Patent Application 18217196 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAY OF - Rejection

Patent Application 18217196 - ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAY OF

Title: ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAY OF MULTIPLE WINDOW, OPERATION METHOD THEREOF, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Application Information

• Invention Title: ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAY OF MULTIPLE WINDOW, OPERATION METHOD THEREOF, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
• Application Number: 18217196
• Submission Date: 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
• Effective Filing Date: 2023-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
• Filing Date: 2023-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
• National Class: 715
• National Sub-Class: 768000
• Examiner Employee Number: 88779
• Art Unit: 2171
• Tech Center: 2100

Rejection Summary

• 102 Rejections: 0
• 103 Rejections: 2

Cited Patents

No patents were cited in this rejection.

Office Action Text

    DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This office action is responsive to the Amendment filed on 3/7/2025. Claims 1-8, 10-18, and 20 are pending in the case.

Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.  
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.

Claims 1-3, 8, 10-13,18, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Oh et al. (US 20170285933 A1, hereinafter Oh) in view of Jeong (US 20110107212 A1) and Hui (US 20060061597 A1).

As to independent claim 1, Oh teaches an electronic device comprising: 
a display (display unit 151); and 
at least one processor (controller 180) configured to,
display a first window of an application through the display (Fig. 2, an email application screen 201 displayed on display unit 151), the first window displaying at least one item;
based on a first input to the at least one item on the first window, display a second window on a first partial area of the first window to hide the first partial area of the first window (based on user input, a virtual keypad 210 for entering e-mail content are displayed on the partial area of display unit 151 and email application 201), the second window being associated with the at least one task corresponding to the at least one item among a plurality of tasks of the application;
based on a second input through the second window, display the hidden first partial area of the first window (“when a touch input exceeding a reference pressure is applied to a specific region of the virtual keypad, for example, a boundary region or the like, the controller 180 can control an image layered below to be exhibited while adjusting the transparency.” Paragraph 0125); and 
in response to the second input being released, display the second window to hide the first partial area of the first window (“when a touch input that has been applied
Oh does not appear to expressly teach based on a second input through the first window, display the hidden first partial area of the first window.
Jeon teaches based on a second input through the first window (“if a user performs a see-through input of an article area at the top right as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 180 may operate a web browser as a second application based on the see-through input.” Paragraph 00082), display the hidden first partial area of the first window (“If the touch signal is a see-through input, the control unit 180 may execute a function of a second application based on the see-through input…the control unit 180 may display a web content 610 corresponding to the touched area” Paragraph 0081-0082, “the first application is displayed on the touchscreen to at least partially overlap the second application.” Paragraph 0014, last sentence).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Oh to comprise based on a second input through the first window, display the hidden first partial area of the first window. One would have been motivated to make such a combination to improve increase user interaction functionality and provide a very fast technique for a quick look of underlying information that is so often needed.
Oh and Jeong do not appear to expressly teach the first window displaying at least one item;
based on a first input to the at least one item on the first window, display a second window on a first partial area of the first window, the second window being associated with the at least one task corresponding to the at least one item among a plurality of tasks of the application.
Hui teaches the first window displaying at least one item (Fig. 2A, a spreadsheet application window 220 displays “Help” button on the top of the spreadsheet window);
based on a first input to the at least one item on the first window, display a second window on a first partial area of the first window, the second window being associated with the at least one task corresponding to the at least one item among a plurality of tasks of the application (When seeking assistance with the spreadsheet application, a user accesses on-line help by selecting “Help” button in Fig. 2A. As shown in the FIG. 2A, help text 242, which is presented in unobtrusive overlay window 240 is visible, and therefore accessible to the user”, paragraph 0027-0028);
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to commodify the device of Oh to comprise the first window displaying at least one item; based on a first input to the at least one item on the first window, display a second window on a first partial area of the first window, the second window being associated with the at least one task corresponding to the at least one item among a plurality of tasks of the application. One would have been motivated to make such a combination to improve the efficiency with which users can complete their work.

