Electronic device capable of expanding display region and method for controlling screen thereof

1. An electronic device comprising:

a flexible display;

at least one sensor configured to sense changes in a size of a viewable portion of the flexible display;

at least one processor operatively connected to the flexible display and the at least one sensor; and

a memory operatively connected to the at least one processor,

wherein the memory stores instructions that, when being executed, cause the at least one processor to perform a plurality of operations comprising:

displaying a first screen on the flexible display;

sensing a change in the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display through the at least one sensor;

displaying a list comprising at least one selectable item in at least a partial region of the flexible display during the changing of the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display;

detecting that the changing of the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display has stopped;

in response to detecting the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display has stopped, displaying the first screen corresponding to the viewable portion of the flexible display with the changed size; and

in response to returning of the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display to an original size without completing the change in the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display, displaying a second screen corresponding to a selectable item while the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display changes, among items included in the list, on the viewable portion of the flexible display having the original size.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein displaying the second screen corresponding to the selected item on the flexible display having the original size comprises determining the selected item, based on a time point at which a direction of the change in the size of the flexible display changes while the size of the flexible display changes.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one selectable item comprises at least one object included in a screen of at least one previously executed application or a screen of a currently executed application.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:

determining whether the first screen comprises at least one selectable object; and

displaying a designated icon in one region of the first screen when the first screen comprises at least one selectable object, and

wherein displaying the list comprising the at least one selectable item further comprises:

displaying at least one selectable object included in the first screen as the list when the change in the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display is sensed in a state in which the designated icon is selected; and

displaying the at least one previously executed application as the list when the change in the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display is sensed in a state in which the designated icon is not selected.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the list comprises a number of items, wherein the number is based on a priority.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the list comprises an item displayed as a representative item, and in response to the change in the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display the representative item is changed.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein displaying the second screen corresponding to the selected item on the flexible display having the original size comprises:

determining that the representative item is the selected item; or

determining that an item, selected by a user among the items included in the list, is the selected item.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:

storing reference information in response to sensing of the change in the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display;

when the flexible display returns to the original size, determining whether the reference information has been changed;

displaying the second screen on the flexible display having the original size when the reference information has not been changed; and

displaying the first screen on the flexible display having the original size when the reference information has been changed.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:

sensing the change in the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display; and

displaying the first screen and the second screen by using a multiscreen when a designated event is sensed before the change in the size of the viewable portion of the flexible display is completed.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein displaying the first screen and the second screen by using the multiscreen further comprises:

maintaining the display of the first screen and displaying the second screen in an expanded region of the flexible display; or

equally splitting the flexible display having a changed size and displaying the first screen and the second screen on the split flexible display.

11. A method for controlling a screen of an electronic device capable of expanding a display region, the method comprising:

displaying a first screen on a display;

sensing a change in a size of a viewable portion of the display through at least one sensor;

displaying a list comprising at least one selectable item in at least a partial region of the display during the changing of the size of the viewable portion of the display;

detecting the changing of the size of the viewable portion of the display has stopped;

in response to detecting the size of the viewable portion of the display has stopped, displaying the first screen corresponding to the display having the changed size; and

in response to returning of the size of the viewable portion of the display to an original size without completing the change in the size of the viewable portion of the display, displaying a second screen corresponding to a selectable item while the size of the viewable portion of the display changes, among items included in the list, on the display having the original size.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the displaying of the second screen corresponding to the selected item on the display having the original size comprises determining the selected item, based on a time point at which a direction of the change in the size of the display changes while the size of the display changes.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one selectable item comprises at least one object included in a screen of at least one previously executed application or a screen of a currently executed application.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining whether the first screen comprises at least one selectable object; and

displaying a designated icon in one region of the first screen when the first screen comprises at least one selectable object,

wherein displaying the list comprising the at least one selectable item comprises:

displaying at least one selectable object included in the first screen as the list when the change in the size of the viewable portion of the display is sensed in a state in which the designated icon is selected; and

displaying the at least one previously executed application as the list when the change in the size of the viewable portion of the display is sensed in a state in which the designated icon is not selected.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the list comprises a number of items, wherein the number is based on a priority.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the list comprises an item displayed as a representative item, and in response to the change in the size of the viewable portion of the display the representative item is changed.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the displaying of the second screen corresponding to the selected item on the display having the original size comprises:

determining that the representative item is the selected item; or

determining that an item, selected by a user among the items included in the list, is the selected item.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

storing reference information in response to sensing of the change in the size of the viewable portion of the display;

when the display returns to the original size, determining whether the reference information has been changed;

displaying the second screen on the display having the original size when the reference information has not been changed; and

displaying the first screen on the display having the original size when the reference information has been changed.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

sensing the change in the size of the viewable portion of the display; and

displaying the first screen and the second screen by using a multiscreen when a designated event is sensed before the change in the size of the viewable portion of the display is completed.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the displaying of the first screen and the second screen by using the multiscreen comprises:

maintaining the display of the first screen and displaying the second screen in an expanded region of the display; or

equally splitting the display having a changed size and displaying the first screen and the second screen on the split display.