Method for displaying applications and electronic device thereof

• US 10,444,937 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Yong-Joon
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Kevin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Linda
• Application Number:
  US14/092,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20140149908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,148 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: 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

Abstract

A method controls an electronic device. The method includes detecting a folder display event. The method also includes, in response to detecting the event, displaying a folder and simultaneously displaying a quick menu window including at least one application included in the folder on an area adjacent to the folder without any input with respect to the folder.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device with a global positioning system (GPS) and a display, the method comprising:

detecting an event for displaying, on the display, a screen comprising folders, each folder including a portion of a plurality of applications that are installed in the electronic device;

in response to detecting the event, identifying, by using the GPS, a location of the electronic device;

determining a first application that has been most often executed in the identified location of the electronic device;

determining, among the folders, a first folder including the determined first application;

in response to the determination of the first folder, displaying, with the first folder, a first menu window by using the display, wherein the first menu window is adjacent to the determined first folder and includes a first icon for executing the determined first application;

detecting that the location of the electronic device has changed after the display of the first menu window;

determining a second application that has been most often executed in the changed location of the electronic device;

determining, among the folders, a second folder including the determined second application; and

in response to the determination of the second folder, displaying, by using the display, a second menu window and ceasing to display the first menu window, wherein the second menu window is adjacent to the determined second folder and includes a second icon for executing the determined second application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first menu window and the second menu window comprise a number of applications that is determined based on at least one of system settings, user settings, a frequency of access of a user to the folders, a geographic location of the electronic device, and a time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first application comprises:

identifying a frequency of use of applications included in the folders in the identified location of the electronic device, and

selecting the first application that has been most often executed in the identified location based on the identified frequency of use of applications in the identified location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a graphical effect indicating that the first folder and the first menu window are associated with each other, or a graphical effect indicating that the second folder and the second menu window are associated with each other.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a drag associated with the first folder or the second folder;

in response to detecting the drag associated with the first folder or the second folder, identifying a dragging length and a dragging direction of the drag;

expanding a size of the first menu window or the second menu window based on the dragging length and the dragging direction; and

displaying a number of applications corresponding to the dragging length of the detected drag on the expanded size of the first menu window or the expanded size of the second menu window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the first menu window or the second menu window comprises:

determining whether another application or another folder is present on an area adjacent to the first folder on which the first menu window is to be displayed or an area adjacent to the second folder on which the second menu window is to be displayed; and

in response to determining that another application or folder is present on the area adjacent to the first folder or the area adjacent to the second folder, moving the other application or folder to another location and displaying the first menu window or the second menu window on the area adjacent to the first folder or the area adjacent to the second folder.

7. An electronic device comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS);

at least one processor;

a touch sensitive display; and

a memory configured to store at least one program, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions of the at least one program to;

detect an event for displaying, on the touch sensitive display, a screen comprising folders, each folder including a portion of a plurality of applications that are installed in the electronic device;

in response to detecting the event, identify, by using the GPS, a location of the electronic device;

determine a first application that has been most often executed in the identified location of the electronic device;

determine, among the folders, a first folder including the determined first application;

in response to the determination of the first folder, instruct the touch sensitive display to display, with the first folder, a first menu window, wherein the first menu window is adjacent to the determined first folder and includes a first icon for executing the determined first application;

detect that the location of the electronic device has changed after the display of the first menu window;

determine a second application that has been most often executed in the changed location of the electronic device;

determine, among the folders, a second folder including the determined second application; and

in response to the determination of the second folder, instruct the touch sensitive display to display a second menu window and ceasing to display the first menu window, wherein the second menu window is adjacent to the determined second folder and includes a second icon for executing the determined second application.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein

the first menu window and the second menu window comprise a number of applications that is determined based on at least one of system settings, user settings, a frequency of access of a user to each folder, a geographic location of the electronic device, and a time.

9. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein at least one processor is further configured to:

identify a frequency of use of applications included in the folders in the identified location of the electronic device; and

select of the first application that has been most often executed in the identified location based on the identified frequency of use of applications in the identified location.

10. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is configured to instruct the touch sensitive display to display graphical effect indicating that the first folder and a first menu widow are associated with each other, or a graphical effect indicating that the second folder and the second menu window are associated with each other.

11. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

detect a drag associated with the first folder or the second folder;

in response to detecting the drag associated with the first folder or the second folder, identify a dragging length and a dragging direction of the drag;

expand a size of the first menu window or the second menu window based on the dragging length and the dragging direction; and

instruct the touch sensitive display to display a number of applications corresponding to the dragging length of the detected drag on the expanded size of the first menu window or the expanded size of the second menu window.

12. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine whether another application or another folder is present on an area adjacent to the first folder on which the first menu window is to be displayed or an area adjacent to the second folder on which the second menu window is to be displayed; and

in response to determining that another application or folder is present on the area adjacent to the first folder or the area adjacent to the second folder, instruct the touch sensitive display to move the other application or folder to another location and display the first menu window or the second menu window on the area adjacent to the first folder or the area adjacent to the second folder.