Secondary Display Mode Switching via Application State

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in locating desired affordances on touch-sensitive secondary displays, particularly when switching between applications, due to the lack of customization features for display modes and associations between applications and display modes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that allows users to easily switch between adaptive and persistent display modes on touch-sensitive secondary displays, using a management user interface to associate display modes with applications, reducing the need for mode switching and improving the visibility of relevant information, thereby enhancing user interaction and reducing power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If adaptive display mode is used to dynamically change interface elements based on application state, then the relevance of information displayed is improved, but the complexity of the display system increases and users still have difficulty locating desired affordances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelevance of informationVSAvoiddisplay system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements adaptive display mode that dynamically changes the user interface elements displayed on the secondary display based on the current state of the application on the primary display. This allows the display content to adapt automatically to different application contexts, improving information relevance without requiring manual user configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the application state on the primary display and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the displayed elements on the secondary display. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the most relevant information is always presented based on current application context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If multiple display modes are provided for different applications, then user efficiency is improved, but the number of inputs required to switch between modes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser efficiencyVSAvoidmode switching operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines and switches between adaptive and persistent display modes based on the active application, eliminating the need for manual user intervention. The display mode selection is handled autonomously by the system through application-state monitoring and automatic mode selection logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If persistent display mode is used to display fixed interface elements, then the ease of locating affordances is improved, but the adaptability to different applications is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaffordance locationVSAvoidapplication-specific adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary display is designed to support multiple display modes (adaptive and persistent) within the same device, allowing it to serve different functions based on application requirements. This multi-functionality enables the system to provide both fixed, easy-to-locate elements and application-specific adaptive content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If frequent mode switching occurs between applications, then the responsiveness to user needs is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveresponsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-associates display modes with specific applications in advance, so when an application is launched, the appropriate display mode is already determined and can be activated immediately without requiring real-time analysis or user input. This preliminary association reduces computational overhead and power consumption during application switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11243570B2Systems and methods for displaying groups of applications via inputs received at a touch-sensitive secondary display

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 APPLE INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are systems and methods that enable users to customize operation of a touch-sensitive secondary display. An example method includes displaying, at the touch-sensitive secondary display, a system-level affordance for controlling a system-level feature and an affordance for causing display of representations of user-defined workspaces. Receiving a first input at the affordance for causing display of the representations the user-defined workspaces. In response to receiving the first input, displaying, at the touch-sensitive secondary display, a selectable user interface object corresponding to a first window from a first application and a second window from a second application. Receiving a selection, and in response to receiving the second input corresponding to selection of the selectable user interface object corresponding to the first window from the first application and the second window from the second application, displaying the first window from the first application and the second window from the second application.