MOBILE TERMINAL AND WORLD TIME DISPLAY METHOD THEREOF

• US 20080188210A1
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Mee-Yeon, Chun, Jee-Young
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0076 in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57

Abstract

A mobile terminal and its world time display method are disclosed. The mobile terminal executes a world time display function according to the occurrence of an event. A particular area is selectively received according to the executed world time display function, and time information and representative information of the selected area are obtained and displayed. The time information includes date, a time zone, and information about a time difference between an area where a terminal is currently located and the selected area. The representative information includes a building that represents the selected area, popular tourist attractions, animals and plants, a country code, an area code, traditional costumes, etc. Simple information with respect to the particular area as well as the time information of the particular area can be provided to the user.

Claims

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

executing a world time display function according to the occurrence of an event; and

displaying time information and representative information of an area selected according to the executed world time display function.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the event based on user menu selection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a signal generated by manipulating a certain key to which the world time display function has been allocated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the event is based on automatic roaming or alarm functions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the representative information comprises images that represent the selected area that indicates at least one of animals and plants, country information, information about popular tourist attractions, weather conditions, seasons, a used language, a country code and an area code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time information comprises a time zone, date, and information about a time difference between a current location and the selected area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the time information and the representative information comprises:

Receiving user selection of a particular area when the world time display function is executed;

obtaining the time information and the representative information of the selected area; and

displaying the obtained time information and the representative information.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing to a call mode in the state that the time information and the representative information of the selected area are displayed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when the mobile terminal changes to the call mode, one or more of a country code and an area code of the selected area are automatically added as a prefix to digits inputted by the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein when the mobile terminal changes to the call mode, origination/reception history associated with the selected area is searched and displayed.

11. A mobile terminal comprising:

a controller that executes a world time display function according to the occurrence of an event; and

a display unit that displays time information and representative information of the selected area according to the executed world time display function under the control of the controller.

12. The terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

a wireless communication unit that obtains a current location of the mobile terminal, the time information and the representative information.

13. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller receives a selected area according to an external input or an internal input.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the internal input is based on automatic roaming or alarm functions.

15. The terminal of claim 11, wherein when the mobile terminal changes to a call mode in the state that the time information and the representative information of the selected area are displayed, the controller automatically adds as a prefix to digits inputted by the user one or more of a country code and an area code of the selected area.

16. The terminal of claim 11, wherein when the mobile terminal changes to the call mode in the state that the time information and the representative information of the selected area are displayed, the controller searches an origination/reception history associated with the selected area and displays the same.

17. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the representative information comprises images that represent the selected area that indicates at least one of animals and plants, country information, information about popular tourist attractions, weather conditions, seasons, a used language, a country code and an area code.

18. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the time information comprises a time zone, date, and information about a time difference between a current location and the selected area:

19. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the display unit comprises:

a first display region that displays a menu to allow user selection of a particular area; and

a second display region that displays the time information and the representative information of the particular area.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the first display region comprises one or more of a map image, a list of area names and a search word input window.

21. The terminal of claim 19, wherein one of the first and second display regions is shown in an overlay manner.