Method of and apparatus for displaying messages on a mobile terminal

• US 20070113176A1
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Jae
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging

Abstract

A method and apparatus simultaneously displays the main text and/or more attached filed of a message received in a mobile terminal. This simultaneous display allows a user to confirm the main text and attached files in the message. The main text and attached files may be shown in respective areas of the display.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information in a mobile terminal, comprising:

receiving a message that includes text and at least one attached file; and

displaying images associated with the at least one attached file sequentially on a screen of the mobile terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file are displayed sequentially and rotationally on the screen of the mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file are automatically displayed sequentially and rotationally on the screen of the mobile terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file are sequentially displayed in response to a predetermined key being pressed on the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file are sequentially displayed according to a predetermined cycle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined cycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying includes:

simultaneously displaying the text and the images associated with the at least one attached file on the screen of the mobile terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said displaying includes:

displaying the text and the images associated with the at least one attached file in screen areas allotted based on display-specifying data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the display-specifying data is input by a user using an input menu.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the text is displayed in a first area and the images are displayed in a second area of the screen of the mobile terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

changing areas of the screen where the text and images are to be displayed.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying includes:

simultaneously displaying images associated with at least two attached files on a screen of the mobile terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the images associated with the at least two attached files are displayed in different areas of the screen of the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable based on control information stored in the mobile terminal.

16. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, comprising:

receiving a message that includes text and a plurality of attached audio files; and

playing the plurality of attached audio files sequentially through a speaker when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined condition is when the message is opened.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of audio files are automatically played sequentially through the speaker.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of audio files are sequentially played in response to a predetermined key being pressed on the mobile terminal.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of audio files are sequentially played according to a predetermined cycle.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable based on control information stored in the mobile terminal.

18. The method of 16, wherein the predetermined condition is expiration of a set execution time after the message is opened.

22. The method of claim 22, wherein the predetermined cycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.

23. The method of claim 23, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable

25. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a screen;

a receiver to receive a message that includes text and at least one attached file; and

a controller to control display of images associated with the at least one attached file sequentially on the screen.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file are displayed sequentially and rotationally on the screen of the mobile terminal.

27. The mobile terminal of claim 26, wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file are automatically displayed sequentially and rotationally on the screen of the mobile terminal.

28. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file are sequentially displayed in response to a predetermined key being pressed on the mobile terminal.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 25, further comprising:

a memory to store control information indicative of a predetermined cycle for sequentially displaying the images of the at least one attached file.

30. The mobile terminal of claim 29, wherein the predetermined cycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.

31. The mobile terminal of claim 29, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable.

32. The mobile terminal of claim 31, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable based on control information stored in the mobile terminal.

33. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the controller controls simultaneous display of the text and images associated with the at least one attached file on the screen.

34. The mobile terminal of claim 33, wherein the controller controls display of the text and images associated with the at least one attached file in screen areas allotted based on display-specifying data.

35. The mobile terminal of claim 34, wherein the display-specifying data is input by a user using an input menu.

36. The mobile terminal of claim 33, wherein the text is displayed in a first area and the images are displayed in a second area of the screen.

37. The mobile terminal of claim 36, wherein the controller changes areas of the screen where the text and images are to be displayed.

38. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the controller controls simultaneous display of images associated with at least two attached files on a screen of the mobile terminal.

39. The mobile terminal of claim 38, wherein the images associated with the at least two attached files are displayed in different areas of the screen.

40. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a screen;

a receiver to receive a message that includes text and at least one attached file; and

a controller to control simultaneous display of the text on the screen and playing of audio associated with the at least one attached file through a speaker when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

41. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the predetermined condition is when the message is opened.

43. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the plurality of audio files are automatically played sequentially through the speaker.

44. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the plurality of audio files are sequentially played in response to a predetermined key being pressed on the mobile terminal.

45. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the plurality of audio files are sequentially played according to a predetermined cycle.

46. The mobile terminal of claim 45, wherein the predetermined cycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.

47. The mobile terminal of claim 45, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable.

48. The mobile terminal of claim 47, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable based on control information stored in the mobile terminal.

42. The mobile terminal of 40, wherein the predetermined condition is expiration of a set execution time after the message is opened.