Apparatus and method for recognizing and transmitting handwritten data in a mobile communication terminal

• US 20070097095A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Su-Jin, Kim, Eun-Ju
• Application Number:
  US11/590,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20070097095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An apparatus and method for transmitting a handwritten data during a messenger conversation in a mobile communication terminal. The method includes disabling a key input function of a keypad to receive handwritten data when a handwriting mode is set; driving a pressure sensor for sensing pressing of the keypad; determining whether handwritten data is input through the pressure sensor; displaying input handwritten data on a display unit when handwritten data is input through the pressure sensor; and transmitting the handwritten data. Accordingly, the mobile communication terminal can recognize and transmit handwritten data, such as text or image data, thus making it possible to express a user'"'"'s personality. In addition, an image edit function can make it possible to easily transfer information that is difficult to express through simple texts. Furthermore, mobile communication terminals can receive handwritten text or image data without a specific apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting handwritten data in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

disabling a key input function of a keypad to receive handwritten data when a handwriting mode is set;

driving a pressure sensor for sensing pressing of the keypad;

determining whether handwritten data is input through the pressure sensor;

displaying input handwritten data on a display unit when handwritten data is input through the pressure sensor; and

transmitting the handwritten data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the handwritten data is produced by sensing pressure generated the pressing the keypad.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the handwritten data is input using an image effect function including a color setting function, a line thickness setting function, and a symbol input function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input handwritten data is editable using an image edit function including an erase function, a zoom-in function, and a zoom-out function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the handwritten data is applicable to additional services that allow a user to input data, the additional services including a message, a scheduler, a note pad, and a mobile messenger.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the handwritten data is simultaneously transmitted to conversation participants when there are a plurality of conversation participants.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the key input function of the keypad when the input handwritten data is displayed on the display unit.

8. An apparatus for sensing handwritten data in a mobile communication terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a keypad for transmitting pressing of the keypad;

a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure generated by pressing the keypad; and

a controller for recognizing sensed pressure to generate handwritten data.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the keypad includes alphanumeric keys, and a key input function of the keypad is disabled in a handwriting mode so pressing the keypad is transmitted to the pressure sensor.

10. A method for transmitting handwritten data in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

sensing an input of handwritten data when a handwriting mode is set; and

transmitting the input handwritten data to another mobile communication terminal which is already communicating with the mobile communication terminal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of displaying the input handwritten data on a display unit just after the step of sensing the input of handwritten data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the handwritten data is input by pressing a keypad.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the input handwritten data is editable using an image edit function including an erase function, a zoom-in function, and a zoom-out function.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the handwritten data are simultaneously transmitted to conversation participants when there are a plurality of conversation participants.

15. A mobile communication terminal for transmitting handwritten data comprising:

a sensing means for sensing an input of handwritten data when a handwriting mode is set; and

a controller for transmitting the input handwritten data to another mobile communication terminal which is already communicating with the mobile communication terminal.

16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller further performs displaying the input handwritten data on a display unit just after sensing the input of handwritten data.

17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 15, wherein the input handwritten data is editable using an image edit function including an erase function, a zoom-in function, and a zoom-out function.

18. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for transmitting handwritten data in a mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a first code segment, for sensing an input of handwritten data when a handwriting mode is set; and

a second code segment, for transmitting the input handwritten data to another mobile communication terminal which is already communicating with the mobile communication terminal.