Side Edge Sensor Task Switching for Mobile Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile terminal application switching methods are complex and inefficient, requiring multiple user operations to navigate between applications, leading to poor human-machine interaction performance and user experience.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a task switching method that allows continuous finger operations on the side edge of the terminal, enabling the display of a multi-task interface and selection of task windows without leaving the edge, reducing the need for multiple operations and improving interaction performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional application switching methods are used (tapping Home key or Back key to return to main desktop and then searching for target application), then application switching can be implemented, but user operations become complex and human-machine interaction performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension for interaction by placing touch-sensitive sensors on the side edge of the terminal, perpendicular to the main display surface. This allows users to initiate application switching by sliding their finger along the side edge, eliminating the need to navigate through the main desktop interface. The side edge serves as a dedicated quick-access zone that provides direct control over recent applications without requiring operations in the traditional display plane.
2Productivity
If multiple operations are required for application switching, then application switching functionality is achieved, but user experience deteriorates due to increased operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal maintains a pre-configured list of recent applications accessible via the side edge sensors, prepared in advance for quick retrieval. When the user slides their finger along the side edge, the system immediately presents the recent applications list and enables direct selection, eliminating the time required to search through the main desktop or navigate through multiple menu layers. The recent applications are kept ready in memory and can be rapidly displayed and selected.
3Ease of operation
If traditional navigation methods are used, then application switching is possible, but human-machine interaction performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the application switching function from the main display interface and relocates it to the side edge of the terminal. By placing touch-sensitive sensors on the side edge, the system creates a separate, dedicated control zone that handles application switching independently from the main navigation flow. This extraction simplifies the interaction process by isolating the switching function from complex desktop navigation, allowing users to switch applications through a simple side-edge gesture without being affected by other interface elements.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
This application relates to the field of electronic technologies, and provides a task switching method and a terminal to reduce user operations in task switching, improve human-machine interaction performance, and improve user experience. A specific solution includes: displaying, by a terminal with a sensor installed on a side edge, a first interface in response to a pressing operation of a user on the side edge, where the first interface includes at least one task window; detecting a sliding operation of the user on the side edge, where the sliding operation and the pressing operation are continuous operations of a finger without leaving the side edge; displaying a first task window in a preset manner in response to the sliding operation, where as a sliding position of the sliding operation changes, when the at least one task window includes a plurality of task windows, the first task window displayed in the preset manner is switched in the plurality of task windows; and displaying a second interface in response to detecting that the sliding operation is ended and that the finger of the user leaves the side edge, where the second interface is an interface of a task corresponding to the first task window displayed by the terminal in the preset manner when the sliding operation is ended and the finger of the user leaves the side edge.