# US 12,118,177 B2 · Method and apparatus for displaying application > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,118,177 B2 - Document ID: US12118177B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/320,479 - Filed: 2023-05-19 - Published: 2023-09-14 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-31 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Young-jin Kim; Sung-hee Kim; Seung-woon Lee; Kang-tae Kim; Tae-soo Kim; Jung-hwan Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12118177B2 ## CPC - 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 - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/04845: for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - 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 3/14: Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} - G09G 5/14: Display of multiple viewports - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A method of displaying an application is provided. The method includes displaying an execution screen of a first application on a first area when the first application is executed, displaying the execution screen of the first application on a second area instead of on the first area when a second application is executed while the first application is executed, and displaying an execution screen of a second application on the first area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method performed by an electronic device, the method comprising: displaying an application on a full-sized window; based on receiving a user input for displaying the application on a sub window, which overlaps at least a portion of a display area used for the full-sized window, instead of the full-sized window, displaying the application on the sub window, which overlaps the at least the portion of the display area used for the full-sized window, instead of the full-sized window; detecting a first gesture on the application for requesting the application to be displayed in a hide mode; based on the first gesture being detected on the application for requesting the application to be displayed in the hide mode, hiding the application and displaying an alternative image indicating the application on the full-sized window; detecting a second gesture on the alternative image for releasing the hide mode; and based on the second gesture being detected on the alternative image for releasing the hide mode, displaying the application on the sub window again without displaying the alternative image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on a third gesture being detected for displaying a list of a plurality of applications that are displayed as overlapping at least a portion of the display area used for the full-sized window and then hidden, displaying a plurality of alternative images corresponding to the hidden plurality of applications overlapping at least a portion of the display area used for the full-sized window; and based on a fourth gesture being detected for selecting an alternative image from among the plurality of alternative images, displaying an application corresponding to the selected alternative image overlapping at least a portion of the display area used for the full-sized window. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the alternative image indicating the application is displayed in a bookmark shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second gesture for releasing the hide mode comprises a tapping gesture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the application on the full-sized window comprises: displaying a list of one or more applications; and based on receiving a user input of selecting the application from the list of the one or more applications, displaying the application on the full-sized window. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on a third gesture being detected for moving the sub window displaying the application, moving the sub window so as to overlap at least a different portion of the display area used for the full-sized window according to the detected third gesture for moving the sub window displaying the application. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on a third gesture being detected for displaying the application on the full-sized window, displaying the application on the full-sized window instead of the sub window. ### Claim 8 An electronic device comprising: a display; a user input unit; memory storing one or more computer programs; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the display, the user input unit, and the memory, wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: display an application on a full-sized window; based on receiving a user input for displaying the application on a sub window, which overlaps at least a portion of a display area used for the full-sized window, instead of the full-sized window, display the application on the sub window, which overlaps the at least the portion of the display area used for the full-sized window, instead of the full-sized window; detect a first gesture on the application for requesting the application to be displayed in a hide mode; based on the first gesture being detected on the application for requesting the application to be displayed in the hide mode, hide the application and display an alternative image indicating the application on the full-sized window; detect a second gesture on the alternative image for releasing the hide mode; and based on the second gesture being detected on the alternative image for releasing the hide mode, display the application on the sub window again without displaying the alternative image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of alternative images corresponding to the hidden plurality of applications are displayed in an order of execution of the hidden plurality of applications. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: based on a third gesture being detected for displaying a list of a plurality of applications that are displayed as overlapping at least a portion of the display area used for the full-sized window and then hidden, display a plurality of alternative images corresponding to the hidden plurality of applications overlapping at least a portion of the display area used for the full-sized window; and based on a fourth gesture being detected for selecting an alternative image from among the plurality of alternative images, display an application corresponding to the selected alternative image overlapping at least a portion of the display area used for the full-sized window. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the alternative image indicating the application is displayed in a bookmark shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the second gesture for releasing the hide mode comprises a tapping gesture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: display a list of one or more applications, and based on receiving a user input of selecting the application from the list of the one or more applications, display the application on the full-sized window. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to, based on a third gesture being detected for moving the sub window displaying the application, move the sub window so as to overlap at least a different portion of the display area used for the full-sized window according to the detected third gesture for moving the sub window displaying the application. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the one or more computer programs further include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to, based on a third gesture being detected for displaying the application on the full-sized window, display the application on the full-sized window instead of the sub window. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of alternative images corresponding to the hidden plurality of applications are displayed in an order of execution of the hidden plurality of applications. ### Claim 17 One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing one or more computer programs including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations, the operations comprising: displaying an application on a full-sized window; based on receiving a user input for displaying the application on a sub window, which overlaps at least a portion of a display area used for the full-sized window, instead of the full-sized window, displaying the application on the sub window, which overlaps the at least the portion of the display area used for the full-sized window, instead of the full-sized window; detecting a first gesture on the application for requesting the application to be displayed in a hide mode; based on the first gesture being detected on the application for requesting the application to be displayed in the hide mode, hiding the application and displaying an alternative image indicating the application on the full-sized window; detecting a second gesture on the alternative image for releasing the hide mode; and based on the second gesture being detected on the alternative image for releasing the hide mode, displaying the application on the sub window again without displaying the alternative image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the alternative image indicating the application is displayed in a bookmark shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein the second gesture for releasing the hide mode comprises a tapping gesture. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 17, wherein to display the application on the full-sized window comprises the operations further comprise: displaying a list of one or more applications; and based on receiving a user input of selecting the application from the list of the one or more applications, displaying the application on the full-sized window.