Screen-Off App Launch Interface for Lower-Power Mobile Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high power consumption of large-size touch screens in mobile terminals is exacerbated by the need for complex operations to launch applications in a screen-off display mode, which drains battery life.

Innovation Solution

The method involves displaying application icons on a screen-off display interface, allowing direct launch of applications via preset touch signals without unlocking the device, utilizing a coprocessor to manage power consumption and reduce unnecessary processor activity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the terminal device enters screen-off display mode to save power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the operation to launch an application becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the application launch process into two distinct paths: one for screen-on mode and another for screen-off mode. In screen-off mode, the system displays a simplified interface with only necessary application icons (such as phone, message, camera) directly accessible, while full application management occurs in screen-on mode. This segmentation allows users to quickly launch essential applications without unlocking the device, reducing operational complexity while maintaining power savings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the screen-off display interface with frequently used application icons before the user needs them. When the device enters screen-off mode, these icons are already positioned and ready for immediate access through simple touch gestures. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex navigation or authentication steps during the actual application launch, resolving the contradiction between power saving and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the touch screen is switched on to perform identity authentication and launch applications, then applications can be launched, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication launch capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing a simplified application launch interface that provides only the essential functionality needed in screen-off mode. Instead of displaying all applications or requiring full authentication, the system presents a limited set of frequently used application icons that can be accessed with minimal interaction. This partial implementation allows application launch capability while consuming significantly less power than a full screen-on experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by creating a specialized interface mode specifically for screen-off application access. This interface has different characteristics from the full screen-on interface: it displays only essential applications, uses simplified touch gestures for launch, and maintains a darker, lower-power display state. This localized optimization allows the device to provide application launch capability where needed while maintaining power efficiency in the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If the mobile terminal uses a large-size touch screen to provide large visual range and good display effect, then display quality is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the display adaptive to different operational states. The large-size touch screen dynamically adjusts its functionality based on whether the device is in screen-on or screen-off mode. In screen-off mode, the display activates only specific regions showing essential application icons at reduced brightness, while the rest of the screen remains dark. This dynamic adaptation allows the device to maintain high display quality when needed while dramatically reducing power consumption during idle or low-activity periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4044012B1Method and apparatus for starting application in terminal device, and terminal and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4044012B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4044012B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4044012B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A method and apparatus for starting an application in a terminal device, and a terminal and a storage medium, relating to the technical field of computers. According to embodiments of the present application, at least one application icon is displayed in the screen-off display interface of a terminal device, the screen-off display interface being a user interface displayed by the terminal device in a screen-off display mode (210); when receiving a preset touch signal, the terminal device starts an application corresponding to the application icon, the preset touch signal being a signal triggered when the terminal device receives a preset touch operation acting on the application icon (220). Therefore, when the terminal device is in a screen-off state, the terminal device can display at least one application icon in the screen-off display interface; when the application icon is triggered by the preset touch operation, the terminal device directly opens the application corresponding to the application icon without an unlocking process, so as to achieve the effect that the terminal device directly starts a specified application without unlocking under the screen-off display interface.