METHOD OF PROVIDING USER INTERFACE IN A PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20090115739A1
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: HONG, Jun-Il
• Application Number:
  US12/262,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115739A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A method of providing a user interface for invoking a function related with a state indicator in a portable terminal where an altered state representation of the state indicator is displayed when a predetermined change occurs in the state representation of the state indicator is disclosed. According to the method, the related function is registered for the state indicator when a state change to be reflected in the representation of the state indicator occurs and the state representation of the state indicator is altered. In this state, upon receipt of a touch input for a state indicator display area on a screen, a state indicator window for displaying a state indicator after enlarging the state indicator is displayed on the screen. Upon receipt of a user input for designating the state indicator displayed on the state indicator window, the registered function is invoked.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface for invoking a function related to a state indicator in a portable terminal displaying the state indicator indicating a state change on a screen of a touch screen input/output device, the method comprising the steps of:

registering the related function for the state indicator corresponding to an occurrence of a state change when a state change to be reflected in the representation of the state indicator occurs;

altering the state representation of the state indicator corresponding to the occurrence of the state change;

if there is a touch input for a state indicator display area on the screen, displaying on the screen a state indicator window containing at least one enlarged state indicator and displaying the at least one enlarged state indicator thereon; and

invoking the registered function upon receipt of an input for designating a state indicator displayed on the state indicator window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input indicating the state indicator is a touch screen input for a representation area of the state indicator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the input indicating the state indicator is a button input in a state where a cursor or an input focus is located in a representation area of the state indicator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the state indicator indicates at least one of a message arrival, an alarm setting, a setting of a vibration mode, and a Bluetooth communication connection.