Instant Messaging Task Management via Background Suspension and Tab Restoration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instant messaging applications on intelligent terminals face inefficiencies when switching between multiple function tasks, as they often require exiting and recreating tasks, leading to low operation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow switching a first function task to the background, storing its status information, and creating a task tab to pull up the first function task to foreground when a second function task is triggered, ensuring precise storage and synchronization of tasks for improved multitasking efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the instant messaging application exits the first function task and recreates it after the second function task is finished, then the application can execute the second function task, but the operation efficiency is low due to task recreation overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by preserving the first function task in background memory before the second function task is executed. Instead of exiting and recreating the first task, the system maintains it in a suspended state, so when the user switches back, the task is already prepared and can be restored immediately without recreation overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a task tab that represents the first function task in the background. This task tab is a lightweight copy or reference to the actual task state, allowing the system to track and manage the first task without fully executing or recreating it, thus reducing the overhead when switching between tasks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the application switches the first function task to background and stores its status information, then multitasking is enabled, but the device complexity increases due to task management mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the task management system into distinct components: the first function task running in background, the second function task executing in foreground, and task tabs that represent each task. This segmentation allows independent management of each task state, making the multitasking mechanism more organized and manageable despite the increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing task tabs as a mediating layer between the user and the background tasks. The task tab serves as an intermediate representation that the user interacts with to manage and switch between tasks, simplifying the user interface while enabling complex background task management.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for managing a task of an instant messaging application. The method includes: during a process of executing a first function task of the instant messaging application, if an instruction for triggering a second function of the instant messaging application is received, switching the first function task to background; creating a first task tab; creating a second function task; and after the second function task is created, pulling up the first function task to switch the first function task to foreground if a designed operation is received based on the first task tab. The present disclosure may create the second function task during the process of executing the first function task, and may pull up the first function task thereafter to continue to execute the first function task, thereby improving the efficiency for managing function tasks of the instant messaging application.