Cross-Application Function Icon Extraction for Multitasking Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices require users to repeatedly select and run applications for multitasking, causing inconvenience as they need to stop the current application to access functions from another application, leading to inefficient control of multiple applications.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device and method that extracts and displays functions applicable to multiple applications as icons, allowing users to apply these functions directly to the corresponding applications upon selection, enhancing usability by recommending and applying functions based on application types and purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications are displayed simultaneously on the display, then multitasking capability is improved, but the complexity of controlling and switching between applications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a function icon as an intermediary element that mediates between multiple applications. Instead of directly switching between applications, users interact with the function icon that represents a specific function applicable to multiple applications. This intermediary simplifies the control process by providing a single point of access to cross-application functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The function icon is designed with universal applicability, representing a function that can be applied to multiple different applications simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows a single icon to serve multiple purposes across different applications, reducing the need for separate controls for each application and thereby simplifying the overall control complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users switch between applications to access functions, then function accessibility is improved, but user convenience and operation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-extracting and displaying function icons that represent functions applicable to multiple applications before the user needs to access them. This allows users to directly select and apply functions through the icons without needing to switch between applications first, thereby maintaining function accessibility while significantly improving user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts specific functions from multiple applications and represents them as separate, standalone function icons. This extraction process separates the function access mechanism from the application switching mechanism, allowing users to access functions directly through the extracted icons without needing to navigate through or switch between the original applications, thus improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the system extracts and displays function icons for multiple applications, then ease of control is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates simplified copies of application functions in the form of function icons. Instead of managing the full complexity of multiple applications, the system generates lightweight icon representations that capture essential functions. These copies provide ease of control while the underlying complexity remains managed within the system's backend, allowing simple user interaction without exposing the full system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control interface by separating function access from application management. Instead of presenting users with a monolithic view of multiple applications and their functions, the system segments the interface into discrete function icons that can be independently selected and applied. This segmentation simplifies user interaction by breaking down complex application control into manageable, isolated function units.
Data Source
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AI summary
Electronic devices and methods for controlling a display are provided. The method includes extracting at least one function applicable to at least two applications displayed on a display, displaying the extracted at least one function as an icon, and applying a function corresponding to the displayed icon to at least one application of the at least two applications, corresponding to selection of the displayed icon.