Multi-Spatial Overview Mode for Mixed Windowed and Full-Screen Apps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find it difficult to keep track of and efficiently switch between multiple applications running concurrently on a computing device, especially when some are in full-screen mode and others are in windowed mode.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that provides an overview mode in a graphical user interface, organizing running applications into two spaces: a windowed overview space with non-overlapping arrangement and a full-screen overview space with stacked arrangement, allowing users to manage and switch between applications more effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple applications are run concurrently in windowed or full-screen mode, then application functionality and productivity are improved, but user ability to keep track of and switch between applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to application management by creating separate overview spaces for windowed and full-screen applications. Instead of mixing all applications in a single view, the system vertically stacks full-screen application overview windows above windowed application overview windows, adding a vertical spatial dimension that helps users mentally organize and track applications by their display mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The overview mode is segmented into two distinct spaces: a first overview space for windowed applications and a second overview space for full-screen applications. This segmentation allows users to mentally separate and track different types of applications independently, reducing cognitive load and improving ease of operation when managing multiple concurrent applications.
2Ease of operation
If applications are displayed in traditional windowed mode, then ease of operation is maintained, but user ability to quickly identify and switch between full-screen applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual differentiation through color coding to indicate application states. The overview windows display visual indicators showing whether applications are in windowed or full-screen mode, enabling users to quickly detect and identify full-screen applications without having to manually search through all open applications.
Solution Approach 2:
Full-screen applications are positioned in a separate vertical space above windowed applications in the overview mode. This spatial separation in the vertical dimension makes full-screen applications immediately visible and distinguishable from windowed applications, solving the detection difficulty while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive visual hierarchy.
3Device complexity
If overview windows are arranged in a single mixed space, then device complexity is reduced, but arrangement clarity and user ability to distinguish application types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The overview mode is divided into two distinct spaces: a first overview space for windowed applications and a second overview space for full-screen applications. This segmentation provides clear visual and spatial separation that enhances arrangement clarity and helps users quickly distinguish between different application types, while the overall structure remains relatively simple and easy to understand.
Solution Approach 2:
Different arrangement strategies are applied to different types of applications within the overview mode. Full-screen applications are vertically stacked in the second overview space, while windowed applications are arranged in the first overview space. This local differentiation in arrangement quality optimizes clarity for each application type while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
On a computing device, an overview mode is provided to present overview windows of all applications currently running on the computing device. When one or more applications are running in a windowed mode, a first overview window is generated for each of the one or more applications running in the windowed mode; when one or more applications are running in a full-screen mode, a second overview window is generated for each of the one or more applications running in the full-screen mode. The one or more first overview windows in the first space can be arranged in one or more rows in a first overview space, and the one or more second overview windows in the second space in a stack in a second overview space. The arranged overview windows may then be displayed in the overview mode of the computing device.