a user to display a control required by the user are reduced. Further, when first display parameters are different, first controls displayed in the first floating window may also be different, to meet diversified requirements of the user.