Display device for executing multiple applications and method for controlling the same

• US 10,088,991 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Chul-Joo, Kim, Kang-Tae, Kim, Eun-Young, Shin, Ki-Hyuck, Jeong, Sun-Young, Sun, Kwang-Won, Lee, Jae-Yul
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Filosi, Terri
• Application Number:
  US13/692,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20140033117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 715796, 715791
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method for controlling a display device that executes multiple applications and has a touch screen is provided. The control method includes displaying multiple windows for executing the multiple applications on the touch screen based on a display level of each of the windows, receiving a top-level display command for one of the multiple windows, fixing, as a top level, a display level of a top-level display window for which the top-level display command is received, and displaying the top-level display window in a level higher than the other windows.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen, a first window in which an execution screen of a first application is displayed and a second window in which an execution screen of a second application is displayed, wherein at least part of the first window is covering at least part of the second window based on a display order of the first window and the second window which is set according to a corresponding task priority of each application;

receiving, through the touch screen, a touch input on the second window outside of a boundary of the first window;

detecting an event for temporarily stopping the displaying of the at least part of the first window, the event comprising continuous moving of the touch input within the boundary of the first window;

stopping, in response to the event, the displaying of the at least part of the first window while the touch input is maintained within the boundary of the first window, such that the at least part of the second window which was covered by the at least part of the first window is displayed on the touch screen, wherein the of at least part of the first window retains its position prior to and during the event; and

in response to the continuous moving of the touch input being detected outside the boundary of the first window, resuming to display the at least part of the first window at the retained position such that the at least part of the first window covers the at least part of the second window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stopping the displaying of the at least part of the first window comprises:

adjusting a visibility of the at least part of the first window to zero (0), adjusting a display position of the first window to the outside of the touch screen, or adjusting a size of the first window to zero (0).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the displaying of the first window until a predetermined time has elapsed since a time that the touch input was input.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping the displaying of the first window while the continuous moving of the touch input passes through an inner area of the first window.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a touch screen; and

at least one processor configured to;

display, on the touch screen, a first window in which an execution screen of a first application is displayed and a second window in which an execution screen of a second application is displayed, wherein at least part of the first window is covering at least part of the second window based on a display order of the first window and the second window which is set according to a corresponding task priority of each application,

receive, through the touch screen, a touch input on the second window outside of a boundary of the first window,

detect an event for temporarily stopping the displaying of the at least part of the first window, the event comprising continuous moving of the touch input within the boundary of the first window,

stop, in response to the event, the displaying of the at least part of the first window while the touch input is maintained within the boundary of the first window, such that the at least part of the second window which was covered by the at least part of the first window is displayed on the touch screen, wherein the at least part of the first window retains its position prior to and during the event, and

in response to the continuous moving of the touch input being detected outside the boundary of the first window, resume to display the at least part of the first window at the retained position such that the at least part of the first window covers the at least part of the second window.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein, to stop the displaying of the at least part of the first window, the at least one processor is further configured to adjust a visibility of the at least part of the first window to zero (0), adjusts a display position of a top the first window to the outside of the touch screen, or adjusts a size of the first window to zero (0).

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to stop the displaying of the first window until a predetermined time has elapsed since a time that the touch input was input.

8. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to stop the displaying of the first window while the continuous moving of the touch input passes through an inner area of the first window.