Window expansion method and associated electronic device

• US 10,139,982 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Min, Koag, Bu-Sic, Kim, Joo-Yong, Jung, In-Hyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nazar, Ahamed I
• Application Number:
  US14/445,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20150058797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A window expansion method is provided. The method includes detecting an occurrence of an expansion event for expanding a window area, and expanding the window area based on the expansion event. An electronic device is also provided, the electronic device including a display that includes a window area for displaying data and a non-window area, and at least one processor configured to expand the window area based on an expansion event for an expansion of the window area when the expansion event occurs.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions therein;

a display; and

at least one processor configured, upon execution of the instructions, to;

control the display to display a first area for displaying input data and a second area,

detect an occurrence of an expansion event for expanding the first area by determining a size of an object inputted in the first area to be bigger than a size of the first area in a first direction, and

expand the first area based on the expansion event,

wherein, to expand the first area based on the expansion event, the at least one processor is configured to;

if the first area cannot be expanded in the first direction, determine a second direction where the first area can be expanded based on the size of the input object, and

expand the first area in the determined second direction, and

wherein the first and second directions are first and second vertical directions or first and second horizontal directions.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

calculate a size for the expansion of the first area based on the expansion event, and

expand the first area to an extent of the calculated size for the expansion of the first area.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

calculate the size for the expansion of the first area to display the object, if the object goes beyond the first area in the first direction, and

control the display to display the object in the expanded first area in the second direction.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate the size for the first area to display the object as an extent to which the object deviates off the first area.

5. A window expansion method, the method comprising:

displaying a first area for displaying input data and a second area;

detecting an occurrence of an expansion event for expanding the first area by determining a size of an object inputted in the first area to be bigger than a size of the first area in a first direction; and

expanding the first area based on the expansion event;

wherein expanding the first area based on the expansion event comprises;

if the first area cannot be expanded in the first direction, determining a second direction where the first area can be expanded based on the size of the input object, and

expanding the first area in the determined second direction, and

wherein the first and second directions are first and second vertical directions or first and second horizontal direction.

6. The window expansion method of claim 5, wherein the expanding of the first area in the determined second direction comprises:

calculating a size for an expansion of the first area based on the expansion event; and

expanding the first area to an extent of the calculated size for the expansion of the first area.

7. The window expansion method of claim 5, wherein the expanding of the first area in the second direction comprises:

calculating a size for the expansion of the first area to display the object; and

expanding the first area to an extent of the calculated size for the expansion of the first area to display the object in the second direction.

8. The window expansion method of claim 7, wherein the calculating of the size for the expansion of the first area to display the object comprises:

calculating the size for the expansion of the first area as an extent to which the object deviates off the first area.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to perform the window expansion method of claim 5.