# US 12,192,397 B2 · Foldable electronic device for displaying multi-window and method for operating same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,192,397 B2 - Document ID: US12192397B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/501,094 - Filed: 2023-11-03 - Published: 2024-02-29 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-19 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Joonhwan Kim; Sangeun Lee; Jisu Kim; Kyungwook Ro - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12192397B2 ## CPC - H04M 1/0245: {using open/close detection} - H04M 1/72403: with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality - G06F 1/16: Constructional details or arrangements - G06F 3/14: Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} - G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces - H04M 1/0214: {Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235)} - H04M 1/0216: {Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge} - H04M 1/0268: {including a flexible display panel} - H04M 1/72454: according to context-related or environment-related conditions - H04M 2201/38: Displays - H04M 2201/42: Graphical user interfaces - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An apparatus and/or method for displaying a multi-window on a foldable electronic device may be provided. The electronic device may include a display device having a display area having a shape that varies depending on first and second housing structures connected to a hinge structure, and a processor operatively connected to the display device, in which the processor may divide a first type display area into a plurality of areas and display information related to a plurality of applications when the electronic device is in an unfolded state, the processor may check at least one application set to be continuously used among the plurality of applications when the electronic device switches to a folded state, and the processor may set up a screen constitution in the folded state based on the at least one application and output information related to the at least one application through a second type display area based on the screen constitution. Other embodiments may also be possible. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a foldable housing comprising a hinge structure comprising a hinge, a first housing structure, comprising a first housing, connected to the hinge structure, and a second housing structure, comprising a second housing, connected to the hinge structure and configured to be folded with respect to the first housing structure via at least the hinge structure; a display device comprising a display area with a shape configured to vary based on the first housing structure and the second housing structure; and at least one processor operatively connected to the display device, and configured to: divide a first type display area into a plurality of areas and display information related to a plurality of applications based on the electronic device being in an unfolded state, receive a user input that selects at least one application to be continuously used among the plurality of applications while the electronic device is in the unfolded state, set up a screen constitution in the folded state using the selected at least one application based on the electronic device switching to a folded state, and output information related to the selected at least one application through a second type display area based on the screen constitution in the folded state, wherein information related to at least one remaining application different from the selected at least one application among the plurality of applications is not displayed in the folded state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a first display disposed in a space defined by at least the first housing structure and the second housing structure based on the unfolded state of the electronic device, and the first type display area comprises a display area of the first display. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the second type display area comprises at least a partial area of the first display based on the folded state of the electronic device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a second display disposed in a space defined by at least the first housing structure and/or the second housing structure based on the folded state of the electronic device, and the second type display area comprises a display area of the second display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to set up at least one of: a number of times the display area is divided in the folded state, a size of the divided area, or an arrangement of the divided areas based on a number of the at least one application to be continuously used among the plurality of applications. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: based on the plurality of applications set to be continuously used, divide the second type display area into a plurality of sub-areas, and control to display information related to the plurality of applications set to be continuously used through the sub-areas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: based on the plurality of applications set up to be continuously used, select at least one application to be displayed through a pop-up window among the plurality of applications set to be continuously used, control to divide the second type display area into at least one sub-area based on a number of one or more applications remaining except for at least one application to be displayed through the pop-up window among the plurality of applications set up to be continuously used, control to display information related to at least one remaining application through the sub-areas, and control to display at least one pop-up window including information related to the at least one application. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to realign the at least one pop-up window based on the electronic device switching to the unfolded state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to select at least one application to be displayed through the pop-up window based on at least one of: a display order, an execution point in time, a priority of the application, a size of the display area, or preset information of the application related to the pop-up window. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determine whether to use a multi-window when the electronic device is switched to the unfolded state, set up a screen constitution of the multi-window when the processor determines that the multi-window is to be used, and divide the first type display area into the plurality of areas based on the screen constitution of the multi-window and outputs information related to the plurality of applications. ### Claim 11 A method of operating an electronic device comprising (1) a foldable housing comprising a hinge, a first housing connected to the hinge, and a second housing connected to the hinge and configured to be folded with respect to the first housing via the hinge, and (2) a display device comprising a display area with a shape configured to vary depending on the first housing and the second housing, the method comprising: dividing a first type display area into a plurality of areas and displaying information related to a plurality of applications when the electronic device is in an unfolded state; receiving a user input that selects at least one application to be continuously used among the plurality of applications while the electronic device is in the unfolded state; setting up a screen constitution in the folded state using the selected at least one application based on the electronic device switching to a folded state; and outputting information related to the selected at least one application through a second type display area based on the screen constitution, wherein information related to at least one remaining application different from the selected at least one application among the plurality of applications is not displayed in the folded state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the setting up of the screen constitution comprises setting up at least one of: a number of times the display area is divided in the folded state, a size of the divided area, or an arrangement of the divided areas based on a number of the at least one application to be continuously used among the plurality of applications. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the outputting of the information related to the at least one application comprises: dividing the second type display area into a plurality of sub-areas when the plurality of applications is set to be continuously used; and displaying information related to the plurality of applications set to be continuously used through the sub-areas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the outputting of the information related to the at least one application comprises: selecting at least one application to be displayed through a pop-up window among the plurality of applications set to be continuously used when the plurality of applications is set to be continuously used; dividing the second type display area into at least one sub-area based on a number of one or more applications remaining except for at least one application to be displayed through the pop-up window among the plurality of applications set up to be continuously used; and displaying information related to at least one remaining application through the sub-areas and displaying at least one pop-up window including information related to the at least one application. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the selecting of the application comprises selecting at least one application to be displayed through the pop-up window based on at least one of: a display order, an execution point in time, and a priority of the application, a size of the display area, or preset information of the application related to the pop-up window. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the display device comprises a first display disposed in a space defined by at least the first housing and the second housing based on the unfolded state of the electronic device and the first type display area comprises a display area of the first display disposed in a space defined by at least the first housing and the second housing connected via the hinge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the display device comprises a first display disposed in a space defined by at least the first housing and the second housing based on the unfolded state of the electronic device and the second type display area comprises at least a partial area of the first display based on the folded state of the electronic device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the display device comprises a second display disposed in a space defined by at least the first housing and/or the second housing based on the folded state of the electronic device, and the second type display area comprises a display area of the second display disposed in a space defined by at least the first housing and/or the second housing connected via the hinge.