Multi-Display Terminal Icon Position-Based App Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information processing terminals with multiple displays require complex operations for starting and arranging multiple applications, often necessitating users to manually move application windows between displays, especially when using touch panels or dealing with large windows that span multiple screens.

Innovation Solution

The terminal employs a control unit that determines the appropriate display for each application based on the relative positional relationship of their icons, allowing simultaneous startup and arrangement of applications without user intervention, using multi-touch capabilities to align and determine display placement or drag-and-drop operations for single-touch systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If applications are started up one by one and manually arranged on multiple displays, then each application can be placed on the desired display, but the operation process becomes complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation processVSAvoidtime for starting and arranging applications
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting which display each application icon is positioned on before the applications are actually started. This pre-detection of icon positions enables the system to pre-determine the arrangement plan, so that when applications are launched, they automatically appear on the correct displays without requiring user intervention for arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically determining and executing the arrangement of applications on multiple displays based on icon positions, without requiring user operations for moving or arranging application windows. The terminal itself performs the arrangement task that would otherwise require user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If application windows are moved manually between displays, then applications can be arranged on appropriate displays, but the complexity of operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication arrangement flexibilityVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically determining and executing the arrangement of applications on multiple displays based on icon positions, without requiring user operations for moving or arranging application windows. The terminal itself performs the arrangement task that would otherwise require user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If users cancel existing application displays to start new applications, then new applications can be started on the desired display, but the operation process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication startup processVSAvoidoperation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting which display each application icon is positioned on before the applications are actually started. This pre-detection of icon positions enables the system to pre-determine the arrangement plan, so that when applications are launched, they automatically appear on the correct displays without requiring user intervention for arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2565763B1Information processing terminal and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 NEC CORP
  • EP2565763B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2565763B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4A
  • EP2565763B1 patent drawingFigure 4B~5B

AI summary

An information processing terminal is provided with a first display and a second display and a control means that, when start-up of a first application has been instructed, displays the windows of each of the first application and a second application on the first display or the second display. The control means determines displays on which the windows of each of the first application and the second application are to be displayed based on the relation between the first application and the second application.