Terminal Application Folder Management Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile terminal operating systems require cumbersome processes for moving applications between folders, involving multiple system screen jumps and extensive manual operations.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that maintain the first folder as an active interface while moving an application icon to another folder, displaying target folders on the desktop, determining the selected folder upon release, and canceling the target folder display upon cancellation, thus simplifying the operation by reducing manual efforts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the conventional operation process is used to move an application between folders, then the application can be moved from one folder to another, but the process requires multiple system screen jumps and extensive manual operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation process simplicityVSAvoidtime for moving application
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the application moving process into distinct phases: trigger detection, target folder display, drag operation, and drop confirmation. By breaking down the conventional single-operation process into manageable segments with intermediate states, the system provides visual feedback and reduces cognitive load, allowing users to understand and control each step without experiencing the complexity of multiple screen jumps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by displaying target folders in advance before the user completes the drag operation. When a user triggers the move operation, the system proactively presents available destination folders, allowing the user to see potential targets before finalizing the drop action. This eliminates the need for exploratory screen navigation and enables more direct application moving

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the system displays target folders during the moving operation, then the user can select the destination folder more easily, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget folder selectionVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the interface adaptive to the user's current action state. The target folder display dynamically appears only when a drag operation is initiated, and disappears when the operation is cancelled or completed. This dynamic behavior allows the system to provide enhanced functionality when needed while maintaining a clean, simple interface during normal browsing, effectively resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and interface complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the target folder selection functionality from the main folder browsing interface. Instead of permanently displaying all folders or adding complex controls to the standard view, the system separates the destination selection mechanism into a distinct, context-dependent display that activates only during move operations. This extraction allows the target folder display to coexist with the simple main interface without permanently increasing perceived complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3098701B1Method and apparatus for managing terminal application
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3098701B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3098701B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3098701B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

The present disclosure refers to a method and an apparatus for managing an application in a terminal. The method includes: displaying at least one target folder in a visible area of a current desktop, when monitoring that there is a between-folder moving trigger event of an application icon, the target folder being different to a first folder where the application icon is located; determining a selected target folder from the at least one target folder, when monitoring that there is a between-folder moving end event of the application icon, deleting the application icon from the first folder and adding the application icon into the selected target folder. The present application may simplifies a manual operation of a user for moving an application icon.