Apparatus and Method for Controlling Operation of Portable Terminal Having Multimedia Function

• US 20080028404A1
• Filed: 05/09/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Jae-Hyoung, Kim, Hark-Sang, Park, Seok-Hyo, Oh, Gung-Gun
• Granted Patent: US 8,049,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling an operation of a portable terminal having a multimedia function are provided. The apparatus includes a multimedia processor for performing the multimedia function when a controller is in a sleep mode wherein the controller is converted to an active mode when a specified key signal is input into the controller in the sleep mode and outputs an inactive signal to inactivate the multimedia processor. According to the present invention, the portable terminal having the controller controlling the mobile communication function and the multimedia processor controlling the multimedia function, can independently perform the mobile communication function and the multimedia function according to the specified key input. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the controller which controls the mobile communication function need not control the multimedia processor which controls the multimedia function. Hence, it is possible to reduce power consumption and software errors occurring when the controller controls the multimedia processor.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling an operation of a portable terminal having a mobile communication function and a multimedia function, the apparatus comprising:

a multimedia processor for controlling a multimedia function, the multimedia processor having an inactive mode and an active mode; and

the controller for controlling a mobile communication function, the controller having a sleep mode and an active mode,

wherein the controller is converted to an active mode when specified key signals are input in the sleep mode and outputs inactive signals, and the multimedia processor is converted to the inactive mode from the active mode when an inactive signal is received by the multimedia processor.

2. The apparatus for controlling the operation of the portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller outputs active signals to activate the multimedia processor when the specified key signals are input into the controller in a state when the multimedia processor is in an inactive mode, and then is converted to the sleep mode from the active mode.

3. The apparatus for controlling the operation of the portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specified key is arranged on an external surface of the portable terminal.

4. The apparatus for controlling the operation of the portable terminal as claims in claim 1, wherein the specified key is slidable.

5. The apparatus for controlling the operation of the portable terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller outputs inactive signals and then allows the portable terminal to perform the mobile communication function.

7. The method for controlling the operation of the portable terminal as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a step of outputting the active signals to the multimedia processor if the specified key signals are input into the controller in a state of being in the active mode, and then converting the controller from the active mode to the sleep mode.

8. The method for controlling the operation of the portable terminal as claimed in claim 5, wherein the specified key is arrange on the external surface of the portable terminal.

6. A method for controlling the operation of the portable terminal having the mobile communication function and the multimedia function, the method comprising:

performing the multimedia function by the multimedia processor if the controller is in the sleep mode;

converting the controller from the sleep mode to the active mode if the specified key signals are input into the controller in a state of being in the sleep mode, and outputting inactive signals to the multimedia processor;

inactivating the multimedia processor based on the received inactive signal; and

performing the mobile communication function by the controller which is converted to the active mode.