APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLAYING OF MULTIMEDIA ITEM

• US 20100188351A1
• Filed: 01/20/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: YUN, Joong Sam, JI, Sung Wook, LEE, Bong Won
• Application Number:
  US12/690,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188351A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

An apparatus for playing a multimedia item includes a display unit which outputs an operation unit that includes a wheel area and generates an input signal according to a touch event generated in the wheel area in selecting or generating the multimedia item. A storage unit stores functional setting information defining a function according to at least one multimedia item and the input signal generated in the operation unit. A controller generates a control signal for playing the multimedia item based on the input signal generated in the operation unit and the function setting information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for playing a multimedia item, the apparatus comprising:

a display means which displays an operation unit that includes a wheel area and generates an input signal upon sensing a touch event generated in the wheel area for selecting or generating at least one multimedia item out of a plurality of multimedia items;

a storage unit which stores function setting information defining a function according to at least one multimedia item and the input signal generated in the operation unit; and

a controller which generates a control signal for playing a particular multimedia item based on the input signal generated in the operation unit and the function setting information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display means comprises:

an output area which comprises a list including the multimedia items, and information according to a play of the particular multimedia item; and

an execution area which includes a touch wheel area that generates an input signal for indicating a multimedia item which is output to the output area and a confirmation key map area that generates an input signal for selecting the particular multimedia item.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the operation unit is displayed in the output area, in selecting or generating the particular multimedia item.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operation unit further comprises:

a first information display area which is arranged inside of the wheel area, and includes at least one of image information and text information of played multimedia item; and

a second information display area which is arranged inside of the first information display area, and outputs play information of the particular multimedia item.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second information display area maintains a display state independently of a drag signal generated in the wheel area.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first information display area outputs a rotation state according to a drag signal of a certain direction generated in the wheel area.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first information display area outputs a rotation state according to a play-speed of the particular multimedia item.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the function setting information includes information which is defined for performing a different function with respect to an identical touch event generated in the operation unit according to a setting of the portable terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller outputs a control signal which controls a play of the particular multimedia item according to a drag signal which is generated when a touched down state generated in the wheel area is moved along a certain direction in a state where the touched down state is maintained.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller returns to an operational unit state according to the play of the particular multimedia item previous to generation a drag signal, in cancelling the touchdown.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller controls the play of the particular multimedia item from a point of time of cancelling the touched down state, in cancelling the touched down state.

12. A method for playing a multimedia item, the method comprising:

selecting a particular multimedia item for playing;

outputting an operation unit that includes a wheel area, and generates an input signal according to a touch event generated in the wheel area;

loading a function setting information defining a function according to at least one multimedia item and the input signal generated in the operation unit; and

generating a control signal for playing the particular multimedia item based on the input signal generated in the operation unit and the function setting information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein outputting an operation unit further comprises at least one of:

a first information display step of displaying information including at least one of image information and text information of the particular multimedia item to a first information display area which is prepared inside of the wheel area; and

a second information display step of displaying play information of the particular multimedia item to a second information display area which is prepared inside of the first information display area.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first information display step comprises outputting a rotation state according to a drag signal of a certain direction generated in the wheel area.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first information display step comprises outputting a rotation state according to a play speed of playing the particular multimedia item.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein generating a control signal comprises generating a control signal to perform a different function with respect to an identical touch event generated in the operation unit according to a setting of the portable terminal.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein generating a control signal comprises:

moving a touched down state which is generated in the wheel area in a certain direction in a state where the touchdown is maintained;

generating a drag signal according to the movement; and

outputting a control signal which controls a play of the particular multimedia item according to the drag signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein generating a control signal comprises outputting a control signal for a scratch function, in case a drag signal of a right direction and a drag signal of a left direction are alternatively generated.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein generating a control signal further comprises:

cancelling the touched down state; and

returning to an operational unit state according to the play of multimedia item previous to generation a drag signal.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein generating a control signal further comprises:

cancelling the touched down state; and

controlling the play of the particular multimedia item from a point of time of cancelling the touched down state.