Touch Screen Region Segmentation for Multitasking Workspace Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional smartphones and tablets require users to switch between applications by navigating to an initial menu screen and then selecting the new application, which can be inconvenient for multitasking and may lead to overlapping workspaces when multiple users share a device.

Innovation Solution

A touch screen architecture that divides the screen into independent regions, allowing multiple applications to be displayed simultaneously, with a method for controlling the display to align with user intuition and prevent workspace overlap.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single application is displayed on the entire touch screen, then the display is simple and clear, but the user cannot execute multiple applications simultaneously and must navigate through menu screens to switch applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultitasking efficiencyVSAvoidapplication switching operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is divided into multiple independent display regions, allowing different applications to be displayed simultaneously in separate regions. This segmentation enables users to view and interact with multiple applications at the same time without needing to switch between them through menu screens, thereby improving multitasking efficiency while maintaining simple operation within each region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the screen is divided into multiple regions for displaying multiple applications, then multitasking efficiency is improved, but the display complexity increases and workspaces may overlap when multiple users share the device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultitasking efficiencyVSAvoiddisplay architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The screen is divided into multiple independent display regions with clear boundaries, where each region can independently display a different application. This segmentation approach enables multitasking while maintaining manageable complexity through modular region management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each display region is configured with specific properties and constraints tailored to its intended use, allowing different regions to have different characteristics (e.g., size, orientation, application type). This local quality approach enables the system to handle multiple applications simultaneously while maintaining organized, non-overlapping workspaces for different users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple users share a single device, then device utilization is improved, but workspaces overlap and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sharing capabilityVSAvoidworkspace separation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into separate regions that can be assigned to different users, allowing each user to have their own dedicated workspace. This physical separation through screen division prevents workspace overlap and maintains user experience quality even when multiple users share the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the screen are configured with user-specific properties and constraints, creating localized workspaces tailored to individual user needs. This approach enables multiple users to simultaneously utilize the device with distinct, non-interfering workspaces, improving both device sharing capability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3657311B1Apparatus including a touch screen and screen change method thereof
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3657311B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3657311B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3657311B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

An apparatus for screen change includes a touch screen to divisionally display a first region where a first screen is displayed and a second region where a second screen is displayed, and a controller to detect whether a display change event for a screen display change occurs in at least one of the first region and the second region, and to analyze the display change event and to change a display direction of the second screen while maintaining a display of the first screen.