Split Screen Multi-Window Interface for Electronic Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic devices with touch-based displays lack an efficient method for switching between application execution screens, leading to user difficulty in navigating multiple windows.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device splits its screen into multiple non-overlapping windows, allowing for the simultaneous display of two or more application execution screens through a predefined split manner, utilizing a combination of split windows and popup windows to provide a multi-window interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the screen is split into multiple non-overlapping windows to display multiple application execution screens simultaneously, then user convenience and multitasking capability are improved, but device complexity and interface management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidinterface management difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is divided into multiple non-overlapping window regions, each capable of displaying a different application execution screen. This segmentation allows users to view and interact with multiple applications simultaneously without switching between full-screen views, thereby improving ease of operation while managing complexity through structured spatial division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from temporal switching (switching between applications over time) to spatial arrangement (displaying applications simultaneously in different screen regions). By utilizing the two-dimensional screen space more efficiently, the system enables multitasking without proportionally increasing interface management complexity.

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

2Productivity

If multiple application execution screens are displayed simultaneously through screen splitting, then productivity and multitasking capability are improved, but screen real estate optimization and user interaction complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultitasking capabilityVSAvoiduser interaction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display area is segmented into distinct non-overlapping windows, each dedicated to a specific application execution screen. This allows users to perform multiple tasks simultaneously by viewing different applications in different regions, enhancing productivity while maintaining clear visual separation that reduces interaction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the screen are assigned different functions or applications based on user needs. Each window region can be optimized for its specific application, allowing tailored interaction designs while maintaining overall system productivity through coordinated multi-region display management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3182245B1Method and apparatus for providing user interface of electronic device
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3182245B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3182245B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3182245B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A user interface displaying method of an electronic device. The method includes identifying one of a content and an application and displaying a split screen according to the identified one of the content and the application..