Split-Screen Display Method for Multitasking on Touchscreens

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile terminal devices can only display one application program at a time, requiring users to exit or switch between programs inconveniently, limiting multi-tasking capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A split-screen display method that allows users to divide the touchscreen into multiple display windows by detecting specific touch signals, enabling simultaneous display of multiple application programs without frequent switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple application programs are started at the background, then the multitasking capability is improved, but the user cannot view or operate multiple programs simultaneously, requiring frequent switching which reduces operation convenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultitasking capabilityVSAvoidoperation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into multiple independent display areas, each capable of displaying a different application program simultaneously. This segmentation allows users to view and operate multiple programs at the same time without switching, directly resolving the contradiction between multitasking capability and operation convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the display screen is divided into multiple areas, then multiple applications can be displayed simultaneously, but the display area available for each application is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultitasking efficiencyVSAvoiddisplay area per application
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display areas are designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing users to resize and reposition them according to their needs. This dynamic flexibility enables users to optimize the display area for each application based on the specific task requirements, maintaining high multitasking efficiency while preserving adequate display space for each program.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a single display screen is used, then the device structure is simple, but only one application can be displayed at a time, limiting multitasking functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay structure simplicityVSAvoidmultitasking functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding multiple physical displays, the solution utilizes the spatial dimension of the single display screen by dividing it into multiple virtual display areas. This dimensional approach enables multitasking functionality on a single screen, maintaining structural simplicity while enhancing versatility.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3591509B1Split-screen display method and apparatus, and electronic device thereof
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3591509B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP3591509B1 patent drawingFigure 2b
  • EP3591509B1 patent drawingFigure 2c

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a split-screen display method and apparatus, and an electronic device thereof. A horizontal slide signal along a touchscreen or a vertical slide signal along the touchscreen entered by using the touchscreen is obtained; a current display area of the touchscreen is divided, according to the horizontal slide signal, into at least two display windows arranged up and down, or a current display area of the touchscreen is divided, according to the vertical slide signal, into at least two display windows arranged side by side, thereby implementing that multiple application programs are simultaneously displayed on a screen up and down or side by side, and a user does not need to frequently switch between programs, which facilitates user operations.