MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20100097321A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Son, Joo-Hee, Suh, Hyo-Jin, Son, Seung-Hwan, Song, Young-Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 9,274,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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

Disclosed are a terminal in which a shape or configuration of a virtual keypad is transformable by considering user'"'"'s convenience and a method for controlling the same, the terminal including: a display module configured to display a virtual keypad; a user input unit configured to receive a touch or drag input from a user; and a controller configured to transform the shape of the virtual keypad according to a dragged direction or dragged length when a spot of the virtual keypad is touched to be dragged in a specific direction.

Claims

1. A terminal comprising:

a display module configured to display a virtual keypad;

a user input unit configured to receive at least a touch or drag input on at least one portion of the virtual keypad; and

a controller configured to determine at least a direction or length of the received at least a touch or drag input and control the display module to transform the virtual keypad according to the determined at least a direction or length.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to transform the virtual keypad by at least extending, reducing or inclining a length of at least one side of the virtual keypad according to the determined at least a direction or length.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to transform the virtual keypad to a preset shape, wherein a degree of the transformation is according to the determined at least a direction or length.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to transform the virtual keypad by changing at least a gap between two adjacent keys of the virtual keypad, a size of at least one key of the virtual keypad, an orientation of the virtual keypad, an inclination of at least one key of the virtual keypad, a font of information represented on at least one key of the virtual keypad or a size of information represented on at least one key of the virtual keypad.

5. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to transform the virtual keypad by deleting at least one key of the virtual keypad or changing a position of at least one key of the virtual keypad.

6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to transform the virtual keypad by dividing the virtual keypad into at least two portions according to the determined at least a direction or length.

7. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that at least one touch was received on at least two portions of the virtual keypad and divide the virtual keypad according to a line connecting the at least two portions.

8. The terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to transform at least a position or shape of a selected portion of the divided virtual keypad according to at least a direction or length that the selected portion is dragged.

9. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that at least one touch was received on at least two portions of the virtual keypad and transform the virtual keypad according to at least a relative direction or relative length of the at least one touch received on the at least two portions.

10. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to display information related to an operation state of the virtual keypad on an empty space created when the virtual keypad is transformed.

11. A method for controlling a display of a terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a virtual keypad on the display;

receiving at least a touch or drag input on at least one portion of the virtual keypad;

determining at least a direction or length of the received at least a touch or drag input; and

transforming the virtual keypad according to the determined at least a direction or length.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the virtual keypad comprises at least extending, reducing or inclining a length of at least one side of the virtual keypad according to the determined at least a direction or length.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the virtual keypad comprises transforming the virtual keypad to a preset shape, wherein a degree of the transformation is according to the determined at least a direction or length.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the virtual keypad comprises changing at least a gap between two adjacent keys of the virtual keypad, a size of at least one key of the virtual keypad, an orientation of the virtual keypad, an inclination of at least one key of the virtual keypad, a font of information represented on at least one key of the virtual keypad or a size of information represented on at least one key of the virtual keypad.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the virtual keypad comprises deleting at least one key of the virtual keypad or changing a position of at least one key of the virtual keypad.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the virtual keypad comprises dividing the virtual keypad into at least two portions according to the determined at least a direction or length.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein transforming the virtual keypad further comprises:

determining that at least one touch was received on at least two portions of the virtual keypad; and

dividing the virtual keypad according to a line connecting the at least two portions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein transforming the virtual keypad further comprises transforming at least a position or shape of a selected portion of the divided virtual keypad according to at least a direction or length that the selected portion is dragged.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein transforming the virtual keypad comprises:

determining that at least one touch was received on at least two portions of the virtual keypad; and

transforming the virtual keypad according to at least a relative direction or relative length of the at least one touch received on the at least two portions.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying information related to an operation state of the virtual keypad on an empty space created when the virtual keypad is transformed.