As to dependent claim 2, Oh teaches the electronic device of claim 1, Oh does not appear to expressly teach wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to, 
identify whether the second input continues for a designated period of time or longer continuing, and 
control a transparency of the second window such that the first partial area of the first window is visually exposed while the second input is continuing.
Jeon teaches identify whether the second input continues for a designated period of time or longer continuing (“the see-through input may be one of a pressure touch greater than a specific pressure, a long touch where the touch is maintained for longer than a specific period of time, and a combination touch including a specific key input of the mobile terminal 100.” Paragraph 0089).
control a transparency of the second window such that the first partial area of the first window is visually exposed while the second input is continuing (“If the touch signal is a see-through input, the control unit 180 may execute a function of a second application based on the see-through input…the control unit 180 may display a web content 610 corresponding to the touched area” Paragraph 0081-0082, “the first application is displayed on the touchscreen to at least partially overlap the second application.” Paragraph 0014, last sentence).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Oh to comprise identify whether the second input continues for a designated period of time or longer continuing. One would have been motivated to make such a combination to improve user interaction functionality and provide a very fast technique for a quick look of underlying information that is so often needed.

As to dependent claim 3, Oh teaches the electronic device of claim 2, Oh further teaches wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to,
in response to the second input being released, stop controlling the transparency of the second window (“when a touch input that has been applied to the virtual keypad 210 is released, a screen layered below can disappear while the transparent virtual keypad becomes non-transparent again” paragraph 0138).
Jeon further teaches a second input through the first window (FIG. 6, the control unit 180 may operate a web browser as a second application based on the see-through input, paragraph 0081-0082, 0089).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Oh to comprise a second input through the first window. One would have been motivated to make such a combination to improve user interaction functionality and provide a very fast technique for a quick look of underlying information that is so often needed.

As to dependent claim 8, Oh teaches the electronic device of claim 1, Oh does not appear to expressly teach wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to, 
based on the first input to select a first item of the first window, display the second window for inputting content for the first window, 
obtain content through the second window, and
display the obtained content in the first window.
Hui teaches based on the first input to select a first item of the first window, display the second window for inputting content for the first window (“Furthermore, by accessing on-line help presented using unobtrusive overlay window 240, the user not only can see the content presented in the underlying spreadsheet window on display 200a (FIG. 2A), but can also edit, move an element, select items with a pointing device, and/or revise the content in the spreadsheet window underlying unobtrusive help window 240, all while unobtrusive help window 240 is still displayed and visible.” Paragraph 0029), 
obtain content through the second window (“As shown in FIG. 2B, with unobtrusive overlay window 240 still displayed and overlying the spreadsheet window, the user has selected and entered data in a cell 250,” paragraph 0029); and
display the obtained content in the first window (Fig. 2B, displays the obtained content in the spreadsheet window 220).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Oh to comprise wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to, based on the first input to select a first item of the first window, display the second window for inputting content for the first window, obtain content through the second window, and display the obtained content in the first window. One would have been motivated to make such a combination to improve the efficiency with which users can complete their work.

As to dependent claim 10, Oh teaches the electronic device of claim 1, Oh further teaches wherein the second input includes at least one of a long touch, double finger input, touch press, hovering, or designated specific key (“when a touch input exceeding a reference pressure is applied to an input field region of the webpage 901 other than the virtual keypad, the controller 180 can increase the transparency of the webpage 901 and the virtual keypad at the same time” Paragraph 0174). Jeon further teaches wherein the second input includes at least one of a long touch, double finger input, touch press, hovering, or designated specific key (“the see-through input may be one of a pressure touch greater than a specific pressure, a long touch where the touch is maintained for longer than a specific period of time, and a combination touch including a specific key input of the mobile terminal 100.” Paragraph 0089).

Claims 11-13, 18, and 20 are substantially the same as claims 1-3, 8 and 10 and are therefore rejected under similar rationale.

