Service Widget Switching for Multi-Widget Home Screen Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display methods for service widgets on electronic devices are inefficient, occupying large display space and requiring users to manually search through multiple screens, leading to poor display effect and low usability.

Innovation Solution

A method that allows electronic devices to automatically switch from displaying one service widget to multiple associated widgets in specific scenes, based on predefined conditions or user operations, enhancing display efficiency and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple service widgets are displayed on the home screen using tiled mode or carousel mode, then the display space occupied by service widgets increases, but the user can access more service widgets. However, when there are a large quantity of service widgets, multiple home screens are occupied, requiring users to turn pages and search one by one, leading to poor display effect and low efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of service widgetsVSAvoiduser access efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the service widgets into different categories or groups and displays them in a structured manner on the home screen. By organizing widgets into segments (e.g., by application type, function, or usage frequency), the system reduces the need for users to search through multiple screens, improving access efficiency while maintaining a comprehensive display of all service widgets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to the home screen display by enabling multi-widget display in a single location. Instead of displaying widgets sequentially across multiple screens or requiring manual navigation, the system presents multiple service widgets simultaneously in a consolidated view, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the interface that improves both display efficiency and user access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If automatically displaying different service widgets in carousel mode at a location on the home screen, then display space is reduced and users are spared from turning pages, but users can view and use only one service widget at a time, resulting in poor display effect and low efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay spaceVSAvoidservice widget accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple service widgets into a single display location on the home screen, allowing users to view and access multiple widgets simultaneously in one consolidated view. This merging approach eliminates the need for users to navigate between different locations or screens, providing both space efficiency and improved accessibility to multiple service widgets at once

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal display location on the home screen that serves multiple functions by displaying different service widgets. This multi-functional location can present various types of service widgets (e.g., weather, calendar, messaging) simultaneously, making the interface more versatile and efficient while maintaining a compact footprint

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If displaying a single service widget at a time, then the display area is small and simple, but the user cannot quickly access associated service widgets, resulting in low display efficiency and poor usability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay interface simplicityVSAvoidservice widget switching efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-organizing and pre-displaying associated service widgets along with the current widget. When a user views a service widget, the system automatically prepares and displays related widgets (such as weather widget with calendar events, or messaging widget with contact information) in advance, enabling users to access multiple related functions without additional navigation steps, thus improving switching efficiency while maintaining interface simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4726518A1Display method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4726518A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4726518A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4726518A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides a display method and an electronic device. The method is applied to the electronic device, and the method includes: displaying a first service widget on a display; and when determining that a current scene meets a specified first condition and/or a first operation is received, switching from displaying the first service widget to displaying a second service widget and a third service widget, where the second service widget is associated with the first service widget, and the third service widget is associated with the first service widget. According to the method provided in this application, display effect of the service widget and efficiency of using the service widget can be improved.