Touchscreen Tab Spacing Mechanism for Mobile Browser Window Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile device web browsers face challenges in displaying multiple web pages due to limited screen space, making it difficult for users to identify and select tabs in a stacked configuration with only a limited portion of each tab being visible.
Innovation Solution
A touchscreen-based method and system that allows users to adjust the display of multiple web page windows by dragging two fingers to increase or decrease the visible portion of each tab, enabling more or less of each tab to be displayed by moving fingers closer together or farther apart, respectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If tabs are displayed in a stacked configuration with limited visible portion, then screen space is efficiently utilized, but user ability to identify and select tabs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by displaying thumbnails that show a visual representation of each tab's content. These thumbnails provide color and image information that helps users identify tab contents at a glance, resolving the contradiction between efficient screen space usage and easy tab identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating thumbnail copies of each tab's content. These thumbnails are displayed alongside the stacked tabs, providing a visual copy of what each tab contains without requiring users to see the full tab content, thus maintaining compact layout while improving identifiability.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple tabs are displayed in overlaid configuration, then number of open web pages increases, but visible portion of each tab decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies another dimension by adding a spatial dimension through thumbnail displays. Instead of only stacking tabs vertically or horizontally, the system adds thumbnails that provide additional visual information in a different spatial arrangement, allowing users to view multiple tabs and their thumbnails simultaneously without reducing the visible portion of each tab's main content area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses segmentation by dividing each tab's information into two parts: the main tab content area and the thumbnail preview. This segmentation allows the system to display multiple tabs in a compact stacked configuration while providing separate thumbnail representations that help users identify tab contents without requiring larger visible areas for each tab.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If visible portion of tabs is increased, then tab identification improves, but screen space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by displaying only a thumbnail preview of each tab's content rather than the full content. This partial display provides sufficient information for tab identification while consuming minimal screen space, resolving the contradiction between easy tab identification and screen space efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-implemented methods for adjusting a display of multiple web page windows in a web browser are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving selections of visible portions of first and second web page windows oriented in an overlaid configuration with first and second touch inputs, and receiving a dragging motion of the touch inputs to alter the visible portion of at least one of the windows. When the dragging motion includes dragging the touch inputs away from one another, the visible portion of the first web page window is increased and the visible portion of the second web page window is decreased, and when the dragging motion includes dragging the touch inputs towards one another, the visible portion of the first web page window is decreased and the visible portion of the second web page window is increased. Systems, graphical user interfaces, and machine-readable media are also provided.