Claims 4-7 and 14-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Oh et al. in view of Jeon, Hui, and Wei et al. (US 11487398 B1, hereinafter Wei)

As to dependent claim 4, Oh teaches the electronic device of claim 1, Oh teaches displaying the hidden first partial area of the window while the second input is continuing in response to the second input being released display the second window to hide the first partial area of the first window (“when a touch input that has been applied to the virtual keypad 210 is released, a screen layered below can disappear while the transparent virtual keypad becomes non-transparent again” paragraph 0138). (paragraph 0125,0138). However, Oh does not appear to expressly teach wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to, 
reduce a size of the second window from a first size to a second size to display the first partial area of the first window while the second input is continuing, and
in response to the second input being released, stop displaying the second window in the second size and display the second window in the first size.
Wei teaches reduce a size of the second window from a first size to a second size to display the first partial area of the first window when a user input in the first window 204a received (At Blocks 1003, 1005, the processor 202 is configured to, when there has been recent user input in the first window 204a, and At Block 1017, Resize the second window 204b until the ratio of overlap is less than the first threshold), and
in response to the second input, stop displaying the second window in the second size and display the second window in the first size (At block 1027, resize the second window 204b to an original size).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Oh to comprise reduce a size of the second window from a first size to a second size to display the first partial area of the first window while the second input is continuing, and in response to the second input being released, stop displaying the second window in the second size and display the second window in the first size. One would have been motivated to make such a combination to improve user interaction functionality and provide a very fast technique for a quick look of underlying information that is so often needed.

As to dependent claim 5, Oh teaches the electronic device of claim 1, Oh further teaches wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to, 
based on a third input, display a third window on a second partial area of the second window to hide the second partial area of the second window (In FIG. 15, a web application is executed on the mobile terminal 100 to view a specific blog page 1501 through the display unit 151, and then a map application is executed to display a map search screen 150, and virtual keypad application are layered in the order based on a user input), 
based on a fourth input through the second window, display the hidden second partial area of the second window (when a touch input exceeding a reference pressure is applied to an “address” input field region 1510 of the map search screen 1502, an execution screen including the virtual keypad application transparency increase, paragraph 0205, Fig. 15, the content of the map application (i.e., the second window) is visible through the virtual keypad window), and
in response to the fourth input being released, display the third window to hide the second partial area of the second window (the map search screen 1502 is changed to an original state 1518).
Oh does not appear to expressly teach display a third window on a second partial area of the second window to hide the second partial area of the second window
Wei teaches display a third window on a second partial area of the second window to hide the second partial area of the second window (Fig. 6, display window 204b on a partial area of window 204a).
Accordingly, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the device of Oh to comprise display a third window on a second partial area of the second window to hide the second partial area of the second window. One would have been motivated to make such a combination to improve user interaction functionality and provide a very fast technique for a quick look of underlying information that is so often needed.

As to dependent claim 6, Oh teaches the electronic device of claim 5, Oh further teaches wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to, based on simultaneous inputs on the first and second windows, control a transparency of the second and third windows such that the first partial area of the first window is visually exposed (“when a touch input exceeding a reference pressure is applied to an input field region of the webpage 901 other than the virtual keypad, the controller 180 can increase the transparency of the webpage 901 and the virtual keypad at the same time, and display an execution screen associated with the input field region, namely, a Q-memo execution screen 903 in which input information associated with the input field region exists regardless of the layered order (903+901),” paragraph 0174, examiner notes that the received touch input applies to two or more application windows).

As to dependent claim 7, Oh teaches the electronic device of claim 6, Oh further teaches wherein the instructions cause the electronic device to, 
control the transparency of the second and third windows such that the first partial area of the first window is visually exposed while the simultaneous inputs are continuing (“when a touch input exceeding a reference pressure is applied to an input field region of the webpage 901 other than the virtual keypad, the controller 180 can increase the transparency of the webpage 901 and the virtual keypad at the same time, and display an execution screen associated with the input field region, namely, a Q-memo execution screen 903 in which input information associated with the input field region exists regardless of the layered order (903+901),” paragraph 0174, examiner notes that the received touch input applies to two or more application windows); and
in response to the simultaneous inputs being released, stop controlling the transparency of the second and third windows (in response to the input being released, the screen changed to an original state 1518 as shown in Fig. 15).

Claims 14-17 are substantially the same as claims 4-7 and are therefore rejected under similar rationale.

Response to Arguments
Applicant’s prior art arguments have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.

Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
 Namgung et al. US 10055101 B2 teaches executing a transparent input window in response to a touch input of a specific pattern. 	
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHELET SHIBEROU whose telephone number is (571)270-7493. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Eastern Time.
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/MAHELET SHIBEROU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2171