Abstract:
An electronic device and a method are adapted to identify window control commands in a multi-window system. The electronic device displays multiple windows each respectively having a title bar on a touch interface. The electronic device executes the method to identify a window control command according to a touch gesture from a movement of a touch point detected on the title bar of one of the windows. The user can easily touch the title bar to operate a certain window.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims a foreign priority to the patent application of Taiwan No. 102123104 filed on Jun. 28, 2013. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a method for identifying window control commands, and more particularly to an electronic device and a method for identifying window control commands in a multi-window system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Smart phones and tablets are common touch devices nowadays. The touch device mainly comprises a display panel, a touch panel and a controller. The display panel is mounted under the touch panel. The controller is electrically connected to the display panel and the touch panel. When a user touches the touch panel, the controller detects a touch point from the touch panel. The controller thus controls the display panel to update frames according to a movement of the touch point. 
         [0006]    The display panel displays multiple windows. For example, when the user wants to scale up or down one of the windows, the user can touch an edge of the window and then drag the edge. The window is then resized according to the position of the edge dragged by the user. When the user wants to close one of the windows, the user can touch a close bottom on a corner of the window. The window is thus closed. 
         [0007]    However, a touch area of the touch device is limited, such that the multiple windows may overlap each other. Therefore, it is inconvenient for the user to touch the edge or touch the cancel bottom of a certain window. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and method for identifying window control command in a multi-window system. The user can easily operate the windows on the electronic device. 
         [0009]    The method of the present invention is executed by an electronic device having a touch interface displaying multiple windows each respectively having a title bar. The method comprises the steps of: 
         [0010]    detecting a touch point on the touch interface; 
         [0011]    determining whether the touch point is on the title bar of a touched window selected from the multiple windows; 
         [0012]    determining whether a movement of the touch point forms a touch gesture when the touch point is on the title bar of the touched window; and 
         [0013]    executing a window control command according to the touch gesture when the touch gesture is identified. 
         [0014]    The electronic device of the present invention has: 
         [0015]    a touch interface; and 
         [0016]    a controller electrically connected to the touch interface and controlling the touch interface to display multiple windows, each window having a title bar, wherein the controller executes a window control command according to a touch gesture from a movement of a touch point detected on the title bar of one of the multiple windows. 
         [0017]    In conclusion, when the user wants to operate one of the windows, the user can touch the title bar of the window and then perform a touch gesture to directly control the touched window. The title bar of each window is obviously visible. The user can touch the title bar without difficulty, such that the user can easily and directly operate the windows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an electronic device displaying multiple windows; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a circuit block diagram of the electronic device of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a window operated in the maximum mode; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a window operated in the minimum mode; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a window operated in the restore mode; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A-6B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-moving command; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A-7B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-moving command; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 8A-8B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-scaling command; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 9A-9B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-maximizing command; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 10A-10B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-maximizing command; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 11A-11B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-minimizing command; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 12A-12B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-minimizing command; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 13A-13B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-restoring command; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 14A-14B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-restoring command; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 15A-15B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-closing command; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 16A-16B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-topmost-mode command; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 17A-17B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-topmost-mode disabling command; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 18A-18B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-scale-up command; 
           [0036]      FIGS. 19A-19B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-scale-down command; 
           [0037]      FIGS. 20A-20B  are diagrams for a touch gesture according to a window-edge-adjusting command; 
           [0038]      FIG. 21A  is a diagram of a touch region and a touch point; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 21B  is a diagram of a touch point and an effective touch area. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0040]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electronic device  10  of the present invention comprises a touch interface and a controller  13 . The touch interface comprises a display panel  11  and a touch panel  12 . The display panel  11  is mounted under the touch panel  12  and has a visible area  110  for displaying information to a user. The controller  13  is electrically connected to the display panel  11  and the touch panel  12 . The controller  13  defines a +x edge, a −x edge, a +y edge and a −y edge on the visible area  110  of the electronic device  10 . When the user looks straight at the display panel  12  from a front of the display panel, the +x edge corresponds to the user&#39;s right side, the −x edge corresponds to the user&#39;s left side, the +y edge corresponds to the user&#39;s head, and the −y edge is opposite to the +y edge. In this embodiment, the controller  13  is operated under Android system. 
