Systems and methods for launching applications in a multi-screen device

• US 9,026,937 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2011
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multifold International Incorporated Pte. Ltd. (Transpacific IP Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Sirpal, Sanjiv, Gimpl, Martin, Schrock, Rodney Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weber, Joy M
• Application Number:
  US13/249,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 715/790, 715/764, 715/863, 345/531, 345/541, 345/557
• US Class Current: 715/790
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 : Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 : Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 : for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 : Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 : for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 : controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 : display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/02 : Affine transformations for image registration G06T3/147; for image mosaicing G06T3/4038
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 : Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2356/00 : Detection of the display position w.r.t. other display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 : Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation

Abstract

Embodiments are described for handling the launching of applications in a multi-screen device. In embodiments, a first touch sensitive display of a first screen receives input to launch an application. In response, the application is launched. A determination is made as to whether the first touch sensitive display already has windows in its stack. If there are no windows in the stack of the first touch sensitive display, a new window of the first application is displayed on the first touch sensitive display. If there are windows in the stack, a determination is made whether a second display has windows in its stack. If not, the new window is displayed on the second display. If the second display also has windows in its stack, the new window will be displayed on the first touch sensitive display.

Claims

1. A method of launching applications in a dual screen communication device, comprising:

displaying a first window of a first application on a first touch sensitive display of a first screen of the dual screen device;

receiving, by the first touch sensitive display, a first input indicating a request to launch a second application;

launching the second application;

determining that no window is displayed on a second touch sensitive display of a second screen of the dual screen device, wherein a second window stack associated with the second touch sensitive display is empty;

in response to determining that no window is displayed on the second touch sensitive display, displaying a second window of the second application on the second touch sensitive display;

receiving, by the first touch sensitive display, a second input indicating a request to close the first window;

in response to receiving the second input, closing the first window, wherein no other windows are displayed on the first touch sensitive display, and wherein a first window stack associated with the first touch sensitive display is empty;

receiving, by the second touch sensitive display, a third input indicating a request to launch a third application;

in response to receiving the third input, launching the third application; and

displaying a third window of the third application on the first touch sensitive display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the second touch sensitive display, a fourth input indicating a request to launch a fourth application;

launching the fourth application; and

in response to determining that the third window of the third application is displayed on the first touch sensitive display, displaying a fourth window of the fourth application on the second touch sensitive display.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first touch sensitive display, a fourth input indicating a request to launch a fourth application;

launching the fourth application; and

displaying a fourth window of the fourth application on the first touch sensitive display.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, by the second touch sensitive display, a fourth input indicating a request to close the second window of the second application;

in response to receiving the fourth input, closing the second window, wherein no other windows are displayed on the second touch sensitive display and wherein the second window stack is empty;

receiving, by the first touch sensitive display, a fifth input indicating a request to launch a fifth application;

in response to receiving the fifth input, launching the fifth application; and

displaying a fifth window of the fifth application on the second touch sensitive display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input is a tap gesture and the second input is a tap gesture.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input is a tap gesture on an icon that represents the second application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input is received by a first gesture capture region of the first screen of the dual screen device, wherein the first gesture capture region is separate from the first touch sensitive display, and wherein the first gesture capture region is not capable of a display function.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before receiving the first input, receiving a launch behavior input indicating the second touch sensitive display is a designated primary display, wherein when both the first window stack associated with the first touch sensitive display and the second window stack associated with the second touch sensitive display are not empty, a window of a new application will be displayed on the second touch sensitive display;

after displaying the third window of the third application on the first touch sensitive display, receiving, by the first touch sensitive display, a fourth input indicating a request to launch a fourth application;

launching the fourth application; and

in response to determining that the first window stack is not empty and the second window stack is not empty, displaying a fourth window of the fourth application on the second touch sensitive display.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the processor to execute a method, the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive a first input indicating a request to launch an application, the input received by one of a first touch sensitive display of a first screen or a second touch sensitive display of a second screen;

