Small Window Exit Region for Large Screen Terminals

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In larger screen terminal devices, such as tablets, the conventional method of dragging small windows out of the screen to exit is inconvenient due to increased dragging distance, making it difficult to achieve the required speed threshold, leading to potential exit failures.

Innovation Solution

A method where an exit region is displayed alongside the small window, allowing users to execute an exit operation by detecting a preset action on this region, with optional visual cues like scaling and transparency changes to facilitate smooth exit, and hotspots for exposing the exit region when the small window blocks it.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the conventional method of dragging small windows out of the screen is used, then the exit operation can be completed, but on larger screen terminals the dragging distance increases making it difficult to achieve the required speed threshold leading to potential exit failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexit success rateVSAvoiddragging operation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of dragging the small window out of the screen to exit (conventional method), the patent inverts the approach by having the exit region move to where the small window is located, or having the small window move to a predefined exit position within the screen. This inversion eliminates the need for long-distance dragging while maintaining reliable exit functionality on large screens.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a virtual drag line or guidance indicator - that mediates between the user's drag operation and the exit region. This intermediary provides visual feedback and guidance during the drag operation, helping users understand the required dragging distance and direction, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining exit reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the exit region is displayed alongside the small window, then users can execute exit operations conveniently, but the exit region may block the small window display

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexit operation convenienceVSAvoidsmall window display effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the blocking issue by moving the exit region to a different spatial dimension or layer. The exit region can be positioned in a corner or edge area of the screen that does not overlap with the small window's display area, or rendered on a different UI layer that allows the small window to remain visible while the exit region is accessible for operations.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The exit region is designed with local quality characteristics - it is positioned and styled to be unobtrusive in specific screen areas while remaining functional. The exit region may be semi-transparent, positioned in corners, or activated only when the user hovers or taps near it, ensuring it provides ease of operation without blocking the small window's display content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4134798A1Small window exit method, electronic device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4134798A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4134798A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4134798A1 patent drawingFigure 3C

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a small window exit method and apparatus, an electronic device and a storage medium. The method is applied to a terminal and includes: showing(102) an exit region corresponding to a small window under the condition that the small window is displayed in a screen of the terminal; and executing(104) an exit operation of the small window when a preset operation specific to the exit region is detected.