U.S. patent application number 15/369095 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-23 for application program preview interface and operation method thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.. Invention is credited to Ya-Ting CHEN, Hao-Ping LIN, Meng-Ju LU, Yi-Lung TSAI, Yi-Ou WANG.
Application Number | 20170083212 15/369095 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50932513 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170083212 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LU; Meng-Ju ; et
al. |
March 23, 2017 |
APPLICATION PROGRAM PREVIEW INTERFACE AND OPERATION METHOD
THEREOF
Abstract
An operation method for application program preview interface
which is stored in a storage unit and executed in a computer
system. The operation method includes the steps of: displaying a
plurality of operation modes on a first display area; selecting one
of the operation modes in accordance with a first indicating
signal; and displaying at least one selectable object on a second
display area, wherein the selectable object is an application
program opened or executed in the selected operation mode.
Inventors: |
LU; Meng-Ju; (Taipei,
TW) ; LIN; Hao-Ping; (Taipei, TW) ; CHEN;
Ya-Ting; (Taipei, TW) ; WANG; Yi-Ou; (Taipei,
TW) ; TSAI; Yi-Lung; (Taipei, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. |
Taipei |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
50932513 |
Appl. No.: |
15/369095 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14102321 |
Dec 10, 2013 |
9552132 |
|
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15369095 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0481 20130101;
G06F 2203/04806 20130101; G06F 3/04842 20130101; G06F 2203/04803
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0484 20060101
G06F003/0484 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 17, 2012 |
TW |
101147869 |
Claims
1. A computing device, comprising: a display unit; and a processor
configured to simultaneously operate at least two desktop layouts
in different operation modes and to define an application program
preview interface displayed on the display unit, wherein the
application program preview interface comprises: a first display
area simultaneously and selectably displaying a thumbnail image of
each of the at least two simultaneously operated desktop layouts on
the display unit; and a second display area displaying a selectable
object as an application preview, wherein the selectable object is
corresponding to an application program opened or executed in a
selected one of the at least two desktop layouts displayed in the
first display area, wherein the first display area and the second
display area are simultaneously displayed on the display unit.
2. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein a content of
the selectable object is corresponding to the application program
which is opened or executed at the corresponding operation
mode.
3. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein when multiple
selectable objects are displayed in the second display area, the
selectable objects are classified at the second display area
according to a defined condition, and the selectable objects
conforming to the defined condition are in a group.
4. The computing device according to claim 3, wherein the defined
condition includes a file path, a file name, a file type, a file
creation time or a file format.
5. The computing device according to claim 3, wherein a content of
the classified selectable objects which conform to a same defined
condition are shown in a stacking way or a spreading way.
6. The computing device according to claim 3, wherein when the
selectable objects conforming to a same defined condition are
selected, the selectable objects are shown at the second display
area in a spreading way.
7. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the
selectable object is directly managed in the second display area
via an operation signal, and the operation signal includes closing,
playing, moving, zooming in, zooming out or text editing the
content of the selectable object.
8. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein when an index
signal is moved to one of the selectable objects in the second
display area, the selectable object is zoomed in and displayed or
the selectable object is displayed with a different border
color.
9. The computing device according to claim 1 further comprising: a
third display area displaying a list or a program shortcut icon of
all the application programs corresponding to the selected
operation mode.
10. The computing device according to claim 1, wherein the
operation modes comprise a desktop mode and a modern mode.
11. An operation method of an application program preview
interface, wherein the application program preview interface is
stored in a storage unit, executed in a computer system and
displayed on a display unit, the operation method comprising:
simultaneously and selectably displaying on the display unit
thumbnail images of at least two desktop layouts in a first display
area of the application program preview interface, the at least two
desktop layouts being in different operation modes and
simultaneously operated by a processor; selecting one of the at
least two desktop layouts according to an index signal; and
displaying on the display unit a selectable object as an
application preview in a second display area, wherein the
selectable object is an application program which is opened or
executed in the selected one of the at least two desktop layouts
displayed in the first display area, wherein the first display area
and the second display area are simultaneously displayed on the
display unit.
12. The operation method according to claim 11, wherein a content
of the selectable object is corresponding to the application
program which is opened or executed at the corresponding operation
mode.
13. The operation method according to claim 11, wherein when
multiple selectable objects are displayed in the second display
area, the selectable objects are classified at the second display
area according to a defined condition, and the selectable objects
conforming to the defined condition are in a group.
14. The operation method according to claim 13, wherein the defined
condition includes a file path, a file name, a file type, a file
creation time or a file format.
15. The operation method according to claim 13, wherein a content
of the classified selectable objects which conform to a same
defined condition are shown in a stacking way or a spreading
way.
16. The operation method according to claim 13, wherein when the
selectable objects conforming to a same defined condition are
selected, the selectable objects are shown at the second display
area in a spreading way.
