Method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal

• US 20050261031A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Seo, Eun-Jung, Park, Wei-Jin, Seo, Jeong-Wook, Lee, Jong-Kerl
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal is provided. The method comprises the steps of when an event is generated in the mobile terminal, determining whether a function for displaying a character image has been set for the event; if the function has been set, processing the generated event, selecting a character image corresponding to the event in a character memory and displaying an event processing result together with the selected character image; and if the function has not been set, processing the generated event and displaying the event processing result.

Claims

1. A method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

when an event is generated in the mobile terminal, determining whether a function for displaying a character image has been set for the event;

if the function has been set, processing the generated event, selecting a character image corresponding to the event in a character memory and displaying an event processing result together with the selected character image; and

if the function has not been set, processing the generated event and displaying the event processing result.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said character image is an avatar and said character memory is an avatar memory for storing avatar images corresponding to different events.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result comprises:

when the generated event is a popup window event for which the character displaying function has been set, analyzing information to be displayed in a popup window; and

selecting an avatar image to be added to the popup window in the avatar memory and displaying the information in the avatar added popup window.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said popup window event is a system state alert for providing status information of the mobile terminal.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said popup window event is a help explanation provided upon selection of a help menu on the mobile terminal.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result comprises:

when the generated event is an alarm/schedule alert event for which the character displaying function has been set and when a preset alarm/schedule alert time is reached, analyzing a list of alarm/schedule alert registrations; and

detecting an alarm/schedule alert to be generated at the preset time, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the alarm/schedule alert in the avatar memory and displaying an alarm/schedule alert message together with the selected avatar image.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said display of the alarm/schedule alert message comprises:

when the alarm/schedule alert is an anniversary alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the anniversary on a specified date in the avatar memory and displaying an anniversary alert message together with the selected avatar image.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said anniversary is a national or international holiday or a personal anniversary.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display of the alarm/schedule alert message comprises:

when the alarm/schedule alert is an alarm, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the alarm in the avatar memory, displaying an alarm message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset alarm sound; and

when the alarm/schedule alert is a morning call, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the morning call in the avatar memory, displaying a morning call message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound;

when the alarm/schedule alert is a schedule alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the schedule alert in the avatar memory, displaying a schedule alert message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound; and

when the alarm/schedule alert is an anniversary alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the anniversary alert in the avatar memory, displaying a anniversary alert message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result further comprises:

when the generated event is arrival of a text message, displaying a message informing the arrival of a text message;

analyzing character strings in the received text message and comparing the analyzed character strings with emotional expressions stored in an emotional expression memory;

selecting one or more emotional expressions included in the text message; and

accessing an avatar image corresponding to the selected emotional expressions in the avatar memory that stores multiple avatar images representing various emotions, and displaying the text message together with the corresponding avatar image.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said emotional expressions are emoticons.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said selection of one or more emotional expressions is a selection of a last emoticon used in the text message.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said emotional expressions are classified into five groups representing happiness, sadness, anger, embarrassment and shyness, respectively, and stored in the emotional expression memory so as to store avatar images in a number corresponding to the five different emotions in the avatar memory.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said text message is displayed together with an avatar image corresponding to the emotion represented by the selected emotional expressions.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said text message is displayed in a word balloon of the avatar image.

16. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result further comprises:

when the generated event is a communication event, analyzing the communication event, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the analyzed communication event in the avatar memory and displaying a message indicating the generation of the communication event together with the selected avatar image.

