Split-View Content Layer Overlap for Mobile UI

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Solution Overview

Problem

Client applications on computing devices consume excessive processor resources and increase power consumption due to the need for re-rendering content when navigating between layers, particularly in mobile devices with limited battery life.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a user interface mode that allows a client application to display a first layer of content partially overlapping a second layer in split-view mode, with indicators showing content relationships, reducing the need for constant re-rendering by maintaining the first layer's presence on screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a client application re-renders content when navigating between layers in a full-screen mode, then the user interface can display complete content layers, but processor resource consumption increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent display completenessVSAvoidprocessor resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-rendering and maintaining multiple content layers in the render tree structure before navigation occurs. When a user navigates between layers, the content is already rendered and maintained in the display, eliminating the need for re-rendering during navigation. This resolves the contradiction by preparing content in advance, thus reducing processor resource consumption while maintaining complete content display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a client application re-renders content when navigating between layers, then the user interface can display complete content layers, but power consumption increases particularly in mobile devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent display completenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-rendering and maintaining multiple content layers in the render tree structure before navigation occurs. When a user navigates between layers, the content is already rendered and maintained in the display, eliminating the need for re-rendering during navigation. This resolves the contradiction by preparing content in advance, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining complete content display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Area of stationary object

If a client application displays only a single layer of content at a time in full-screen mode, then the display area is fully utilized, but the application must re-render content on each navigation which consumes processor resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay area utilizationVSAvoidnavigation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a single-layer full-screen display to a multi-layer split-view display arrangement. Content layers are organized in a hierarchical render tree structure where multiple layers can coexist in the display simultaneously. This resolves the contradiction by adding a dimensional aspect (layer depth) to the display structure, allowing full display area utilization while maintaining multiple content layers without requiring re-rendering on navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Speed

If a client application maintains multiple content layers in memory for split-view mode, then navigation between layers becomes faster with less re-rendering, but memory consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation speedVSAvoidmemory consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by organizing content layers in a hierarchical render tree structure where layers are nested within parent containers and can be selectively rendered. This nested structure allows the system to maintain multiple content layers in memory efficiently, with only the visible and near-visible layers fully rendered. This resolves the contradiction by nesting content in a hierarchical manner, enabling fast navigation while optimizing memory consumption through selective rendering of nested layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10139983B2Controlling access to content

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A user terminal comprising: a display having an available display area; a processor configured to run a client application having a user interface capable of operating in a full screen mode whereby a single layer of content is displayed in the available display area or in a split-view mode; wherein the client application is configured to: detect, while controlling the user interface to operate in the full screen mode, a user selection that the user interface operates in the split-view mode, and in response display a first layer of content in a predetermined position to partially overlap a second layer of content such that a portion of the second layer of content is displayed in the available display area and a remaining portion of the second layer of content is not displayed; and display an indicator providing an indication of how content displayed on the two layers is related.