         [0041]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the controller  13  controls the display panel  11  to display multiple windows  111  in the visible area  110 . Each window  111  has a title bar  112  and an information region  113  adjacent to the title bar  112 . The window  111  can be resized to a maximum mode, a minimum mode or a restore mode. With reference to  FIG. 3 , when the window  111  is operated in the maximum mode, the window  111  fills up the visible area  110 , and the title bar  112  of the window  111  is located on the +y edge of the visible area  110 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , when the window  111  is operated in the minimum mode, the title bar  112  is only displayed on the −y edge of the visible area  110 . With reference to  FIG. 5 , when the window  111  is operated in the restore mode, the window  111  can be located at any position on the visible area  110 . 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the visible area  110  displays multiple windows  111 . When the user touches the touch panel  12 , the controller  13  can detect a touch point. The controller  13  determines whether the touch point is on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 . When the touch point is on the title bar  112  of the touched window  111 , the controller  13  then determines whether a movement of the touch point forms a touch gesture. When the touch gesture is identified, the controller  13  thus executes a window control command according to the touch gesture. The following description discloses methods for identifying window control commands. 
         [0043]    1. Window-Moving Command (1) 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 6A , the controller  13  detects a touch point  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111  from the touch panel  12 , which means the user&#39;s finger is touching the title bar  112 . 
         [0045]    When the controller  13  detects the touch point  21 , the controller  13  determines whether the touched window  111  is operated in the restore mode. 
         [0046]    When the controller  13  determines that the touched window  111  is operated in the restore mode, the controller  13  determines whether the touch point  21  moves along a trace as a touch gesture. 
         [0047]    When the touch point  21  moves along the trace, which means the user&#39;s finger drags on the touch panel  12 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-moving command. With reference to  FIG. 6B , the position of the touched window  111  is thus moved according to the positions of the touch point  21 . 
         [0048]    2. Window-Moving Command (2) 
         [0049]    With reference to  FIG. 7A , when no touch point is detected on the title bar  112  of any one of the multiple windows but four touch points  21  are detected on the information region  113  of one of the windows, which means four of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the window, the controller  13  determines whether the window touched by the four touch points  21  is operated in the restore mode. 
         [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 7B , when the window touched by the four touch points  21  is operated in the restore mode, the controller  13  determines whether the four touch points  21  move along a trace as a touch gesture. 
         [0051]    When the four touch points  21  move along the trace, which means four of the user&#39;s fingers drag on the touch panel  12 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as the window-moving command. With reference to  FIG. 7B , the position of the window touched by the four touch points  21  is thus moved according to the positions of the four touch points  21 . 
         [0052]    3. Window-Scaling Command 
         [0053]    With reference to  FIG. 8A , the controller  13  detects a first touch point  22  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111  from the touch panel  12 , which means the user&#39;s finger is touching the title bar  112 . The controller  13  determines whether the touched window  111  is operated in the restore mode. 
         [0054]    With reference to  FIG. 8B , when the touched window  111  is operated in the restore mode and the first touch point  22  still exists, the controller  13  determines whether a second touch point  23  is detected on the touch panel  12  excluded from the title bar  112  of the touched window  111  to form a touch gesture. 
         [0055]    When the second touch point  23  is detected, the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-scaling command. A position of a corner near the +x edge and the −y edge of the touched window  111  is adjusted to the position of the second touch point  23 . A position of a corner near the −x edge and the +y edge of the touched window  111  is fixed. As a result, the touched window  111  will be scaled down if the second touch point  23  is located within the touched window  111 . The touched window  111  will be scaled up if the second touch point  23  is located out of the touched window  111 . 
         [0056]    4. Window-Maximizing Command (1) 
         [0057]    With reference to  FIG. 9A , the controller  13  detects two or three touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means two or three of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . Two touch points  21  are shown in  FIG. 9A  as an example. 
         [0058]    When the controller  13  detects the two or three touch points  21 , the controller  13  determines whether the touched window  111  is operated in the restore mode. 
         [0059]    When the controller  13  determines that the touched window  111  is operated in the restore mode, the controller  13  determines whether the two or three touch points  21  move toward the +y edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. 
         [0060]    With reference to  FIG. 9B , when the two or three touch points  21  move toward the +y edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-maximizing command. The controller  13  thus controls the touched window  111  to be resized to the maximum mode. 