17. The operation method according to claim 11, wherein the
selectable object is directly managed in the second display area
via an operation signal, and the operation signal includes closing,
playing, moving, zooming in, zooming out or text editing the
content of the selectable object.
18. The operation method according to claim 11, wherein when an
index signal is moved to one of the selectable objects in the
second display area, the selectable object is zoomed in and
displayed or the selectable object is displayed with a different
border color.
19. The operation method according to claim 11 further comprising:
displaying a third display area displaying a list or a program
shortcut icon of all the application programs corresponding to the
selected operation mode.
20. The operation method according to claim 11, wherein the
operation modes comprise a desktop mode and a modern mode.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuing application of U.S. Ser.
No. 14/102,321, filed Dec. 10, 2013, which claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 101147869, filed
in Taiwan, Republic of China on Dec. 17, 2012, the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Field of the Invention
[0003] This disclosure relates to a user interface and an operation
method thereof and, more particularly to an application program
preview interface and an operation method thereof.
[0004] Description of the Related Art
[0005] A user can control and operate more intuitively via a
graphical user interface (GUI). With the development of science, a
computer system has various functions, thus the icons representing
different programs that displayed on the user interface increase
gradually. For users to browse all opened (executed) programs, a
program preview interface is provided for the user to browse each
opened program or switch to one of the opened programs.
[0006] However, the conventional program preview interface only
provides simple browse function and switch function, and the
programs executed in various operation modes cannot be classified.
Moreover, the user cannot manage and classify the running program
completely and effectively on the conventional program preview
interface.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An application program preview interface and an operation
method thereof are provided. When one of multiple operation modes
displayed on a first display area is selected, selectable objects
corresponding to the selected operation mode are displayed in a
second displayed area, and the user can browse and manage the
classified and grouped application programs which are opened or
executed.
[0008] In the operation method of the application program preview
interface, the application program preview interface is stored in a
storage unit and executed in a computer system. The operation
method includes: displaying multiple operation modes in a first
displayed area; selecting one of the operation modes according to
an index signal; displaying at least one selectable object in a
second display area, and the object is an application program which
is opened or executed in the selected mode.
[0009] The application program preview interface is stored in a
storage unit and executed in a computer system. The application
program preview interface includes the first display area and the
second display area. The first display area displays at least one
operation mode that can be selected, and each operation mode
includes at least one opened or executed application program. The
second display area displays at least one selectable object, and
the object is the application program in the selected operation
mode.
[0010] In sum up, according to the application program preview
interface and the operation method thereof, when one of the
multiple operation modes displayed in the first display area is
selected, the selectable objects in the selected mode are displayed
in the second area, and the user can browse the classified and
grouped application programs which are opened or executed.
Moreover, the selectable object displayed in the second display
area can be managed directly and operated by the user intuitively,
and the application program which is opened or executed can be
managed effectively and completely.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic diagrams showing an
application program preview interface in one embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2F are schematic diagrams showing an
operation of an application program preview interface in an
embodiment; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation method of an
application program preview interface in one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0014] An application program preview interface is stored in a
storage unit in a manner of an application program and executed by
a computer system. The storage unit may be a random access memory
(RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable
programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a cache memory, an optical
disk, a magnetic storage device or a solid state hard drive (SSD).
Moreover, the computer system may be a desktop computer, a notebook
computer, a tablet computer or a handheld electronic device (such
as a mobile phone, a multimedia player), which is not limited
herein.
[0015] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing an application
program preview interface 1 in one embodiment. In this embodiment,
the application program preview interface 1 is executed by a
notebook computer and displayed on a display of the notebook
computer. The application program preview interface 1 includes a
first display area 11 and a second display area 12. The first
display area 11 displays a first operation mode 111 and a second
operation mode 112 by showing corresponding graphic objects. The
first operation mode 111 may be a desktop mode, and the second
operation mode 112 may be a modern mode.
[0016] The second display area 12 shows the first operation mode
111 or the second operation mode 112 according to an index signal,
and the second display area 12 displays a selectable object 121
which is executed in the selected operation mode. The selectable
object 121 is an application program which is opened (in execution)
in the selected mode.
[0017] Furthermore, the index signal may be a signal generated by
an input device such as a mouse, a keyboard or a remote control
device, and it also may be a touch signal generated by clicking or
touching a touch panel via a finger or a stylus. The "clicking" may
be a selecting operation by clicking via a cursor, a finger or a
stylus, or a browse operation by suspending the cursor above the
first operation mode 111 or the second operation mode 112.
[0018] Additionally, in this embodiment, the first display area 11
displays two different operation modes, which is not limited, the
number of operation modes displayed at the first display area 11
can be changed according to actual demands of products.