17. A method for displaying an event together with a character image on a mobile terminal, comprising the steps of:

displaying a list of events that can be displayed together with a character image, displaying character images applicable to each selected event, and when a character image is selected, registering the selected character image;

when an event is generated in the mobile terminal, determining whether a function for displaying a character image has been set for the event;

if the function has been set, processing the generated event, selecting a character image corresponding to the event in a character memory and displaying an event processing result together with the selected character image; and

if the function has not been set, processing the generated event and displaying the event processing result.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said events that can be displayed together with a character image include arrival of a text message, alarm or schedule alerts, communication events and popup window events.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said step of displaying the event processing result with the selected character image comprises:

when the generated event is a popup window event for which the character displaying function has been set, selecting a character image to be added to a popup window in the character memory and displaying an information message in the character added popup window;

when the generated event is an arrival of a text message, analyzing emotional expressions included in the text message, accessing a character image corresponding to the emotional expressions in the character memory and displaying the text message together with the character image;

when the generated event is an alarm/schedule alert event and a preset alarm/schedule alert time is reached, detecting an alarm/schedule alert registered to be generated at the preset time, selecting a character image corresponding to the alarm/schedule alert and displaying an alarm/schedule alert message together with the selected character image; and

when the generated event is a communication event, analyzing the communication event, selecting a character image corresponding to the analyzed communication event in the character memory and displaying a message informing the generation of the communication event together with the selected character image.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said character image is an avatar and said character memory is an avatar memory for storing avatar images corresponding to different events.

21. A method for displaying status information on a mobile terminal having a character memory for storing character images, which comprises the steps of;

when the mobile terminal is powered on, accessing a character image corresponding to the power on state in the character memory, displaying power-on state information together with the character image and entering a standby mode;

when a menu for setting a character displaying function is selected in the standby mode, displaying a list of events to which the character displaying function can be applied, and when one or more events are selected from the list, selecting a character image in the character memory to be displayed for the selected events;

when an event is generated in the standby mode, analyzing the generated event to determine whether the character displaying function has been set for the event, accessing a character image in the character memory if the character displaying function has been set for the event, and displaying status information relating to the event together with the character image; and

when the mobile terminal is powered off in the standby mode, accessing a character image corresponding to the power-off state in the character memory, displaying power-off information together with the character and turning off the mobile terminal.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said character image is an avatar and said character memory is an avatar memory for storing avatar images corresponding to different events.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said events to which the character displaying function can be applied include arrival of a text message, alarm or schedule alerts, communication events and popup window events.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said step of displaying status information comprises:

when the generated event is a popup window event, selecting an avatar image to be added to a popup window in the avatar memory and displaying an information message in the avatar added popup window;

when the generated event is an arrival of a text message, analyzing emotional expressions included in the text message, accessing an avatar image corresponding to the emotional expressions in the avatar memory and displaying the text message together with the avatar image;

when the generated event is an alarm/schedule alert event and a preset alarm/schedule alert time is reached, detecting an alarm/schedule alert registered to be generated at the preset time, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the alarm/schedule alert and displaying an alarm/schedule alert message together with the selected avatar image; and

when the generated event is a communication event, analyzing the communication event, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the analyzed communication event in the avatar memory and displaying a message informing the generation of the communication event together with the selected avatar image.

25. A method for processing an alarm/schedule alert in a mobile terminal having a character memory for storing character images, which comprises the steps of;

registering alarm/schedule alerts by selecting a character image suitable for each alarm/schedule alert in the character memory and setting an alarm time, message and bell sound for each alarm/schedule alert together with the selected character image; and

when a preset alarm/schedule time is reached, detecting an alarm/schedule alert registered to be generated at the preset time, accessing a character image preset for the alarm/schedule alert and displaying an alarm/schedule alert message together with the preset character image.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprises:

analyzing the alarm/schedule alert registered to be generated at the preset time;

when the alarm/schedule alert is an alarm, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the alarm in the avatar memory, displaying an alarm message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset alarm sound; and

when the alarm/schedule alert is a morning call, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the morning call in the avatar memory, displaying a morning call message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound;

when the alarm/schedule alert is a schedule alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the schedule alert in the avatar memory, displaying a schedule alert message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound; and

when the alarm/schedule alert is an anniversary alert, selecting an avatar image corresponding to the anniversary alert in the avatar memory, displaying a anniversary alert message together with the selected avatar image and generating a preset bell sound.