TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING FUCTION THEREIN

• US 20090140997A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeong, Seok Hyun, Bok, II Geun, Oh, Jung Yeob
• Application Number:
  US12/324,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140997A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• 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 terminal and a method for performing a function therein are provided. The method for performing a function in a terminal includes detecting touches in a first area and a second area of a touch screen in a specific mode, and performing a function corresponding to the first area with respect to an item corresponding to the second area.

Claims

1. A method for performing a function in a terminal, comprising:

detecting touches in a first area and a second area of a touch screen in a specific mode; and

performing a function corresponding to the first area with respect to an item corresponding to the second area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting touches comprises:

displaying at least one item corresponding to the specific mode and at least one corresponding function; and

detecting a touch of a specific item among the displayed items and a touch of a specific function among the displayed functions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein performing a function comprises:

detecting a release of at least one of the touches; and

executing the specific function with respect to the specific item when the specific function and the specific item were touched simultaneously prior to the release of at least one of the touches.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein executing the specific function with respect to the specific item comprises executing the touched specific function with respect to a plurality of touched items when the plurality of items are touched and released while the specific function is touched.

5. A method for performing a function in a terminal, comprising;

displaying a list including at least one received message and displaying at least one function on a touch screen in a received message display mode;

detecting a touch of a specific function among the displayed functions and a touch of a specific message among the displayed list of the at least one received message; and

performing the specific function for the specific message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein performing the specific function comprises:

detecting a release of at least one of the touches; and

executing the specific function for the specific message when the specific function and the specific message were touched simultaneously prior to the release of at least one of the touches.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one function comprises a ‘

Delete message’

function or a ‘

Create new message’

function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein executing the specific function comprises deleting the specific message when the ‘

Delete message’

function and the specific message were touched simultaneously prior to the release of at least one of the touches.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein executing the specific function comprises deleting all touched messages when the messages are touched and released while the ‘

Delete message’

function is touched.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein executing the specific function comprises:

designating a sender of the touched message as a receiver when the ‘

Create new message’

function and the specific message are touched; and

displaying a message creating screen.

11. A method for performing a function in a terminal, comprising:

displaying at least one image and displaying at least one function on a touch screen in an image album mode;

detecting a touch of a specific function among the displayed functions and a touch of a specific image among the displayed images; and

performing the specific function for the specific image.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein performing the specific function comprises:

detecting a release of at least one of the touches; and

executing the specific function with respect to the specific image when the specific function and the specific image were touched simultaneously prior to the release of at least one of the touches.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one function comprises a ‘

Send image’

function, a ‘

Copy’

function, a ‘

Move’

function, or a ‘

Delete’

function.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein executing the specific function comprises displaying, a message creating screen to which the specific image is to be attached if the ‘

Send image’

function and the specific image are touched simultaneously.

15. A terminal, comprising:

a touch screen;

a touch sensor to detect a touch on the touch screen; and

a controller to perform a function corresponding to a first area with respect to an item corresponding to a second area when touches are detected on the first area and the second area, respectively.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the touch screen displays at least one item corresponding to a specific mode and at least one corresponding function, and the touch sensor detects a touch of a specific item among the displayed items and a touch of a specific function among the displayed functions.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the controller performs the specific function with respect to the specific item when the specific function and the specific item are touched simultaneously and at least one of the touches is released.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the controller performs the specific function for a plurality of items when the plurality of items are touched and released while the specific function is touched.