Shake Gesture App Management on Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile computing devices face challenges in efficiently managing multiple active applications, leading to memory, power, and data usage issues, as users often need to close or stop all applications simultaneously to conserve resources or switch to new sets of applications.
Innovation Solution
A 'manage active apps mode' is introduced, allowing users to invoke by shaking the device while pressing a hardware or software control feature, such as the power button, to close, stop, or delete active applications, with options determined by the direction of the shake and providing confirmation prompts and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If users manually close applications one by one, then application management precision is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application management task into two modes: individual application management and bulk management. The bulk management mode allows users to close multiple applications simultaneously through a single operation (shake gesture), which directly addresses the time loss problem without sacrificing operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares a list of active applications in advance and enables bulk closure functionality. When the user triggers the shake gesture, the system has already identified all active applications and is ready to close them simultaneously, eliminating the need for manual one-by-one closure and significantly reducing time consumption.
2Productivity
If multiple applications run simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but device resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic application management mechanism where the system can transition between allowing multiple applications to run and consolidating to a single active application. The shake gesture triggers a dynamic state change that closes all active applications, enabling users to optimize resource consumption based on immediate needs while maintaining high productivity when multiple apps are required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of application execution state from multiple concurrent executions to a single active application state through the bulk close function. This parameter change allows the device to reduce memory, CPU, and power consumption when not needing multiple applications, while still permitting high productivity when multiple apps are launched.
3Ease of operation
If bulk application closure function is added, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal shake gesture mechanism that serves multiple functions: it can be used to close all active applications, and the system can be configured to provide different bulk management functions. This multi-functionality approach simplifies the user interface (reducing the need for multiple separate controls) while managing device complexity through a unified gesture-based system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the device's existing accelerometer and gesture recognition capabilities to automatically detect and execute the bulk close function when the shake gesture is detected. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional hardware complexity while providing ease of operation through intuitive gesture-based control that leverages existing device features.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables users to easily manage active applications, conserve device resources, and enhance user experience by providing a straightforward method to close or stop all applications at once, with customizable settings for user preferences and device configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The device may include one or more accelerometers, for example, to detect when (and possibly how) the device is being shaken
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for managing active applications on a mobile computing device, referred to collectively herein as a manage active apps mode. The manage active apps mode may be invoked by shaking the device while pressing the device's power button (or while manipulating one or more other user interface control features). The device may include one or more accelerometers, for example, to detect when (and possibly how) the device is being shaken. When invoked, the manage active apps mode may be configured to perform the function of closing, stopping, force stopping, quitting, or deleting of one or more of the device's active applications, for example. In some cases, the mode function performed may be determined by the direction the device is being shaken, such as if the device is being shaken from side-to-side or up-and-down.