Multi-window control method and electronic device supporting the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9891965-B2
Application number	US-201414587486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2014
Priority date	Jan 2, 2014
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

A multi-window control method and an electronic device supporting the same is provided. The multi-window control method includes changing a size of at least one specific window among a plurality of windows, and altering a focus to the at least one specific window based on a changed size of the at least one specific window.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a multi-window in an electronic device, the method comprising:
providing a split screen mode in which a first window and a second window are displayed on a touch display;
while a focus is on the second window, receiving a user input to increase a size of the first window;
increasing a size of the first window according to the user input;
decreasing a size of the second window in correspondence with the size increase of the first window;
automatically change the focus from the second window to the first window in response to the size of the first window being increased to larger than a first specified size;
outputting a handler to resize the first window and the second window to a boundary area on which the first window and the second window are disposed; and
changing a display effect of the second window if the size of the second window is reduced to a second specified size or smaller.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the focus is related to the highest priority for function processing of a window among a plurality of windows.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an input related to the second window;
extending the size of the second window to a predetermined size; and
changing the focus to the second window.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the changing of the size of the first window comprises resizing the first window in correspondence to movement of the handler.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising:
maintaining the focus of the first window.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
resizing the first window and the second window to a size of a specified ratio in correspondence to a touch event of the handler.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the changing of the size of the first window comprises:
receiving a movement event of the handler; and
extending the first window in correspondence to the movement event of the handler.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting guiding information instructing the first specified size of the first window and the second specified size of the second window satisfying the focus alteration.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a first input related to the first window;
in response to receiving the first input, displaying a menu item related to the first window on an area adjacent to the boundary area of the first window and the second window;
receiving a second input related to switching the first window and the second window; and in response to receiving the second input, moving the first window to a first area in which the second window has been displayed and moving the second window to a second area in which the first window has been displayed.

10. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the automatic changing of the focus from the second window to the first window based on the changed size of the first window being extended to the first specified size causes an input signal to occur; and
wherein, when the input signal occurs, the second window is removed from a plurality of windows including the first window and the second window on the electronic device.

11. An electronic device comprising:
a touch display; and
at least one processor configured to cause the electronic device to at least:
provide a split screen mode in which a first window and a second window are displayed on the touch display,
while a focus is on the second window, receive a user input to change a size of the first window,
increase a size of the first window according to the user input,
decrease a size of the second window in correspondence with the size increase of the first window,
automatically change the focus from the second window to the first window in response to the size of the first window being increased to larger than a first specified size, and
change a display effect of the second window if the size of the second window is reduced to a second specified size or smaller,

wherein the touch display is further configured to output a handler, which resizes the first window and the second window, to a boundary area on which the first window and the second window are disposed.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the focus is related to the highest priority for function processing of a window among a plurality of windows.

13. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
release the focus imposed on the second window if the size of the second window is reduced to the second specified size or smaller.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transition an input state related to the second window to a deactivation state if the size of the second window is reduced to the second specified size or smaller.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to at least:
increase the size of the second window designated by a window related event to a predetermined size, and
change the focus to the second window upon receiving an event related to the size-reduced window.

16. The electronic device according claim 11 ,
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to at least:
resize the first window and the second window to a size of a specified ratio, and
maintain the focus of the first window if a handler touch event related to the handler occurs, or

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
extend the second window, and
change the focus to the second window if the second window is extended to a predetermined size or greater if a handler moving event related to the handler occurs.

17. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein the touch display is further configured to output guiding information instructing the first specified size of the first window and the second specified size of the second window satisfying the focus change.

18. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein the touch display is further configured to:
receive a first input related to the first window,
in response to receiving the first input, display a menu item related to the first window on an area adjacent to the boundary area of the first and the second window, and
receive a second input related to switching the first window and the second window,
in response to receiving the second input, display the menu item on the area adjacent to the boundary area of the first window and the second window while moving the first window to a first area in which the second window has been displayed and moving the second window to a second area in which the first window has been displayed.

19. The electronic device according to claim 11 , wherein, when the first window and the second window have an associated audio output, the at least one processor is further configured to detect a change in the size of the first window and the second window and output audio associated with a larger of the first window and the second window with the associated audio output.

20. The electronic device according to claim 11 ,
wherein the automatic changing of the focus from the second window to the first window based on the changed size of the first window being extended to the first specified size causes an input signal to occur; and
wherein, when the input sign

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hong Sun Yeal
• Kim Ji Hun
• Jeong Hye Soon
• Hwang Dae Sik
• Kim Sung Jun

Classifications

• G06F3/04886 Primary

  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 title

• G06F2203/04803

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

• G06F9/542 Primary

  Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications · CPC title