Nested User Interface for Intuitive Multitasking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in multitasking with multiple applications, multiple views of a single application, or multiple devices without diverting their attention, as existing technologies do not provide an intuitive and efficient way to interact with and control multiple devices or views simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow users to interact with multiple devices, applications, or views by presenting one user interface within another, enabling concurrent use and control of multiple devices or views through resized user interfaces, allowing content transfer between them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a user switches between multiple applications or devices to perform tasks, then task completion is achieved, but user attention must be diverted and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested user interfaces where one application's UI is displayed within another application's UI area. For example, a second application interface is embedded within the first application interface, allowing users to access multiple applications simultaneously without switching. This nesting approach enables users to perform tasks in multiple applications concurrently, eliminating the time loss associated with switching between tasks while maintaining full access to both applications' functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple user interfaces are displayed simultaneously on a single device, then multitasking capability is improved, but the user interface area available for each application is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays a first user interface occupying an initial user interface area, and when a second application is activated, displays a second user interface within a portion of the first user interface area. This nesting arrangement allows multiple applications to be accessible simultaneously while preserving a significant portion of the original interface area for the primary application, thus maintaining both multitasking capability and adequate display space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional single-application full-screen display to a nested hierarchical display structure. By organizing user interfaces in a nested dimension rather than a flat single-dimension layout, the system enables multiple applications to coexist on the same display area without simply reducing each application's space proportionally. The nested structure creates layers of interface visibility, allowing users to access secondary applications within the primary application's interface space.
3Productivity
If users interact with multiple devices simultaneously, then productivity increases, but the complexity of controlling and managing multiple devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single device to function as multiple devices by displaying and controlling multiple applications simultaneously. The system allows users to interact with what appears to be multiple devices through a single physical device's display, with each nested interface representing a different application or device view. This multi-functionality approach increases productivity by enabling concurrent task execution while avoiding the complexity of physically managing multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple applications or devices. Instead of requiring users to directly manage multiple separate devices, the patent provides a unified interface layer that mediates access to multiple applications. This intermediary layer simplifies control by presenting a consistent interaction model across all nested interfaces, reducing the perceived complexity while enabling concurrent access to multiple applications' functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for intuitive multitasking. In the context of a method, a method is provided that includes causing a first user interface associated with a first device, a first application, or a first view of a single application to be presented, the first user interface defining an initial user interface area. The method further includes causing a second user interface associated with a second device, a second application, or a second view of the single application to be presented, the second user interface being at least partially within the initial user interface area. The method may also include causing the first user interface to be presented concurrent with the second user interface so as to define a resized user interface area that is smaller than the initial user interface area and is at least partially within the initial user interface area.