Portable device and method of providing menu icons

• US 20070288868A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Sang-hyun, Rhee, Young-ho, Ok, Joon-ho, Cho, Soo-ho
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/840
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable device and method of providing menu icons and, more particularly, to a portable device and method of providing menu icons, which display upper icons and the lower icons thereof in a hierarchical fashion.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a portable device includes a button signal determination unit, a focus location checking unit, a background screen management unit and a icon management unit. The button signal determination unit determines whether an input button signal is the signal of a function button or the signal of a direction button when the button signal is received from a user. The focus location checking unit checks a location of a focus located on a specific menu icon. The background screen management unit changes the view point of a background screen to a direction in which the focus is moved. The icon management unit changes the size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus.

Claims

1. A portable device for providing menu icons, comprising:

a button signal determination unit determining whether an input button signal is a signal of a function button or a signal of a direction button when the button signal is received from a user;

a focus location checking unit checking a location of a focus located on a specific menu icon;

a background screen management unit changing a view point of a background screen to a direction in which the focus is moved; and

an icon management unit changing a size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus.

2. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a button signal input unit receiving the button signal generated through the user'"'"'s manipulation of a button; and

a display unit displaying the menu icon and the focus located on the menu icon.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein:

the menu icons are classified into upper icons and lower icons; and

when the upper icon is selected, the selected upper icon and lower icons thereof are displayed in a hierarchical fashion.

4. The portable device of claim 3, wherein the lower icons are disposed around the upper icon and are rotated in a direction selected by the user.

5. The portable device of claim 3, wherein movement of the upper icon and the lower icons, locations of which are moved on a screen, is displayed using a motion blur.

6. A method of controlling a portable device for providing menu icons, the method comprising:

receiving a button signal generated through a user'"'"'s manipulation of a button;

if the input button signal is a signal of a direction button, checking a location of a focus located on an upper icon and moving the location of the focus in the input direction;

if the location of the focus is moved, changing a view point of a background screen to the direction of the movement of the focus; and

changing a size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, if the input button signal is a signal of a function button, displaying lower icons of the upper icon disposed at the location of the focus.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the upper icon and the lower icons are displayed in a hierarchical fashion.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the lower icons are disposed around the upper icon and are rotated in a direction selected by the user.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the movement of the upper icon and the lower icons, locations of which are moved, is displayed on a screen using a motion blur.