SPLIT-SCREEN USER INTERFACE

• US 20140157163A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Strutin-Belinoff, Pilar Ariella, Rottler, Benjamin Andrew, Vonshak, Itai, Arroyo, Gregore Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,588,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/769
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a split-screen user interface for a computer device. According to one embodiment, a primary application is displayed on a display associated with the computing device in a first viewing mode. Upon receiving a request from the user to launch to a split-screen operating mode for enabling simultaneous display of multiple applications, the first viewing mode is transitioned to a split-screen view such that the primary application is shown within a first display area and a plurality of applications are shown within a second display area adjacent to the first display area.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a split-screen user interface on a device, the method comprising:

displaying a primary application in a first viewing mode on a display associated with the device;

receiving a request from the user to launch to a split-screen viewing mode for enabling simultaneous display of multiple applications; and

transitioning from the first viewing mode to a split-screen viewing mode based on said request such that the primary application is shown within a first display area and a plurality of applications are shown within a second display to area adjacent to the first display area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the split-screen mode is launched by the user activating a link associated with the primary application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the split screen mode is launched by the user activating a menu option or function key on the device while working within the primary application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the split screen mode is launched by the user executing a drag and drop operation through movement of an application icon associated with a second application into the first display area associated with primary application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of applications within the second display area are stacked on top of each other such that at least a portion of each application is shown within the second display area.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of applications displayed within the second display area are automatically closed when new content associated with the primary application is activated.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein when a new application is launched based on user interaction with an action object associated with at least one application of the plurality of applications within the second display area, the new application is opened and added to the stack of the plurality of applications within the second display area.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein when in split screen mode the first display area associated with the primary application is substantially half the size of the secondary display area associated with the plurality of applications.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored executable instructions for providing a split-screen user interface on a device, that when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

display a primary application in a single application mode on a display associated with the device; and

based on a mode change request received from a user;

launch to a split-screen mode for enabling simultaneous display of multiple applications; and

transition from the single application mode to a split-screen mode, wherein when in split-screen mode the primary application is shown within a first display area and a plurality of applications are shown within a second display area adjacent to the first display area.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the mode change request represents user activation of a link associated with the primary application, user activation of a menu option or function key on the device while working within the primary application, or the user execution of a drag and drop operation through movement of an application icon associated with a second application into the first display area associated with the primary application.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the transition from a single application mode to a split-screen mode includes executable instructions that further cause the processor to:

overlay each of the plurality of applications within the second display area on one another such that at least a portion of each application is shown within the second display area in a stack, wherein the most recently launched or active application is on top of the stack.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of applications displayed within the second display area are automatically closed when new content associated with the primary application is activated.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein when a new application is launched based on user interaction with an action object associated with at least one application of the plurality of applications within the second display area, the new application is opened and added to the stack of the plurality of applications within the second display area.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein when in split screen mode the first display area associated with the primary application is substantially half the size of the secondary display area associated with the plurality of applications.

15. A computer-implemented method for providing a split-screen user interface on a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying a primary application in a single application mode on a display associated with the device;

receiving a mode change request from the user to launch to a split-screen mode for enabling simultaneous display of multiple applications, wherein the mode change request represents user activation of a link associated with the primary application, user activation of a menu option or function key on the device while working within the primary application, or the user execution of a drag and drop operation through movement of an application icon associated with a second application into a display area associated with the primary application; and

transitioning from the single application mode to a split-screen mode based on the mode change request such that the primary application is shown within a first display area and a plurality of applications are shown within a second display area adjacent to the first display area,

wherein the plurality of applications within the second display area are is stacked on top of each other such that at least a portion of each application is shown within the second display area, and

wherein when in split screen mode the first display area associated with the primary application is substantially half the size of the secondary display area associated with the plurality of applications.