Cross-App Drag-and-Drop Transfer Using Hot Zones and App Icons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for cross-application data transmission require users to manually select and paste data between applications, leading to a poor user experience.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device detects a user's drag operation of a control into a preset hot zone, triggering a smart transfer service to display compatible application icons, allowing seamless data transmission to a target application by releasing the control over the icon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual selection and paste operations are used for cross-application data transmission, then data can be transmitted between applications, but the operation process becomes complex and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission operationVSAvoidtime for data transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the data selection and data transmission operations into a single drag-and-drop gesture. Users select data by long-pressing to generate a control, then directly drag it to the target application icon to complete transmission, combining multiple steps into one continuous action that reduces both operational complexity and time consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a drag control as an intermediary element between the source data and target application. This control acts as a mediator that carries the data selection information and enables direct transmission to the target application without requiring manual copying and pasting operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple application icons are displayed for selection, then users can choose the target application, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication selection capabilityVSAvoidinterface structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic interface where application icons are displayed only when needed during the drag operation. The system dynamically adjusts the interface state based on the user's drag progress, showing relevant application icons at the appropriate moment and position, then automatically hiding them after the operation completes, thus maintaining versatility while minimizing interface complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4664255A1Cross-application data transmission method and related device
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4664255A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4664255A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4664255A1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

This application provides a cross-application data transmission method and a related device. An electronic device that implements the cross-application data transmission method, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer, may obtain data such as a picture or a text from a currently displayed interface. After detecting that a user drags the data into a preset hot zone, the electronic device determines one or more applications capable of receiving the data. After detecting an operation of continuing dragging, by the user, the data into a region in which any application icon is located and releasing the data, the electronic device may send the data to a corresponding application, thereby providing the user with a quick and convenient cross-application data transmission service. In another aspect, after detecting that the data is dragged into a floating ball, the electronic device may further directly send the data to an application corresponding to the floating ball, thereby providing the user with another quick and convenient cross-application data transmission service.