Method for generating multiple windows frames, electronic device thereof, and computer program product using the method

• US 9,710,125 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Chiang, Ching-Liang, Chiang, Chi-Pang, Tai, Chih-Wei, Chen, Chao-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fibbi, Christopher J
• Application Number:
  US14/040,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20140109000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 715788, 715863
• 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 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A method for generating multiple windows frames, an electronic device thereof, and a computer program product using the method are provided. In the present method, first, a touch trajectory generated by continuously touching a touch panel of the electronic device is detected, wherein the center of the touch panel is a display area, and a non-display area surrounds the display area. Then, whether the touch trajectory is started from one side of the non-display area and passed through the display area to be extended to another side of the non-display area is determined. If so, the display area is split according to the touch trajectory to display at least two windows frames. As a result, an intuitional and convenient method for generating multiple windows frames in the display area is provided, and the operation of the electronic device is made very convenient.

Claims

1. A method for generating multiple windows frames, suitable for an electronic device with a touch panel comprising a display area, the method comprising:

displaying a first windows frame of a first application program in the display area;

after the step of displaying the first windows frame, detecting a first touch signal;

in response to detecting the first touch signal, displaying two windows frames appearing to be tiled according to the first touch signal,

wherein the two windows frames comprise a second windows frame of a second application program;

wherein the first application program and the second application program are different;

wherein contents of the two windows frames are displayed at the same time;

detecting a second touch signal when displaying two windows frames appearing to be tiled; and

moving the two windows frames respectively toward a first direction and a second direction to vacate a space for displaying a tool list associated with the first application at the space which is at an intersection between the two windows frames and reducing the sizes of the two windows frames to produce the space for displaying the tool list at the space which is at the intersection between the two windows frames in response to detecting the second touch signal over the intersection between the two windows frames.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displayed two windows frames comprise the first windows frame of the first application program.

3. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch panel, for detecting a first touch signal, wherein the touch panel comprising a display area,

wherein the display area is used for displaying a first windows frame of a first application program before the touch panel detects the first touch signal; and

a windows frame split and display module, coupled to the touch panel, for displaying two windows frames appearing to be tiled in response to detecting the first touch signal,

wherein the displayed two windows frames comprise a second windows frame of a second application program;

wherein the first application program and the second application program are different, wherein contents of the two windows frames are displayed at the same time;

wherein the touch panel detects a second touch signal when displaying two windows frames appearing to be tiled, and the windows frame split and display module moves the two windows frames respectively toward a first direction and a second direction to vacate a space for displaying a tool list associated with the first application at the space which is at an intersection between the two windows frames and reduces the sizes of the two windows frames to produce the space for displaying the tool list at the space which is at the intersection between the two windows frames in response to detecting the second touch signal over the intersection between the two windows frames.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the displayed two windows frames comprises the first windows frame of the first application program.

5. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch panel, for detecting a first touch signal, wherein the touch panel comprises a display area and the display area comprises a first windows frame; and

a windows frame split and display module, coupled to the touch panel, for displaying two windows frames appearing to be tiled in response to detecting the first touch signal,

wherein the two windows frames comprises a second windows frame, wherein a second content of the second windows frame is related to a first content of the first windows frame, and the types of first content and second content are different, wherein contents of the two windows frames are displayed at the same time;

wherein the touch panel detects a second touch signal when displaying two windows frames appearing to be tiled, and the windows frame split and display module moves the two windows frames respectively toward a first direction and a second direction to vacate a space for displaying a tool list associated with the first content at the space which is at an intersection between the two windows frames and reduces the sizes of the two windows frames to produce the space for displaying the tool list at the space which is at the intersection between the two windows frames in response to detecting the second touch signal over the intersection between the two windows frames.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first windows frame belongs to a first application program, the second windows frame belongs to a second application program, the first application program and the second application program are the same.

7. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first windows frame belongs to a first application program, the second windows frame belongs to a second application program, the first application program and the second application program are different.

8. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the second windows frame belongs to a second application program, the second application program is a predetermined application program.

9. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first windows frame is an windows frame for making a phone call and the second windows frame comprises a contact list.

10. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first windows frame is an windows frame for displaying an inbox of an email application program and the second windows frame comprises an email preview.

11. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first windows frame is an windows frame for displaying a contact list of the instant messaging application program and the second windows frame comprises a conversation of the instant messaging application program.

12. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the first windows frame belongs to a first application program, the second windows frame belongs to a second application program, the tool list is related to the first application program.