PORTABLE COMPUTER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20080270114A1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: SONG, Jong-ho
• Granted Patent: US 8,289,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/454 Multi-language systems; Localisation; Internationalisation

Abstract

A portable computer operates by an operating system (OS) corresponding to a predetermined language, and includes a keypad unit which includes a plurality of input keys and has a key array corresponding to a plurality of languages, a system unit which operates according to at least one key value, and a control unit which determines the language according to which the OS operates, and controls the system unit to operate according to the key value corresponding to an input key which is selected according to the key array corresponding to the language.

Claims

1. A portable computer which operates by an operating system (OS) corresponding to a predetermined language, the portable computer comprising:

a keypad unit which includes a plurality of input keys each having at least one character labeled thereon and has a key array corresponding to a plurality of languages;

a system unit to operate according to at least one input key value; and

a control unit to determine the language according to which the OS operates, and to control the system unit to operate according to the input key value corresponding to an input key which is selected according to the key array corresponding to the determined language.

2. The portable computer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a saving unit to save a table of input key values representing the key array corresponding to the plurality of languages.

3. The portable computer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines the language according to which the OS operates according to information included in the OS, and controls the system unit to operate according to the input key value corresponding to the selected input key by referring to the key array corresponding to the determined language.

4. The portable computer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines the language selected by a user, and controls the system unit to operate according to the input key value corresponding to the selected input key by referring to the key array corresponding to the determined language.

5. The portable computer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit generates a message to notify a user of the portable computer that the language to which the OS operates has a plurality of characters different than characters labeled on the input keys.

6. A method of controlling a portable computer which operates by an operating system (OS) corresponding to a predetermined language, the method comprising:

determining the language according to which the OS operates;

assigning an input key value to each of a plurality of input keys, each input key having at least one character printed thereon, by referring to a key array corresponding to the determined language; and

operating the portable computer according to the input key value of a selected input key.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

saving a table of input key values for the key array corresponding to the determined language.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

saving a table of input key values for the key array corresponding to a plurality of languages.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a message to notify a user of the portable computer that the language to which the OS operates has a plurality of characters different than characters printed on the input keys.

10. A portable computer, comprising:

a keypad unit having a plurality of input keys;

a system unit to operate an operating system (OS) according to one of a first language and a second language; and

a control unit to generate one of a first array of first input key values and a second array of second input key values to be assigned to corresponding ones of the input keys of the keypad unit according to the one of the first language and the second language.

11. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the input keys include character input keys wherein each character input key has associated with it a first input key value to represent an alphabet character of the one of the first language and the second language and a second input key value to represent a special character.

12. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the control unit replaces a portion of the one of the first array and the second array with a portion of the other one of the first array and the second array according to the one of the first language and the second language.

13. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the control unit adds a specific alphabet character of the one of the first language and the second language to be assigned to a corresponding one of the input keys.

14. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the plurality of input keys comprise at least one input key assigned with an alphabet character and a symbol, and the control unit inputs a corresponding input key value for one of the alphabet character and the symbol to the system unit according to a selection of the alphabet character and the symbol.

15. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the plurality of input keys comprise at least one input key assigned with an alphabet character and a number, and the control unit inputs a corresponding input key value for one of the alphabet character and the number to the system unit according to the one of the first language and the second language.

16. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the plurality of input keys comprise at least one input key assigned with a function and an alphabet character, and the control unit inputs a corresponding input key value for one of the function and the alphabet character to the system unit according to the one of the first language and the second language.

17. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the control unit inputs one of the first input key values and the second input key values which are assigned to one of the input keys to the system unit according to the one of the first language and the second language when one of the input keys is selected.

18. A method of operating a portable computer, the method comprising:

operating an operating system (OS) according to one of a first language and a second language; and

generating one of a first array of first input key values and a second array of second input key values to be assigned to corresponding ones of input keys of a keypad unit according to the one of the first language and the second language.