Shared Application Window Divider Control for Consistent Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern computer user interfaces face limitations in user-directed adjustments of application window placement, particularly in managing multiple windows across a range of consistently spaced points along an axis, without efficient resizing and snapping mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

An application window divider control is introduced that allows users to move and snap application windows along an axis, enabling consistent spacing and resizing, impacting not only shared windows but also other windows in the interface, with visual cues and magnetic points for precise placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a shared application window divider control is introduced to manage multiple windows, then window placement flexibility and consistent spacing are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewindow placement flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple window divider controls that were previously separate and independent are merged into a single shared divider control that can manage multiple application windows simultaneously. This consolidation reduces the number of individual controls while maintaining the ability to adjust spacing and placement across multiple windows, thereby improving flexibility without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared divider control is designed to perform multiple functions: it can adjust the spacing between different pairs of windows, provide magnetic snapping to consistent spacing points, and respond to directional instructions from users. This multi-functional design allows a single control element to manage complex window layout requirements that would otherwise require multiple separate controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If magnetic snapping to consistent spacing points is implemented, then window placement precision is improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewindow placement precisionVSAvoidmanual adjustment difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides visual feedback through magnetic snapping that automatically guides the divider control to consistent spacing points. When the user moves the divider near a magnetic point, the system provides visual cues (such as highlighting or animation) that indicate the target position, making it easier for users to achieve precise placement without manual calculation or measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic spacing points are pre-calculated and positioned based on the current window layouts and spacing requirements. This preliminary preparation of target positions allows the system to automatically determine where windows should be placed for consistent spacing, eliminating the need for users to manually compute or estimate the correct positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the divider control impacts multiple application windows simultaneously, then layout consistency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout consistencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shared divider control system segments the management of multiple windows by identifying specific pairs or groups of windows that share the divider. This segmentation allows the control to apply different spacing rules and magnetic points to different window groups independently, maintaining layout consistency within each group while managing overall complexity through modular organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240061543A1Application window divider control for window layout management

Publication Date: 2024.02.22 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

An application window divider control is shared by a first application window and a second application window in a user interface. Based on a received directional instruction that moves the application window divider control along an axis of the user interface, placement of the first application window and the second application window may be positioned across a range of consistently spaced points along an axis of the user interface. Placement adjustment can also impact other application windows in the user interface. The application window divider control may also snap to provide “magnetic” points along the axis when certain conditions are satisfied.