Window Visual Appearance Maintenance During Screen Resolution Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
When the resolution of a computer screen changes, the position and size of windows and their visual appearance are altered, which can be undesirable for users, especially when mechanical HMI components are involved, as it disrupts the alignment and functionality of taskbars and other graphical elements.
Innovation Solution
An automatic resize detection application (ARDA) communicates with the windows manager and window drawing module to maintain the visual appearance of windows by calculating and applying scaling factors to ensure that windows and their graphic objects retain their original position and size relative to the screen reference point, even after resolution changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the screen resolution is changed, then the visual appearance of the desktop (e.g., icon size) is improved, but the position and size of windows change, causing misalignment with mechanical HMI components
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting the resolution change event and automatically calculating new window parameters before the user can manually adjust windows. The window manager proactively resizes and repositions all windows based on the new resolution, maintaining alignment with mechanical HMI components without requiring user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring screen resolution changes and automatically adjusting window parameters in response. When a resolution change is detected, the window manager calculates appropriate scaling factors and applies them to maintain proper alignment, creating a closed-loop system that responds to environmental changes.
2Ease of operation
If the user manually repositions and resizes windows after resolution change, then the visual appearance can be restored, but this is not convenient when a large number of windows are displayed and the user may not have permission to modify each window
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling windows to automatically adjust their own parameters in response to resolution changes. The window manager sends adjustment commands to individual windows, which self-correct their position and size without requiring user intervention. This eliminates the time-consuming manual adjustment process while restoring proper visual appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution implements universality by creating a system that automatically handles window adjustment for all windows simultaneously, regardless of their type or user permissions. The window manager applies the resolution change compensation universally across the entire window set, eliminating the need for individual manual adjustments of each window.
3Ease of manufacture
If the resolution is changed to achieve desired visual appearance, then the desktop display is improved, but taskbars and graphical elements become misaligned with mechanical HMI components
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting window parameters (position, size) based on the new screen resolution. The window manager calculates scaling factors derived from the resolution change and applies these parameters to all windows, maintaining precise alignment with mechanical HMI components while preserving the improved desktop visual appearance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for maintaining a visual appearance of at least one window displayed on a screen after a change in a resolution of the screen includes a first step of receiving a display change notice indicative that the resolution of the screen is to be changed from a current screen resolution to a new screen resolution. A second step of determining the current screen resolution. A third step of determining the new screen resolution. A fourth step of generating at least one scaling factor based on the current screen resolution and the new screen resolution. A fifth step of transmitting a windows resize to a window drawing module for triggering drawing the window on the screen using the new visual parameters when the resolution changes from the current screen resolution to the new screen resolution.