         [0061]    5. Window-Maximizing Command (2) 
         [0062]    With reference to  FIG. 10A , the controller  13  detects three touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means three of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . 
         [0063]    When the controller  13  detects the three touch points  21 , the controller  13  determines whether the touched window  111  is operated in the minimum mode. 
         [0064]    When the controller  13  determines that the touched window  111  is operated in the minimum mode, the controller  13  determines whether the three touch points  21  move toward the +y edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. 
         [0065]    With reference to  FIG. 10B , when the three touch points  21  move toward the +y edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-maximizing command. The controller  13  thus controls the touched window  111  to be resized to the maximum mode. 
         [0066]    6. Window-Minimizing Command (1) 
         [0067]    With reference to  FIG. 11A , the controller  13  detects two or three touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means two or three of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . Two touch points  21  are shown in  FIG. 11A  as an example. 
         [0068]    When the controller  13  detects the two or three touch points  21 , the controller  13  determines whether the touched window  111  is operated in the restore mode. 
         [0069]    When the controller  13  determines that the touched window  111  is operated in the restore mode, the controller  13  determines whether the two or three touch points  21  move toward the −y edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. 
         [0070]    With reference to  FIG. 11B , when the two or three touch points  21  move toward the −y edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-minimizing command. The controller  13  thus controls the touched window  111  to be resized to the minimum mode. 
         [0071]    7. Window-Minimizing Command (2) 
         [0072]    With reference to  FIG. 12A , the controller  13  detects three touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means three of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . 
         [0073]    When the controller  13  detects the three touch points  21 , the controller  13  determines whether the touched window  111  is operated in the maximum mode. 
         [0074]    When the controller  13  determines that the touched window  111  is operated in the maximum mode, the controller  13  determines whether the three touch points  21  move toward the −y edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. 
         [0075]    With reference to  FIG. 12B , when the three touch points  21  move toward the −y edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-minimizing command. The controller  13  thus controls the touched window  111  to be resized to the minimum mode. 
         [0076]    8. Window-Restoring Command (1) 
         [0077]    With reference to  FIG. 13A , the controller  13  detects two touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means two of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . 
         [0078]    When the controller  13  detects the two touch points  21 , the controller  13  determines whether the touched window  111  is operated in the maximum mode. 
         [0079]    When the controller  13  determines that the touched window  111  is operated in the maximum mode, the controller  13  determines whether the two touch points  21  move toward the −y edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. 
         [0080]    With reference to  FIG. 13B , when the two touch points  21  move toward the −y edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-restoring command. The controller  13  thus controls the touched window  111  to be resized to the restore mode. 
         [0081]    9. Window-Restoring Command (2) 
         [0082]    With reference to  FIG. 14A , the controller  13  detects two touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means two of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . 
         [0083]    When the controller  13  detects the two touch points  21 , the controller  13  determines whether the touched window  111  is operated in the minimum mode. 
         [0084]    When the controller  13  determines that the touched window  111  is operated in the minimum mode, the controller  13  determines whether the two touch points  21  move toward the +y edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. 
         [0085]    With reference to  FIG. 14B , when the two touch points  21  move toward the +y edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-restoring command. The controller  13  thus controls the touched window  111  to be resized to the restore mode. 
         [0086]    10. Window-Closing Command 
         [0087]    With reference to  FIG. 15A , the controller  13  detects at least two touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means at least two of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . The controller  13  then determines whether the at least two touch points  21  move toward the +x edge of the visible area  110  or the −x edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. Two touch points  21  are shown in  FIG. 15A  as an example. With reference to  FIG. 15B , the two touch points  21  move toward the −x edge of the visible area  110  as an example. 
         [0088]    When the controller  13  determines that the at least two touch points  21  move toward the −x edge or the +x edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-closing command. The controller  13  thus closes the touched window  111  from the visible area  110 . 
         [0089]    11. Window-Topmost-Mode Command 
         [0090]    With reference to  FIG. 16A , the controller  13  detects four touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means four of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . The controller  13  then determines whether the four fingers move toward the +y edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. 
