Task Manager Segmentation for Seamless Application Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile terminal interfaces fail to provide an effective dynamic shift between applications, requiring users to terminate the initial application to view all executed windows and complicating the process of returning to the initial application while multitasking.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves a task manager that displays the current operating application window alongside executed application windows, allowing users to easily switch between them through gestures such as zoom-in/zoom-out and drag operations, enabling seamless multitasking and simple termination of applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If users remove currently executed windows to view all executed applications, then all executed applications become visible, but the initial application must be terminated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of executed applicationsVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into multiple regions: a first region for displaying the currently executed application window and a second region for displaying thumbnails of other executed application windows. This segmentation allows users to view multiple applications simultaneously without terminating any, resolving the contradiction between visibility and operation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-dimension display (one application at a time) to a two-dimension display layout where the current application occupies the first region and other applications appear as thumbnails in the second region. This dimensional change enables simultaneous visibility of multiple applications without requiring users to terminate the initial application.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between multiple executed applications, then multi-tasking capability is improved, but returning to the initial application becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-tasking capabilityVSAvoidease of returning to initial application
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The second region acts as an intermediary between the current application and the list of executed applications. It displays thumbnails of other applications and provides interactive controls that enable users to switch between applications and return to the initial application through simple gestures, rather than requiring complex navigation through multiple menus or windows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If the interface displays detailed information about executed applications, then information completeness is improved, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the display provide different levels of information detail. The first region displays the current application in full detail, while the second region displays thumbnails of other applications with essential information. This local quality differentiation allows the interface to provide complete information about the current application while maintaining a simple overview of other applications, avoiding overall interface complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2534565B1Apparatus and method for performing multi-tasking
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2534565B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2534565B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2534565B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for performing multi-tasking, and more particularly to a multi-tasking performance apparatus and method which easily enable a shift between a plurality of applications being executed and a shift into an initial application. A currently operating application window is simultaneously displayed, with at least one executed application window by overlapping the executed application window on the currently operating application window according to a predetermined format.