Portable Terminal and Control Method Therefor

• US 20100095205A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Kenta
• Granted Patent: US 8,997,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• 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 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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

Abstract

When it is discriminated by an input-means determining unit 8 that an input to display unit is a first input by a pen, a function of an application 3 allocated in advance to an area on a screen of the application 3 specified by an input coordinate of first input means determined by an input-position determining unit 11 is executed on the basis of the first input. When it is discriminated that the input to the display unit is a second input by a finger, the execution of the function of the application 3 allocated in advance on the screen of the application 3 is prohibited and a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application 3 is executed on the basis of the second input.

Claims

1. A portable terminal comprising:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

input detecting unit for detecting each of plural inputs to the display unit; and

control unit for executing, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that an input to the display unit is a first input by first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the application specified by the first input, and prohibiting, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that the input to the display unit is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the application allocated in advance on the screen of the application and executing, on the basis of the second input, a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application.

3. The portable terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable terminal scrolls, when the application screen can be viewed with a scroll function, the screen of the application on the basis of the second input.

4. The portable terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable terminal performs, when the application has a handwritten character input function, character input with the first input and performs character erasing and character shift with the second input.

9. The portable terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the input detecting unit includes:

imaging unit for picking up an image of the periphery of the display unit; and

image analyzing unit for analyzing the image picked up by the imaging unit.

10. The portable terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the input detecting unit includes:

an image sensor incorporated in the display unit; and

image analyzing unit for analyzing an image output from the image sensor.

11. The portable terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that the first input is a main input, a contact area of which with the display unit or the touch panel is smaller than a predetermined value, and the second input is a sub-input, a contact area of which with the display unit or the touch panel is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.

12. The portable terminal according to claim 11, characterized in that the main input is an input by a pen, and a sub-input is an input by a finger.

2. A portable terminal comprising:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit;

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel;

discriminating unit for discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means; and

control unit for executing, when it is discriminated that the input is a first input by the first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the application specified by an input coordinate of the first input means, and prohibiting, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the application allocated in advance on the screen of the application and executing, on the basis of the second input, a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application.

5. A portable terminal comprising:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

input detecting unit for detecting each of plural inputs to the display unit; and

control unit for executing, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that an input to the display unit is a first input by first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the application specified by the first input, and prohibiting, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that the input to the display unit is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the application allocated in advance on the screen of the application and executing, when the first input is detected during a period in which the second input continues, on the basis of the first input, a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application.

6. A portable terminal comprising:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

input detecting unit for detecting each of plural inputs to the display unit; and

a control unit that, when one main application, a screen of which is displayed on the display unit, and one background application, a screen of which is not displayed on the display unit, are simultaneously activated, executes, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that an input to the display unit is a first input by first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the main application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the main application specified by the first input, and prohibits, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that the input to the display unit is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the main application allocated in advance on the screen of the main application and executes, on the basis of the second input, a predetermined function of the background application.

7. A portable terminal comprising:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit;

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel;

discriminating unit for discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means; and

control unit for executing, when it is discriminated that the input is a first input by the first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the application specified by an input coordinate of the first input means, and prohibiting, when it is detected that the input is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the application allocated in advance on the screen of the application and executing, when the first input by the first input means is detected during a period in which the second input by the second input means continues, on the basis of the first input, a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application.

8. A portable terminal comprising:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit;

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel;

discriminating unit for discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means; and

a control unit that, when one main application, a screen of which is displayed on the display unit, and one background application, a screen of which is not displayed on the display unit, are simultaneously activated, executes, when it is discriminated that the input is a first input by first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the main application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the main application specified by an input coordinate of the first input means, and prohibits, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the main application allocated in advance on the screen of the main application and executes, on the basis of the second input, a predetermined function of the background application.

13. A control method for a portable terminal including:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications; and

input detecting unit for detecting each of plural inputs to the display unit;

wherein,

the control method comprising;

executing, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that an input to the display unit is a first input by first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the application specified by the first input; and

prohibiting, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that the input to the display unit is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the application allocated in advance on the screen of the application and executing, on the basis of the second input, a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application.

15. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 13, characterized by comprising scrolling, when the application screen can be viewed with a scroll function, the screen of the application on the basis of the second input.

16. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 13, characterized by comprising performing, when the application has a handwritten character input function, character input with the first input and performing character erasing and character shift with the second input.

21. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 13, characterized in that the input detecting unit includes:

imaging unit for picking up an image of the periphery of the display unit; and

image analyzing unit for analyzing the image picked up by the imaging unit.

22. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 13, characterized in that the input detecting unit includes:

an image sensor incorporated in the display unit; and

image analyzing unit for analyzing an image output from the image sensor.

23. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 13, characterized in that the first input is a main input, a contact area of which with the display unit or the touch panel is smaller than a predetermined value, and the second input is a sub-input, a contact area of which with the display unit or the touch panel is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.

24. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 23, characterized in that the main input is an input by a pen, and a sub-input is an input by a finger.

14. A control method for a portable terminal including:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the control method comprising;

discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means;

executing, when it is discriminated that the input is a first input by the first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the application specified by an input coordinate of the first input means; and

prohibiting, when it is detected that the input is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the application allocated in advance on the screen of the application and executing, on the basis of the second input, a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application.

17. A control method for a portable terminal including:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications; and

input detecting unit for detecting each of plural inputs to the display unit, wherein

the control method comprising;

executing, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that an input to the display unit is a first input by first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the application specified by the first input; and

prohibiting, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that the input to the display unit is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the application allocated in advance on the screen of the application and executing, when the first input is detected during a period in which the second input continues, on the basis of the first input, a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application.

