Apparatus and method for performing multi-tasking

• US 9,507,508 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Young-Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUERTAS TORRES, AYESHA E
• Application Number:
  US12/931,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for performing multi-tasking, and more particularly to a multi-tasking performance apparatus and method which easily enable a shift between a plurality of applications being executed and a shift into an initial application. A currently operating application window is simultaneously displayed, with at least one executed application window by overlapping the executed application window on the currently operating application window according to a predetermined format.

Claims

1. A method for performing multi-tasking in a mobile terminal having a touch screen, the method comprising:

displaying a currently operating application window on the touch screen; and

simultaneously displaying on the touch screen at least one executed application window and the currently operating application window by overlapping the at least one executed application window on the currently operating application window so as to cover a portion of the currently operating application window,

wherein the currently operating application window is a window of a last touch selected application among a plurality of applications selected by a user via touch on the touch screen, and

wherein the application of the currently operating application window is an application currently being operated and the at least one executed application window is at least one window of an application in a standby state.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displaying comprises:

identifying the at least one executed application window; and

setting the currently operating application window as a background of a screen when the at least one executed application window is identified, and overlapping the at least one executed application window on a predetermined region of the screen, thereby simultaneously displaying the at least one executed application window and the currently operating application window.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising switching the currently operating application window and the at least one executed application window with each other according to a gesture.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a gesture performed by a user;

shifting an application window selected from a predetermined region of a screen into a foreground of the screen to display the selected application window as the foreground when a first gesture is performed;

moving a selected application window to the predetermined region of the screen to cancel a selection of the selected application window when a second gesture is performed;

terminating an application selected from the predetermined region of the screen when a third gesture is performed; and

displaying the currently operating application window as the foreground when the background of the screen is touched.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gesture is one of a flick-up or drag/drop-up operation and a flick-down or drag/drop-down operation.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising enlarging/reducing the at least one executed application window displayed in a predetermined region of the screen, according to a zoom-in/zoom-out operation.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising enlarging the at least one executed application window according to a first drag gesture in a first direction on a predefined display region and reducing the at least one executed application window according to a second drag gesture in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one executed application window is a plurality of executed application windows, and the enlarging and reducing according to the respective first and second drag gestures respectively enlarges and reduces each of the plurality of executed application windows.

9. An apparatus for performing multi-tasking, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a touch screen;

a controller for calling a task manager when there is at least one executed application window; and

the task manager for simultaneously displaying the at least one executed application window and a currently operating application window by overlapping the at least one executed application window on the currently operating application window so as to cover a portion of the currently operating application window,

wherein the currently operating application window is a window of a last touch selected application among a plurality of applications selected by a user via touch on the touch screen, and

wherein the application of the currently operating application window is an application currently being operated and the at least one executed application window is at least one window of an application in a standby state.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the task manager identifies the at least one executed application window, sets the currently operating application window as a background of a screen, and overlaps the at least one executed application window on a predetermined region of the screen, thereby simultaneously displaying the at least one executed application window and the currently operating application window.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the task manager switches the currently operating application window and the at least one executed application window with each other according to a gesture.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the task manager determines a gesture performed by a user, shifts an application window selected from a predetermined region of a screen into a foreground of the screen to display the selected application window as the foreground when a first gesture is performed, moves a selected application window to the predetermined region of the screen to cancel a selection of the selected application window when a second gesture is performed, terminates an application selected from the predetermined region of the screen when a third gesture is performed, and displays the currently operating application window as the foreground when the background of the screen is touched.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gesture is one of a flick-up or drag/drop-up operation and a flick-down or drag/drop-down operation.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the task manager enlarges/reduces the at least one executed application window displayed in a predetermined region of the screen according to a zoom-in/zoom-out operation.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the task manager enlarges the at least one executed application window according to a first drag gesture in a first direction on a predefined display region and reduces the at least one executed application window according to a second drag gesture in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one executed application window is a plurality of executed application windows, and the enlarging and reducing according to the respective first and second drag gestures respectively enlarges and reduces each of the plurality of executed application windows.

17. A non-transitory storage medium configured to store a program that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

display a currently operating application window on a touch screen of a mobile terminal; and

simultaneously display on the touch screen at least one executed application window and the currently operating application window by overlapping the at least one executed application window on the currently operating application window so as to cover a portion of the currently operating application window,

wherein the currently operating application window is a window of a last touch selected application among a plurality of applications selected by a user via touch on the touch screen, and

wherein the application of the currently operating application window is an application currently being operated and the at least one executed application window is at least one window of an application in a standby state.