Method for using multi-function key in a portable phone

• US 20060019717A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Gong, Sung-Hwa
• Granted Patent: US 7,930,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

A method for using a multi-function key for a portable phone having a multi-function key for generating a plurality of input signals. First, menu items are displayed in a main menu upon generation of a first input signal according to manipulation of multi-function key in a stand-by state, an intended menu item is shifted to by generating a second input signal by manipulating the multi-function key, and the menu item is selected by generating a third input signal by manipulating the multi-function key.

Claims

1. A method for selecting one of a plurality of menus with a multi-function key in a portable terminal including a key input unit having at least one multi-function key, a display for displaying thereon the plurality of menus representing a plurality of functions, a microphone, and a speaker, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying the plurality of menus on the display according to a first-period manipulation of the multi-function key;

moving a cursor from one of the plurality of menus to an adjacent one according to a second-period manipulation of the multi-function key, the second period being different from the first period; and

if the cursor is located on a specific one of the plurality of menus, selecting the specific menu according to the first-period manipulation of the multi-function key.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, if there is any submenu in the selected menu, selecting the submenu by repeating the displaying, moving and selecting steps.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first period and the second period are defined as the number of manipulations of the multi-function key.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by pressing the multi-function key.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by sliding the multi-function key in a left/right direction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by rotating the multi-function key.

7. A method for selecting a character/numeral with a multi-function key in a portable terminal including a key input unit having at least one multi-function key, a display for displaying thereon the selected character/numeral, a microphone, and a speaker, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a character/numeral input state according to a first-period manipulation of the multi-function key;

moving a cursor from one of characters/numerals displayed in the character/numeral input state to an adjacent one according to a second-period manipulation of the multi-function key, the second period being different from the first period; and

if the cursor is located on a specific character/numeral among the characters/numerals displayed in the character/numeral input state, selecting the specific character/numeral according to the first-period manipulation of the multi-function key.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

displaying character/numeral types according to the first-period manipulation of the multi-function key;

moving the cursor from one of the character/numeral types to an adjacent one according to the second-period manipulation of the multi-function key; and

if the cursor is located on a specific one of the character/numeral types, displaying a character/numeral input state for the specific character/numeral type according to the first-period manipulation of the multi-function key.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting and displaying characters/numerals by repeating the displaying, moving and displaying steps, and ending the character/numeral input process according to the first-period manipulation of the multi-function key.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting and displaying numerals by repeating the displaying, moving and displaying steps, recognizing the displayed numerals as a telephone number according to the first-period manipulation of the multi-function key, and performing a dialing function using the telephone number.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first period and the second period are defined as the number of manipulations of the multi-function key.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first period and the second period are defined as the number of manipulations of the multi-function key.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by pressing the multi-function key.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by pressing the multi-function key.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by sliding the multi-function key in a left/right direction.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by sliding the multi-function key in a left/right direction.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by rotating the multi-function key.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the manipulation of the multi-function key is achieved by rotating the multi-function key.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the characters include Korean characters, English characters, Chinese numerals, and special characters.