18. A control method for a portable terminal including:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications; and

input detecting unit for detecting each of plural inputs to the display unit, wherein,

the control method comprising;

when one main application, a screen of which is displayed on the display unit, and one background application, a screen of which is not displayed on the display unit, are simultaneously activated, executing, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that an input to the display unit is a first input by first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the main application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the main application specified by the first input; and

prohibiting, when it is detected by the input detecting unit that the input to the display unit is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the main application allocated in advance on the screen of the main application and executing, on the basis of the second input, a predetermined function of the background application.

19. A control method for a portable terminal including:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the control method comprising;

discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means;

executing, when it is discriminated that the input is a first input by the first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the application specified by an input coordinate of the first input means; and

prohibiting, when it is detected that the input is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the application allocated in advance on the screen of the application and executing, when the first input by the first input means is detected during a period in which the second input by the second input means continues, on the basis of the first input, a predetermined function not allocated to the area on the screen of the application.

20. A control method for a portable terminal including:

storing unit for storing various applications;

display unit for displaying a screen of each of the applications;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the control method comprising;

discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means;

when one main application, a screen of which is displayed on the display unit, and one background application, a screen of which is not displayed on the display unit, are simultaneously activated,

executing, when it is discriminated that the input is a first input by first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function of the main application allocated in advance to an area on the screen of the main application specified by an input coordinate of the first input means; and

prohibiting, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means, the execution of the function of the main application allocated in advance on the screen of the main application and executing, on the basis of the second input, a predetermined function of the background application.

25. A portable terminal including:

display unit for displaying a screen of a mail application;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the portable terminal comprising;

discriminating unit for discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means; and

control unit for executing, on a mail creation screen of the mail application, when it is discriminated that the input is a first input by the first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function allocated in advance to an area on the mail creation screen specified by an input coordinate of the first input means, performing, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means and an input start position and an input release position of the second input detected by the input detecting unit are substantially the same, switching control for the mail creation screen and a viewing screen for a mail as a source of invocation of the mail creation screen, and controlling, when it is discriminated that the input is the second input by the second input means and the input start position and the input release position of the second input detected by the input detecting unit are different, the mail application screen to scroll.

29. The portable terminal according to claim 25, characterized in that the first input is a main input, a contact area of which with the touch panel is smaller than a predetermined value, and the second input is a sub-input, a contact area of which with the touch panel is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.

30. The portable terminal according to claim 29, characterized in that the main input is an input to the touch panel by a pen, and a sub-input is an input to the touch panel by a finger.

26. A portable terminal including:

display unit for displaying a screen of a mail application;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the portable terminal comprising;

discriminating unit for discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means; and

control unit for performing control, on the screen of the mail application, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means and a first input by the first input means is detected in relation to an area indicating an attachment file on the screen of the mail application during a period in which the second input is continuously detected by the input detecting unit, to reproduce the attachment file.

27. A portable terminal including:

display unit for displaying a screen of a mail application;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the portable terminal comprising;

discriminating unit for discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means; and

control unit for performing control, on the screen of the mail application, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means and a first input by the first input means is detected during a period in which the second input is continuously detected by the input detecting unit, to copy data displayed on the screen of the mail application in a range with an input start position of the first input set as a start point and an input release position of the first input set as an end point.

28. The portable terminal according to claim 27, characterized in that the control unit further pastes, when the first input is detected in a data pastable area on the screen of the mail application for the first time after input release of the second input is detected by the detecting unit, the copied data with an input position of the first input set as a starting point.

31. A control method for a portable terminal including:

display unit for displaying a screen of a mail application;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the control method further including control unit for;

discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means;

executing, on a mail creation screen of the mail application, when it is discriminated that the input is a first input by the first input means, on the basis of the first input, a function allocated in advance to an area on the mail creation screen specified by an input coordinate of the first input means;

performing, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means and an input start position and an input release position of the second input detected by the input detecting unit are substantially the same, switching control for the mail creation screen and a viewing screen for a mail as a source of invocation of the mail creation screen; and

controlling, when it is discriminated that the input is the second input by the second input means and the input start position and the input release position of the second input detected by the input detecting unit are different, the mail application screen to scroll.

35. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 31, characterized in that the first input is a main input, a contact area of which with the touch panel is smaller than a predetermined value, and the second input is a sub-input, a contact area of which with the touch panel is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.

36. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 35, characterized in that the main input is an input to the touch panel by a pen, and a sub-input is an input to the touch panel by a finger.

32. A control method for a portable terminal including:

display unit for displaying a screen of a mail application;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the control method comprising;

discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means; and

performing control, on the screen of the mail application, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means and a first input by the first input means is detected in relation to an area indicating an attachment file on the screen of the mail application during a period in which the second input is continuously detected by the input detecting unit, to reproduce the attachment file.

33. A control method for a portable terminal including:

display unit for displaying a screen of a mail application;

a touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display unit in association with the display unit; and

input detecting unit for detecting an input to the touch panel, wherein,

the control method comprising;

discriminating whether the input detected by the input detecting unit is an input by first input means or an input by second input means; and

performing control, on the screen of the mail application, when it is discriminated that the input is a second input by the second input means and a first input by the first input means is detected during a period in which the second input is continuously detected by the input detecting unit, to copy data displayed on the screen of the mail application in a range with an input start position of the first input set as a start point and an input release position of the first input set as an end point.

34. The control method for a portable terminal according to claim 33, characterized by comprising pasting, when the first input is detected in a data pastable area on the screen of the mail application for the first time after input release of the second input is detected by the detecting unit, the copied data with an input position of the first input set as a starting point.