instructions to determine whether the one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display has an empty window stack, wherein a first window stack is a logical arrangement of windows displayed by the first touch sensitive display, wherein no windows are displayed on the first touch sensitive display when the first window stack is empty, wherein a second window stack is a logical arrangement of windows displayed by the second touch sensitive display, wherein no windows are displayed on the second touch sensitive display when the second window stack is empty;

in response to the determining that the one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display that received the first input has an empty window stack, instructions to display an open window of the application on the one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display;

in response to the determining that the one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display that received the first input does not have an empty window stack, instructions to determine whether an other one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display has an empty window stack;

in response to the determining that the other one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display has an empty window stack, instructions to display the open window of the application on the other one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display; and

in response to determining that the one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display that received the first input does not have an empty window stack and that the other one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display does not have an empty window stack, instructions to display the open window of the application on the other one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display if the other one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display is designated as a primary display.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display does not have an empty window stack, wherein the other one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display has an empty window stack, and wherein the open window of the application is displayed on the other one of the first touch sensitive display or the second touch sensitive display.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first input is received by a gesture capture region operatively associated with at least one of the first screen and the second screen.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first input comprises a tap on a displayed icon of the application.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions to receive the first input in one of a first gesture capture region associated with the first screen and a second gesture capture region associated with the second screen.

14. A dual screen communication device, comprising:

a first screen with a first touch sensitive display and a first window stack;

a second screen with a second touch sensitive display and a second window stack;

a memory; and

at least one processor in communication with the memory and each of the first and second touch sensitive displays, the processor operable to;

display a first window of a first application on the first touch sensitive display;

receive, by the first touch sensitive display, a first input indicating a request to launch a second application;

launch the second application;

determine that no window is displayed in the second touch sensitive display, wherein the second window stack is empty;

in response to determining that no window is displayed in the second touch sensitive display, display a second window of the second application on the second touch sensitive display;

receive, by the first touch sensitive display, a second input indicating a request to close the first window;

in response to receiving the second input, close the first window, wherein no other windows are displayed on the first touch sensitive display, and wherein the first window stack is empty;

receive, by the second touch sensitive display, a third input indicating a request to launch a third application;

in response to receiving the third input, launch the third application; and

display a third window of the third application on the first touch sensitive display.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive, by the second touch sensitive display, a fourth input indicating a request to launch a fourth application;

launch the fourth application; and

in response to determining that the third window of the third application is displayed on the first touch sensitive display, display a fourth window of the fourth application on the second touch sensitive display.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive, by the first touch sensitive display, a fourth input indicating a request to launch a fourth application;

launch the fourth application; and

display a fourth window of the fourth application on the first touch sensitive display.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operable to:

receive, by the second touch sensitive display, a fifth input indicating a request to close the second window of the second application;

in response to receiving the fifth input, close the second window, wherein no other windows are displayed on the second touch sensitive display and wherein the second window stack is empty;

receive, by the first touch sensitive display, a sixth input indicating a request to launch a fifth application;

in response to receiving the sixth input, launch the fifth application; and

display a fifth window of the fifth application on the second touch sensitive display.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

before receiving the first input, receive a launch behavior input indicating the second touch sensitive display is a designated primary display, wherein when both the first window stack and the second window stack are not empty, a window of a new application will be displayed on the second touch sensitive display;

after displaying the third window of the third application on the first touch sensitive display, receive, by the first touch sensitive display, a fourth input indicating a request to launch a fourth application;

launching the fourth application; and

in response to determining that the first window stack is not empty and the second window stack is not empty, the displaying a fourth window of the fourth application on the second touch sensitive display.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein, after displaying the third window, the processor is further operable to receive a launch behavior input indicating that one of the first touch sensitive display and the second touch sensitive display is a designated primary display, wherein a window of a new application will be displayed on the designated primary display even when one of the first window stack and the second window stack associated with the designated primary display is not empty.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the first input is a tap gesture and the second input is a tap gesture.