Terminal and method for selecting displayed items

• US 20070229471A1
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Woo, Boem Young, Ahn, Hyun Ju, Cheon, Ho Sang, Park, Jun Serk, Han, Seung Sook, Yoon, Jeong Hyuk, Kim, Tae Hun
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A terminal and method for selecting an item displayed on a touch screen are disclosed. The method for selecting an item displayed on the screen includes simultaneously touching the screen at two or more locations to define a selection area and identifying the items within the selection area. The section area may be a rectangle, a horizontal or vertical band of the display, a circle, or sequentially arranged items of a list. Alternatively, a single touch may define a point in the display area and the bounds of the display area are defined by the time the touch is maintained. Recently, with the increasing development of multiple functions on a single terminal, the method can be conveniently applied to the latest terminal where associated items are simultaneously displayed on a single display screen of the terminal.

Claims

1. A method for selecting icons on a screen having a vertical axis and a horizontal axis comprising:

defining a selection area on the screen by touching an input device; and

selecting the icons that are at least partially within the selection area, wherein the input device is one of a touch screen and a touch pad.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein defining the selection area comprises:

touching the input device to locate the center of a circle;

maintaining the touch for a period of time; and

releasing the touch,

wherein the circle has a radius according to the period of time the touch is maintained, and wherein the selection area is defined by the circle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein defining the selection area comprises;

touching the input device to locate a first point;

while maintaining the touch locating the first point, touching the input device to locate a second point; and

releasing the touches locating the first and second points.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein if the first point and the second point lie on a line parallel to the horizontal axis, the selection area is that portion of the screen between a first boundary and a second boundary, wherein the first boundary is a line parallel to the vertical axis passing through the first point and the second boundary is a line parallel to the vertical axis passing through the second point.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein if the first point and the second point lie on a line parallel to the vertical axis, the selection area is that portion of the screen between a third boundary and a fourth boundary, wherein the third boundary is a line parallel to the horizontal axis passing through the first point and the fourth boundary is a line parallel to the horizontal axis passing through the second point.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein if the first point and the second point line lie on a line that is not parallel to either the vertical or horizontal axes, the first point and the second point define opposing corners of a rectangle having sides parallel to the vertical and horizontal axes, and wherein the selection area is defined by the rectangle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein defining the selection area comprises:

touching the input device to locate a first point;

while maintaining the touch locating the first point, touching the input device to locate a plurality of additional points; and

releasing the touches locating the first point and the plurality of additional points,

wherein the first point and the plurality of additional points define the vertices of a closed polygon, and wherein the closed polygon defines the selection area.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the icons comprises identifying and selecting icons that are wholly within the selection area.

9. A method for selecting a plurality of icons on a screen comprising:

touching an input device to select a first icon;

while maintaining the touch selecting the first icon, touching the input device to select additional icons; and

releasing the touches selecting the first icon and the additional icons, thereby selecting the plurality of icons,

wherein the input device is one of a touch screen and a touch pad.

10. A method for selecting items of a list displayed on a screen comprising:

touching an input device to select a first item of the list;

maintaining the touch for a period of time; and

after the period of time, releasing the touch selecting the first item; and

selecting sequential items according to the period of time, wherein the input device is one of a touch screen and a touch pad.

11. A method for selecting items of a list displayed on a screen comprising:

touching an input device to identify a first item of the list;

while maintaining the touch identifying the first item, touching the input device to identify a second item;

releasing the touches identifying the first and second items; and

selecting the first and second items, and all items therebetween, wherein the input device is one of a touch screen and a touch pad.

12. A terminal comprising:

an input unit;

a screen having a vertical and a horizontal axis for displaying icons; and

a controller for defining a selection area of the screen and for selecting icons that are located at least partially within the selection area, wherein the input device is one of a touch screen and a touch pad.

13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the selection area is a circle having a center located by a touch on the input unit and a radius according to a period of time the touch is maintained.

14. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the selection area is defined by a first point and a second point, the first point located by a first touch of the input device, and the second point located by a second touch of the input device while maintaining the first touch.

15. The terminal of claim 14, wherein if the first point and the second point lie on a line parallel to the horizontal axis, the selection area is that portion of the screen defined by a first boundary and a second boundary, wherein the first boundary is a line parallel to the vertical axis passing through the first point and the second boundary is a line parallel to the vertical axis passing through the second point.

16. The terminal of claim 14, wherein if the first point and the second point lie on a line parallel to the vertical axis, the selection area is that portion of the screen defined by a third boundary and a fourth boundary, wherein the third boundary is a line parallel to the horizontal axis passing through the first point and the fourth boundary is a line parallel to the horizontal axis passing through the second point.

17. The terminal of claim 14, wherein if the first point and the second point line lie on a line that is not parallel to either the vertical or horizontal axes, the first point and the second point define opposing corners of a rectangle having sides parallel to the vertical and horizontal axes, and wherein the selection area is defined by the rectangle.

18. The terminal of claim 12, wherein the selection area is a closed polygon defined by a plurality of vertices, the plurality of vertices located by a first touch of the input device, and a plurality of additional touches of the input device while maintaining the first touch.

19. The terminal of claim 12, wherein icons are selected when the icons are located wholly within the selection area.

20. A terminal comprising:

an input unit;

a screen for displaying icons; and

a controller for selecting a plurality of icons,

wherein a first touch of the input unit locates a first icon, and additional touches of the input unit while maintaining the first touch locates additional icons,

wherein the plurality of icons comprising the first icon and the additional icons is selected when the first touch is released, and

wherein the input unit is one of a touch screen and a touch pad.

21. A terminal comprising:

an input unit;

a screen displaying a list of items; and

a controller for selecting items,

wherein a first touch of the input unit selects a first item and sequential items are selected while the first touch is maintained, and

wherein the input unit is one of a touch screen and a touch pad.

22. A terminal comprising:

an input unit;

a screen displaying a list of items; and

a controller for selecting items,

wherein a first touch of the input units identifies a first item of the list and a second touch of the input unit while maintaining the first touch identifies a second item of the list,

wherein when the first touch and the second touch are released, the first item and the second item, and all items therebetween are selected, and

wherein the input unit is one of a touch screen and a touch pad.