Mobile device for executing multiple applications and method for same

• US 9,983,664 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Kang-Tae, Sun, Kwang-Won, Kim, Eun-Young, Kim, Chul-Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): Brahmachari, Mandrita
• Application Number:
  US13/679,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20130120295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 715788
• 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 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive 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 3/04817 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 3/0484 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 3/0486 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: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A mobile device for executing multiple applications is provided. The mobile device includes a touch screen for displaying a first window where a first application is executed, a second window where a second application different from the first application is executed, and a controller for displaying execution keys for executing the multiple applications, determining whether a simultaneous execution input for the first application and the second application is input or not, and if the simultaneous execution input is input then displaying the first application on the first window and the second application on the second window.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a touch screen configured to;

receive multi-touch inputs, and

display visual items and first windows; and

at least one processor configured to;

display, on the touch screen, a first visual item for executing a first application by receiving a touch input on the first visual item and a second visual item for executing a second application by receiving a touch input on the second visual item, the first visual item being separated from the second visual item,

receive a multi-touch input on a first position and a second position of the touch screen, wherein the first position corresponds to the first visual item and the second position corresponds to the second visual item and the first position is different from the second position, and

display, simultaneously, on the touch screen, in response to receiving the multi-touch input on the first position and the second position of the touch screen, a first execution window of the first application corresponding to the first visual item and a second execution window of the second application corresponding to the second visual item by executing the first application corresponding to the first position touched by the multi-touch input and the second application corresponding to the second position touched by the multi-touch input,

wherein the first application runs independently from the second application,

wherein each of the first visual item and the second visual item is for executing one single application, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to;

execute a single application corresponding to one which is touched by a single touch input among the first visual item and the second visual item when receiving the single touch input, and

execute, simultaneously, two applications corresponding to the first visual item and the second visual item which are touched by the multi-touch input when receiving the multi-touch input.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display the first execution window and the second execution window when a first input of the multi-touch input and a second input of the multi-touch input are acquired within a predetermined time.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display a third application on the first execution window and a fourth application on the second execution window based on a switching input for switching the first application and the second application to others.

4. The mobile device of claim 3, wherein the switching input is a simultaneous execution input for a visual item corresponding to the third application and a visual item corresponding to the fourth application.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to display the visual item corresponding to the third application and the visual item corresponding to the fourth application on an application panel which is displayed on a portion of the touch screen.

6. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein, when a number of application panels is at least two, the at least one processor is further configured to display the application panels overlapping each other.

7. The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to change a position of the application panel based on at least one of position of an application changing input.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, at least one of position of the application changing input is a touch and drop gesture for the application panel.

9. A mobile device for executing multiple applications, the mobile device comprising:

a touch screen configured to;

comprise divided regions for displaying different windows not overlapping each other,

receive multi-touch inputs, and

display visual items and windows corresponding to applications; and

at least one processor configured to;

display, on the touch screen, each of a plurality of visual items for executing each of a plurality of applications by receiving a touch input on each of the plurality of visual items,

receive a multi-touch input on a plurality of positions of the touch screen, each of the plurality of positions corresponding to each of the plurality of visual items, and

display, simultaneously, on the touch screen, in response to receiving the multi-touch input on the plurality of positions of the touch screen, a plurality of execution windows of the plurality of applications each corresponding to each of the plurality of visual items by executing each of the plurality of applications corresponding to each of the plurality of positions touched by the multi-touch input,

wherein each of the plurality of applications being executed simultaneously when a time between a plurality of inputs of the multi-touch input is less than a defined time period,

wherein each of the plurality of visual items is for executing one single application, and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to;

execute a single application corresponding to one which is touched by a single touch input among the plurality of visual items when receiving the single touch input, and

execute, simultaneously, at least two applications corresponding to the plurality of visual items which are touched by the multi-touch input when receiving the multi-touch input.

10. A method for controlling a mobile device, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen of the mobile device, a first visual item corresponding to a first application and a second visual item corresponding to a second application;

receiving a multi-touch input on a first position and a second position of the touch screen, wherein the first position corresponds to the first visual item and the second position corresponds to the second visual item and the first position is different from the second position; and

displaying, simultaneously, on the touch screen, in response to receiving the multi-touch input on the first position and the second position of the touch screen, a first execution window of first application corresponding to the first visual item and a second execution window of the second application corresponding to the second visual item by executing the first application corresponding to the first position touched by the multi-touch input and the second application corresponding to the second position touched by the multi-touch input,

wherein the first application runs independently from the second application,

wherein each of the first visual item and the second visual item is for executing one single application, and

wherein a single application corresponding to one which is touched by a single touch input among the first visual item and the second visual item is executed, when receiving the single touch input, and two applications corresponding to the first visual item and the second visual item which are touched by the multi-touch input are executed simultaneously, when receiving the multi-touch input.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the displaying of the first execution window and the second execution window occurs when a first input of the multi-touch input and a second input of the multi-touch input are acquired within a predetermined time.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

inputting a switching input for switching the first application and the second application to others; and

displaying a third application on the first execution window and a fourth application on the second execution window based on the switching input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the switching input is a simultaneous execution input for a visual item corresponding to the third application and a visual item corresponding to the fourth application.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising controlling the visual item corresponding to the third application and the visual item corresponding to the fourth application on an application panel which is displayed on a portion of the touch screen.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, when a number of application panels is at least two, displaying the application panels overlapping each other.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

inputting an application position changing input; and

changing a position of the application panel based on the position of an application changing input.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the position of the application changing input is a touch and drop gesture for the application panel.

18. A method for controlling a mobile device, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen of the mobile device, each of a plurality of visual items for executing each of a plurality of applications by receiving a touch input on each of the plurality of visual items;

receiving a multi-touch input on a plurality of positions of the touch screen, each of the plurality of positions corresponding to each of the plurality of visual items; and

displaying, simultaneously, on the touch screen, in response to receiving the multi-touch input on the plurality of positions of the touch screen, a plurality of execution windows of the plurality of applications each corresponding to each of the plurality of visual items by executing each of the plurality of applications corresponding to each of the plurality of positions touched by the multi-touch input,

wherein each of the plurality of applications being executed simultaneously when a time between a plurality of inputs of the multi-touch inputs is less than a defined time period,

wherein each of the plurality of visual items is for executing one single application, and

wherein a single application corresponding to one which is touched by a single touch input among the plurality of visual items is executed, when receiving the single touch input, and at least two applications corresponding the plurality of visual items which are touched by the multi-touch input are executed simultaneously, when receiving the multi-touch input.