Touch Screen Multitasking via Segmented Windows

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile devices face inefficiencies in executing multiple applications simultaneously due to limited screen size and user interface designs that require frequent screen switching and application termination, making it inconvenient for users to multitask and grasp the progress between applications.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device and method that utilize a touch screen to display multiple applications simultaneously by dividing the screen into separate windows, with a controller managing execution icons for each application, allowing users to input execution commands to run multiple applications concurrently and efficiently manage screen sizes and layouts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If one application is displayed on the entire touch screen, then the display area for that application is maximized, but another application cannot be executed simultaneously without terminating the current application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to execute multiple applicationsVSAvoidconvenience of multitasking
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is divided into multiple display regions, with each region dedicated to displaying a different application. This segmentation allows multiple applications to be executed and displayed simultaneously without interfering with each other, resolving the contradiction between maximizing display area and enabling multitasking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from sequential application execution (one at a time) to parallel execution by utilizing the spatial dimension of the touch screen. By arranging multiple display regions in space, the system enables simultaneous execution of multiple applications, effectively adding a temporal dimension to the user experience.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the user switches between applications by returning to the menu screen, then application execution can be changed, but the process becomes inconvenient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility to switch applicationsVSAvoidtime for screen switching
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares multiple application display regions in advance and maintains them in a ready state. When the user wants to switch applications, the desired application is already positioned and ready in its display region, eliminating the need to return to the menu screen and reducing switching time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The display regions are designed to be dynamically adjustable and reconfigurable. The user can freely switch between applications by simple gestures or selections, and the system dynamically updates the display without requiring a full return to the menu screen, making application switching more efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications are executed by repeated execution and termination, then application switching is possible, but the process is inefficient and application progress cannot be easily grasped

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to execute multiple applicationsVSAvoidefficiency of multitasking
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the touch screen into multiple independent display regions, each application can continue executing in its own region without being terminated. This maintains application state and progress information visible to the user, significantly improving multitasking efficiency compared to repeated execution and termination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple applications execute continuously and simultaneously in their respective display regions without interruption. The user can monitor the progress of each application in real-time through its dedicated display region, eliminating the need to repeatedly start and stop applications and maintaining continuous visibility of application states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Productivity

If the touch screen is divided to display multiple applications simultaneously, then multitasking efficiency is improved, but the display size for each application is reduced

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

Solution Approach 1:

The display regions are designed to be dynamically adjustable in size and position. Users can resize, move, and reconfigure the display regions according to their needs, allowing optimization of display area for each application while maintaining simultaneous execution. This dynamic flexibility resolves the contradiction between multitasking efficiency and display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2595042B1Mobile device for executing multiple applications and method for same
Publication Date: 2018.05.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2595042B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2595042B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2595042B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile device for executing multiple applications is provided. The mobile device includes a touch screen for displaying a first window where a first application is executed, a second window where a second application different from the first application is executed, and a controller for displaying an execution keys for executing the multiple applications, determining whether a simultaneous execution input for the first application and the second application is input or not, and if the simultaneous execution input is input then displaying the first application on the first window and the second application on the second window.