Split Screen Application Display on Touch Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile electronic devices with touch screens can only display one application at a time in full screen mode, lacking a user interface or method to simultaneously show two applications, which is a limitation for multi-tasking and requires developers to reprogram applications for different view states.
Innovation Solution
A method and user interface that allows two or more running applications to be displayed simultaneously in a side-by-side layout in split screen mode without requiring developers to rewrite their software, maintaining one application as active and enabling easy switching between them, while preserving the aspect ratio optimized for full screen mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two applications are displayed simultaneously in split screen mode, then multi-tasking capability is improved, but application developers would have to reprogram their applications to account for multiple viewable area states
Solution Approach 1:
The touch screen display is segmented into multiple independent viewable areas that can display different applications simultaneously. Each viewable area maintains its own aspect ratio and can be independently configured, allowing split screen mode without requiring application reprogramming.
Solution Approach 2:
A window manager or display controller acts as an intermediary between the applications and the physical display. This intermediary handles the aspect ratio conversion and viewable area management, shielding applications from the complexity of split screen requirements.
2Productivity
If applications are optimized for full screen mode with constant aspect ratio, then application performance is improved, but the ability to display multiple applications simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the display are assigned different qualities (aspect ratios) based on local requirements. Each viewable area can have its aspect ratio optimized for the specific application being displayed, while maintaining the overall display's constant physical dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimensional full screen view to a multi-dimensional display architecture where multiple applications can be displayed simultaneously in different viewable areas, adding spatial dimensionality to the user interface.
3Ease of operation
If only one application is displayed in full screen mode at a time, then application optimization is maintained, but user interaction efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The display system dynamically adjusts the number, size, and arrangement of viewable areas based on user needs. Users can switch between full screen mode and split screen mode, and the system adapts the display configuration accordingly without requiring application reprogramming.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a touch screen electronic device to group two or more running applications together (fig. 5a,5b) and to display the two or more running applications simultaneously in a side-by-side layout in a split screen mode of the device (fig. 5c). Two or more applications that are running on an operating system of the device can be easily displayed simultaneously in the split screen mode while maintaining one of the displayed applications as active so that the user can provide user inputs to the active application.