Virtual System Bar for Direct Application Page Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inefficiencies in switching between application pages on mobile terminals, requiring multiple steps to view unread messages across different applications, as current methods involve navigating through notification bars and home screens.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that display a virtual system bar with page display controls, allowing users to switch between application pages directly by performing designated operations on these controls, thereby eliminating the need for multi-step navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users follow the traditional multi-step navigation process to switch between applications, then the system maintains stable operation, but the user efficiency and switching speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by displaying preview information of other applications in the current application interface. Specifically, when a user is viewing application A, the system pre-loads and displays thumbnail previews, unread message counts, and other key information of applications B, C, and D directly within application A's interface. This allows users to access other applications without returning to the home screen, thereby reducing navigation time and improving switching efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If the virtual system bar displays multiple application previews, then direct switching between applications is enabled, but the display area for the current application is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies another dimension by implementing the virtual system bar as an overlay layer that extends beyond the traditional boundary of the current application. The virtual system bar is positioned at the edge of the screen and displays previews of other applications in a manner that does not completely block the current application. This dimensional extension allows users to access switching functionality without significantly compromising the display area of the active application.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual system bar acts as an intermediary element between the current application and other applications. It provides a transition zone that displays previews and enables switching without requiring users to leave the current application entirely. This intermediary structure facilitates smooth transitions while maintaining the visibility and usability of the active application.
3Loss of information
If the notification bar is used to display unread messages, then message notifications are provided, but users must pull down and click multiple times to access the messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the notification bar functionality directly into the current application interface. Instead of requiring users to pull down the notification bar separately, the system merges unread message notifications and previews directly into the active application's display area. Users can see and access unread messages from other applications without leaving the current application, thereby reducing the number of steps required to access messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-loading and displaying unread message information within the current application interface. When users are viewing application A, the system already has previews and unread message counts of applications with notifications ready to display. This eliminates the need for users to manually pull down the notification bar to check for messages, as the information is already presented in the current view.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, a device and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for switching pages of applications on a terminal device are provided in the field of computer technology. The method includes: displaying (101) a virtual system bar and a first application page on the terminal device used to display a first unread message for the first application; displaying (102) a page display control in the virtual system bar when a second unread message exists in a second application; receiving (103) a first signal which is generated in accordance with a first designated operation performed on the page display control; and switching (104) the first application page into a second application page for display, where the second application page corresponds to the page display control and is used to display the second unread message.