Method and device for managing tab window indicating application group including heterogeneous applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12189925-B2
Application number	US-202217892187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Aug 2, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A method and a device for managing a tab window indicating a group including heterogeneous applications. The method includes outputting a display window comprising at least one or more objects for executing one or more applications on a terminal window, receiving a user input that selects the at least one or more objects and moves the selected at least one or more objects to a region excluding the display window, generating an application group comprising at least one or more applications corresponding to the selected at least one or more objects according to the received user input, and outputting a tab window indicating the generated application group to the terminal window.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of managing an application group performed by an electronic device, the method comprising:
displaying, on a touchscreen display of the electronic device, a plurality of objects for executing a plurality of applications installed in the electronic device;
executing, based on selections of a first plurality of objects, a first plurality of applications corresponding to the first plurality of objects from the plurality of objects displayed on the touchscreen display,
based on executing the first plurality of applications being currently executed, generating a first application group comprising the first plurality of applications, which are currently executed, corresponding to the first plurality of objects;
receiving, via the touchscreen display, a first touch input on a view object displayed on the touchscreen display; and
based on the first touch input on the view object:
displaying, on the touchscreen display, a first plurality of execution screens corresponding to the first plurality of applications included in the first application group, the first plurality of execution screens being arranged to allow a user to select an execution screen of the first plurality of execution screens such that based on selecting the execution screen from the first plurality of execution screens, the selected execution screen is displayed at a forefront, and
displaying, on the touchscreen display, a plurality of group objects indicating a plurality of application groups, including the first application group,

receiving, via the touchscreen display, a second touch input on a group object corresponding to an application group of the plurality of application groups, to cause display of execution screens of applications included in the application group
wherein the method further comprises storing information regarding the first application group, the information including identification information of the first plurality of applications, location information of the first plurality of execution screens of the first plurality of applications, and size information of the first plurality of execution screens of the first plurality of applications.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first group object, which corresponds to the first application group, includes the first plurality of execution screens corresponding to the first plurality of applications.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first group object includes the first plurality of execution screens of the first plurality of applications included in the first application group.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving, via the touchscreen display, a third input for selecting an object included in the first group object; and
displaying, on the touchscreen display, an execution screen of an application corresponding to the selected object.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
receiving, via the touchscreen display, a fourth input for selecting a second plurality of objects included in the first group object and moving the selected second plurality of objects to a region outside the first group object;
generating a second application group, the second application group comprising a second plurality of applications corresponding to the selected second plurality of objects; and
displaying, on the touchscreen display, a second group object indicating the second application group.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second group object is displayed as a size corresponding to a previously determined region.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, via the touchscreen display, a fifth input for changing a region occupying one of the plurality of group objects; and
changing a location of the one of the plurality of group objects or changing a size of the one of the plurality of group objects according to the fifth input.

8. An electronic device for managing an application group, the electronic device comprising:
a touchscreen display for displaying a user interface and receiving touch input;
at least one processor, and
at least one memory storing one or more computer programs configured to be executed by the at least one processor, wherein the one or more computer programs include instructions to at least:
display, on a touchscreen display of the electronic device, a plurality of objects for executing a plurality of applications installed in the electronic device,
execute, based on selections of a first plurality of objects, a first plurality of applications corresponding to the first plurality of objects from the plurality of objects displayed on the touchscreen display,
based on executing the first plurality of applications, generate a first application group comprising the first plurality of applications, which are currently executed, corresponding to the first plurality of objects,
receive, via the touchscreen display, a first touch input on a view object displayed on the touchscreen display, and
based on the first touch input on the view object:
display, on the touchscreen display, a first plurality of execution screens corresponding to the first plurality of applications included in the first application group, the first plurality of execution screens being arranged to allow a user to select an execution screen of the first plurality of execution screens such that based on selecting the execution screen from the first plurality of execution screens, the selected execution screen is displayed at a forefront, and
display, on the touchscreen display, a plurality of group objects indicating a plurality of application groups, including the first application group,

receive, via the touchscreen display, a second touch input on a group object corresponding to an application group of the plurality of application groups, to cause display of execution screens of applications included in the application group,

wherein the one or more computer programs include further instructions to at least:
store information regarding the first application group, the information including identification information of the first plurality of applications, location information of the first plurality of execution screens of the first plurality of applications, and size information of the first plurality of execution screens of the first plurality of applications.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein a first group object, which corresponds to the first application group, includes the first plurality of execution screens corresponding to the first plurality of applications.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the first group object includes the first plurality of execution screens of the first plurality of applications included in the first application group.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more computer programs include further instructions to at least:
receive, via the touchscreen display, a third input for selecting an object included in the first group object, and
display, on the touchscreen display, an execution screen of an application corresponding to the selected object.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more computer programs include further instructions to at least:
receive, via the touchscreen display, a fourth input for selecting a second plurality of objects included in the first group object and moving the selected second plurality of objects to a region outside the first group object,
generate a second application group, the second application group comprising a second plurality of applications corresponding to the selected second plurality of objects, and
display, on the touchscreen display, a second group object

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Doo-Hwan
• Kim Kang-Tae
• Kim Chul-Joo
• Kim Tae-Soo
• Lee Young-Seok

Classifications

• G06F2203/04803

  Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas · CPC title

• G06F3/0486

  Drag-and-drop · CPC title

• G06F3/04845

  for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour · CPC title

• G06F3/04842

  Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title