Furthermore, the display positions of the first display area 11 and
the second display area 12 can be changed according to demands, for
example, the first display area 11 may be above, below, on the left
of or on the right of the second display area 12, which is not
limited.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1B, the application program interface 1
also can be executed by the tablet computer and displayed on the
display of the tablet computer for the user to operate.
[0020] The application program preview interface 1 is further
illustrated accompanying FIG. 2A to FIG. 2F. When the computer
system starts the application program preview function, the display
of the computer system displays the application program preview
interface 1. When the index signal selects the first operation mode
111 representing a desktop mode, as shown in FIG. 2A, the second
display area 12 displays the selectable object 121 (such as an
application program) executed in the first operation mode 111, and
the content of the selectable object 121 displayed in the second
display area 12 is same to that of the displayed application
program opened or executed in the corresponding mode.
[0021] For example, if the user open a web browser to browse in the
desktop mode and a page is displayed, when the computer system
enters into the application program preview function, the content
of the selectable object 121 displayed in the second display area
12 is the page displayed by the web browser in the desktop
mode.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2B, when the index signal selects the
second operation mode 112 representing a new module, the selectable
object 121 displayed in the second display area 12 is corresponding
to the application program executed in the second operation mode
112.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2C, when the index signal selects the first
operation mode 111 representing the desktop mode and multiple
selectable objects 121 are executed in the first operation mode
111, the second display area 12 make the selectable objects 121
conforming to a defined condition shown in a stacking way to form a
group.
[0024] In other words, when the selectable objects 121 in execution
are multiple, the second display area 12 sorts to display the
application programs, the application programs of a sort is
displayed in a stacking way, the application programs of different
sorts are displayed in a spreading way at intervals. The defined
condition includes a file path, a file name, a file type or a file
format, and the defined condition can be determined by the
user.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2D, when the index signal (such as the
mouse cursor) moves to the selectable object 121 in the second
display area 12, the selectable object 121 is zoomed in, other
objects are zoomed out, or the periphery of the selectable object
121 shows a specific border or color to make the user confirm the
selected operation mode clearly.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2E, when the application program preview
interface 1 selects the selectable objects 121 which are displayed
in the second display area 12 in the stacking way according to the
index signal, the selectable objects 121 which are selected are
displayed in the second display area 12 in the spreading way at
intervals.
[0027] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2F, the application program
preview interface 1 further includes a third display area 13 to
display a list 131 or a program shortcut icon 132 of all programs
corresponding to the first operation mode 111 and the second
operation mode 112. In one embodiment, the application programs in
the list 131 displayed in the third display area 13 include all
application programs installed on the computer system, the program
shortcut icon 132 is an icon formed by dragging the selectable
object 121 displayed in the second display area 12 or by other
settings, and the user can open or browse the selectable object 121
represented by the program shortcut icon 132 directly.
[0028] In the preview interface, the selectable object 121 can be
managed in the second display area 12 according to an operation
signal. For example, the selectable object 121 is closed directly
by clicking a close symbol of the selectable object 121 or a
specific touch trace or a specific gesture. The content of the
selectable object 121 can be displayed directly, for example, when
the selectable object 121 is a play application program, it can be
operated directly at the preview interface. When multiple
selectable objects are displayed in the second display area, the
sequence of the selectable object 121 can be changed by dragging to
adjust the position of the selectable objects 121. The size of the
selectable object 121 can be zoomed in or out by dragging the
corner of the selectable object 121. The text content of the
selectable object 121 also may be edited. Additionally, the
application program preview interface 1 includes a recovery option
to back to a previous operation or an original state in order to
avoid the misoperation of the user.
[0029] Then, an operation method is illustrated in a flowchart in
FIG. 3 cooperating with the embodiments in FIG. 2A to 2F. The
operation method includes steps S01 to S03.
[0030] In Step S01, multiple operation modes are displayed in the
first display area 11. In this embodiment, when the computer system
starts the application program preview function, the display of the
computer system displays the application program preview interface
1. The first display area 11 of the application program preview
interface 1 displays multiple operation modes.
[0031] In Step S02, an operation mode is selected according to a
first index signal. In this embodiment, the user can select one
from the operation modes via the input device.
[0032] In Step S03, the second display area 12 displays the
selectable object 121. The selectable object is the application
program opened or executed in the selected mode.
[0033] In sum up, in the application program preview interface and
the operation method thereof, when one of the multiple operation
modes displayed in the first display area is selected, the
selectable object corresponding to the selected operation mode is
displayed in the second display area, and the user can browse the
classified or grouped program which is opened or executed.
Moreover, the object displayed in the second display area can be
managed directly and operated by the user intuitively, and the
application program which is opened or executed can be managed
effectively and completely.
[0034] Although the disclosure has been described in considerable
detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the
disclosure is not for limiting the scope. Persons having ordinary
skill in the art may make various modifications and changes without
departing from the scope. Therefore, the scope of the appended
claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred
embodiments described above.
* * * * *