# US 12,008,211 B2 · Prompt method and terminal device

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,008,211 B2
- Document ID: US12008211B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/004,025
- Filed: 2021-03-31
- Published: 2023-10-05
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-30
- Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Eryan Zhang; Chundong Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008211B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34)
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- 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
- G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces
- G06F 2203/04803: Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A prompt method and a terminal device are provided, and are applicable to the field of man-machine interaction technologies. The method includes: dividing a startup icon of an application program into an associated area and a non-associated area in advance; when a user operates the startup icon of the application program, identifying an operated area for the startup icon; and starting the application program normally if the operation is performed on the non-associated area; or displaying a preset interface if the operation is performed on the associated area. The preset interface includes a prompt element used to provide a prompt for to-be-prompted content in the application program.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A prompt method, comprising:
in response to a first operation on a startup icon of an application program, identifying, by a processor, an operated area of the first operation on the startup icon, wherein the startup icon is displayed in an area of a display, the area is divided into at least a first area and a second area, and the first area does not overlap the second area;
displaying, on the display, a first interface in response to the operated area of the first operation being the first area, wherein the first interface comprises a prompt element, and wherein the prompt element is used to provide a prompt for first content of the application program;
in response to a second operation on the startup icon of the application program, identifying, by the processor, an operated area of the second operation on the startup icon; and
starting, by the processor, the application program in response to the operated area of the second operation being the second area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The prompt method according to claim 1, wherein the prompt element comprises at least one of the first content, a first control, and a second control, wherein the first control is used to invoke the first content and the second control is used to describe the first content.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The prompt method according to claim 2, wherein the prompt element further comprises first information of the first content.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The prompt method according to claim 2, wherein in response to the first content being a first function, the first control is used to enable the first function and the second control is used to demonstrate the first function.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The prompt method according to claim 4, wherein the first interface is an operation interface of the first function and the first interface comprises the second control.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The prompt method according to claim 2, wherein the first interface comprises the second control and after the displaying, on the display, the first interface, the method further comprises:
in response to a third operation on the second control, obtaining, by the processor, a description resource associated with the first content and displaying, on the display, the description resource.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The prompt method according to claim 2, wherein the first interface comprises the second control and the displaying, on the display, the first interface further comprises:
obtaining, by the processor, a description resource associated with the first content and displaying, on the display, the description resource by using the second control.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The prompt method according to claim 6, wherein the first content is a first function, the description resource is a demonstration resource used to demonstrate the first function, and correspondingly the obtaining, by the processor, the description resource associated with the first content comprises:
obtaining, by the processor, description data of the first function and extracting, by the processor, the demonstration resource from the description data.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The prompt method according to claim 2, wherein in response to the first content being a first function, the displaying, on the display, the first interface comprises:
in response to the operated area of the first operation being the first area, obtaining, by the processor, a first total number of times the first function is used; and
in response to the first total number of times is less than or equal to a first number-of-times threshold, displaying, on the display, the first interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The prompt method according to claim 1, wherein before identifying, by the processor, the operated area of the first operation on the startup icon, the method further comprises:
dividing, by the processor, the startup icon into m areas;
selecting, by the processor, n areas from the m areas as first areas; and
using, by the processor, remaining m—n areas in the m areas as second areas, wherein both m and n are integers, and wherein m≥2 and 1≤n<m.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The prompt method according to claim 1, wherein after the displaying, on the display, the first interface or starting, by the processor, the application program, the method further comprises:
obtaining, by the processor, a second total number of times the first content is used; and
in response to the second total number of times is greater than or equal to a second number-of-times threshold, using, by the processor, the first area and the second area of the startup icon as a whole to start the application program.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The prompt method according to claim 1, further comprising:
displaying, on the display, a preset prompt identity in the first area.

### Claim 13

A prompt method, comprising:
obtaining, by a processor, a triggering instruction and identifying second content pointed to by the triggering instruction; and
displaying, on a display, a first interface in response to the second content comprising only to-be-prompted content, wherein the first interface comprises the to-be-prompted content or a first control, and further comprises a second control, wherein the first control is used to invoke the to-be-prompted content, and wherein the second control is used to describe the to-be-prompted content; and
displaying, on the display, a third interface in response to the second content comprising the to-be-prompted content and third content correlated with the to-be-prompted content, wherein the third interface comprises the to-be-prompted content or the first control, comprises the second control, and further comprises the third content or a third control, and wherein the third control is used to invoke the third content.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The prompt method according to claim 13, wherein in response to the triggering instruction being a function triggering instruction, the second content being a second function, the third content being a third function, and the to-be-prompted content being a to-be-prompted function:
the first interface comprises the first control and the second control; or
the first interface is an operation interface of the to-be-prompted function and the first interface comprises the second control, wherein the first control is used to enable the to-be-prompted function, and wherein the second control is used to demonstrate the to-be-prompted function.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The prompt method according to claim 13, wherein the first interface comprises the second control and after the displaying, on the display, the first interface, the method further comprises:
in response to a second operation on the second control, obtaining, by the processor, a description resource associated with the to-be-prompted content and displaying, on the display, the description resource.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The prompt method according to claim 13, wherein the first interface comprises the second control, and the displaying, on the display, the first interface further comprises:
obtaining, by the processor, a description resource associated with the to-be-prompted content and displaying, on the display, the description resource by using the second control.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The prompt method according to claim 14, wherein the first interface comprises the first control and the second control and the displaying, on the display, the first interface comprises:
in response to the second function comprising only the to-be-prompted function, obtaining, by the processor, a third total number of times the to-be-prompted function is used; and
in response to the third total number of times being less than or equal to a first number-of-times threshold, displaying, on the display, the first interface.

### Claim 18

A terminal device comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can be run on the processor, and in response to executing the computer program, the processor performs the following steps:
in response to a first operation on a startup icon of an application program, identifying an operated area of the first operation on the startup icon, wherein the startup icon is displayed in an area of a display, the area is divided into at least a first area and a second area, and the first area does not overlap the second area;
displaying a first interface in response to the operated area of the first operation being the first area, wherein the first interface comprises a prompt element, and the prompt element is used to provide a prompt for first content of the application program;
in response to a second operation on the startup icon of the application program, identifying an operated area of the second operation on the startup icon; and
starting the application program in response to the operated area of the second operation being the second area.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The terminal device according to claim 18, wherein the prompt element comprises at least one of the first content, a first control, and a second control, wherein the first control is used to invoke the first content and the second control is used to describe the first content.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The terminal device according to claim 18, wherein the prompt element further comprises first information of the first content.