Zooming Desktop Interface for Application Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interfaces for devices with limited screen sizes fail to efficiently manage multiple applications concurrently, often obscuring the display and requiring significant user input, while also lacking support for task-related actions.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a zooming effect to provide an extended display area by decreasing the size of the computer desktop, allowing for efficient application management without losing context, and enabling interactions with items in the extended area, which can be customized and divided into task-oriented sub-areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing UI approaches are used to manage multiple applications, then application management functionality is provided, but large portions of the display are obscured and significant user input is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by implementing a zoomable desktop interface where the desktop can be scaled along the Z-axis. When the user activates the zoom function, the desktop transitions from a 2D flat view to a 3D perspective view, creating an extended display area that provides additional space for application management without obscuring the main desktop content. This dimensional transformation allows simultaneous access to both the desktop and application management interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested interface structure where the application management interface is embedded within the zoomed desktop view. The desktop environment contains the application manager, which itself contains thumbnails and controls for managing applications. This nested arrangement allows users to access application management functionality while maintaining context of the desktop environment, reducing the need for separate full-screen application managers.
2Area of stationary object
If the desktop size is decreased to provide extended display area, then additional display space is available for application management, but the desktop context may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic zooming mechanism where the desktop size is not fixed but can be adjusted in real-time based on user needs. The desktop transitions smoothly between different zoom levels using animation, allowing users to expand the desktop to access more of its content or contract it to reveal the extended display area. This dynamic adjustment ensures that desktop context is preserved and can be recovered at any time, eliminating the fear of permanent information loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different visual qualities to different regions of the display. The main desktop area maintains its original visual fidelity and clarity, while the extended display area generated by zooming out provides additional context. The zoomed view creates a hierarchical visual structure where important desktop elements remain prominent while additional contextual information becomes accessible in the extended area, preserving desktop context while providing extra display space.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses a zooming effect to provide additional display space to manage applications. In one mode of operation, the system presents an image of a computer desktop to the user on a display device. When the system receives a request from a user to provide additional display space in a display device for application management purposes, the system decreases the size of the computer desktop in the display device to provide an extended display area. The system then facilitates application management by displaying items useful for application management in this extended display area. By providing the extended display area, the system allows the user to access such items easily and efficiently without losing the context of the computer desktop.