         [0091]    With reference to  FIG. 16B , when the four fingers move toward the +y edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-topmost-mode command. The controller  13  thus controls the touched window  111  to be operated in a topmost mode. The touched window  111  in the topmost mode can cover or overlap the rest of windows on the visible area  110 . 
         [0092]    12. Window-Topmost-Mode Disabling Command 
         [0093]    With reference to  FIG. 17A , the controller  13  detects four touch points  21  on the title bar  112  of a touched window  111 , which means four of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the title bar  112 . The controller  13  then determines whether the four fingers move toward the −y edge of the visible area  110  as a touch gesture. 
         [0094]    With reference to  FIG. 17B , when the four fingers move toward the −y edge of the visible area  110 , the controller  13  identifies the window control command as a window-topmost-mode disabling command. The controller  13  thus disables the topmost mode from the touched window  111 . The touched window  111  can be covered or overlapped by the rest of windows  114  on the visible area  110 . 
         [0095]    13. Window-Scale-Up Command 
         [0096]    With reference to  FIG. 18A , when no touch point is detected on the title bar of any one of the multiple windows but five touch points  21  are detected on the information region  113  of one of the windows, which means five of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the display panel  11 , the controller  13  determines whether the window touched by the touch points  21  is operated in the restore mode. 
         [0097]    When the window touched by the touch points  21  is operated in the restore mode, the controller  13  determines whether the five touch points  21  move away from each other as a touch gesture. With reference to  FIG. 18B , when the five touch points  21  move away from each other, the controller  13  executes a window-scale-up command. The window touched by the touch points  21 is thus scaled up according to the positions of the five touch points  21 . 
         [0098]    14. Window-Scale-Down Command 
         [0099]    With reference to  FIG. 19A , when no touch point is detected on the title bar of any one of the multiple windows but five touch points  21  are detected on the information region  113  of one of the windows, which means five of the user&#39;s fingers are touching the display panel  11 , the controller  13  determines whether the window touched by the touch points  21  is operated in the restore mode. 
         [0100]    When the window touched by the touch points  21  is operated in the restore mode, the controller  13  determines whether the five touch points  21  move approaching each other as a touch gesture. With reference to  FIG. 19B , when the five touch points  21  move approaching each other, the controller  13  executes a window-scale-down command. The window touched by the touch points  21  is thus scaled down according to the positions of the five touch points  21 . 
         [0101]    15. Window-Edge-Adjusting Command 
         [0102]    With reference to  FIG. 20A , when no touch point is detected on the title bar of any one of the multiple windows but a touch point  21  is detected on an edge of one of the windows, the controller  13  determines whether the window touched by the touch point  21  is operated in the restore mode. 
         [0103]    When the window touched by the touch point  21  is operated in the restore mode, the controller  13  determines whether the touch point  21  moves along a trace as a touch gesture. With reference to  FIG. 20B , when the touch point  21  moves along the trace, the controller  13  executes a window-edge-adjusting command. The position of the edge of the window touched by the touch point  21  is thus repositioned according to the position of the touch point  21 . 
         [0104]    In conclusion, the present invention identifies the window control command according to the touch point on the title bar of the touched window. Hence, the touch gestures of the present invention are different from the conventional gestures of a touch device. In addition, the touch gestures of the present invention are not complicated. The user can easily memorize the touch gestures of the present invention. The user can use two fingers to control the window by one order and use three fingers to control the window by two orders. For example, when a window is operated in a minimum mode, the user can use two fingers moving toward the +y edge of the visible area  110  to restore the window, or use three fingers moving toward the +y edge of the visible area  110  to directly maximize the window. 
         [0105]    With reference to  FIG. 21A , when the user touches the touch interface, the controller  13  detects a touch region  210 . The controller  13  then defines the touch point  21  from the touch region  210  for identifying the touch gestures. With reference to  FIG. 21B , the controller  13  can further define an effective touch area  211  around the touch point  21 . The effective touch area  211  can be rectangular or in any other shape. The effective touch area  211  is a determining area that is expanded from the touch point  21 . Although the touch point  21  is not located on the edge but in the effective touch area  211  that covers the edge of the window, the controller  13  still determines an effective touch. 
         [0106]    Although the present invention is described above through the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Various modifications, omissions and changes made by those skilled in the art to the form and content of the embodiments still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.