METHOD OF DIVIDING SCREEN AREAS AND MOBILE TERMINAL EMPLOYING THE SAME

• US 20100248788A1
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Min, Yong Ki, Lee, Kang Won, Yook, Hyung Min, Kang, Young Ae, Yoo, Sung Sik, Lee, Myeong Lo, Yang, Hui Chul
• Application Number:
  US12/728,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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: G06F 3/1415 with means for detecting differences between the image stored in the host and the images displayed on the displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0414 Vertical resolution change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0421 Horizontal resolution change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0442 Handling or displaying different aspect ratios, or changing the aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0471 Vertical positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0478 Horizontal positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method of supporting divided screen areas and a mobile terminal employing the same are disclosed. The method includes: generating input signals for one of sequentially and simultaneously activating a plurality of user functions; activating the user functions according to generated input signals; dividing a screen into divided screen areas that correspond to activated user functions; and outputting functional view areas associated with the activated user functions to the corresponding divided screen areas.

Claims

1. A screen area dividing method for a mobile terminal, comprising:

generating a plurality of input signals for any of sequentially and simultaneously activating a plurality of user functions;

activating the plurality of user functions according to at least one of the plurality of generated input signals;

dividing the screen into a plurality of divided screen areas each corresponding to at least one of the plurality of user functions; and

outputting a functional view area associated with each of the plurality of activated user functions to the corresponding divided screen area of the plurality of divided screen areas.

2. The screen area dividing method of claim 1, wherein dividing the screen into a plurality of divided screen areas is invoked by at least one of:

when a dual menu item that is created for at least one of divided screen area formation and for outputting functional view areas associated with menus is activated, performing—

first, activating user functions in sequence, and

generating an input signal for requesting to make a divided screen area;

formation after activating user functions in sequence;

after a first user function is activated, performing—

generating an input signal for activating a subordinate function of the first user function, and

activating an event generation function on the basis of one of an internal and external system event; and

generating an input signal for activating a user function and a subordinate function of the user function.

3. The screen area dividing method of claim 1, wherein outputting a functional view area comprises one of:

displaying, according to activation of independent user functions, a functional view area associated with the independent user functions on the corresponding divided screen area;

displaying, according to repeated activation of a user function, a functional view area associated with each instance of the user function on the corresponding divided screen area;

displaying a functional view area associated with a first user function and a functional view area associated with a second user function related to the first user function on the corresponding divided screen area; and

displaying a functional view area associated with a user function and a functional view area associated with a subordinate user function of the user function on the corresponding divided screen area.

4. The screen area dividing method of claim 1, further comprising transitioning between functional view areas on the divided screen areas according to an input signal.

5. The screen area dividing method of claim 4, wherein transitioning between functional view areas comprises one of:

when a search view area is output in response to an input signal after divided screen area formation and a new user function is selected from the search view area, replacing one of the functional view areas being output on the divided screen areas with a functional view area associated with the newly selected user function; and

when a menu view area is output in response to an input signal after divided screen area formation and a new menu item is selected from the menu view area, replacing one of the functional view areas being output on the divided screen areas with a functional view area associated with the newly selected menu item.

6. The screen area dividing method of claim 5, wherein outputting the menu view area comprises:

resizing each functional view area being output on the divided screen areas; and

displaying the menu view area among the resized functional view areas.

7. The screen area dividing method of claim 5, wherein, when the new menu item selected from the menu view area is a dual menu item, the functional view areas being output on the corresponding divided screen areas are replaced with functional view areas associated with the selected dual menu item.

8. The screen area dividing method of claim 1, further comprising performing function interworking by carrying out at least one of insertion, search, copy, transfer, and invoking of information between the functional view areas on the divided screen areas.

9. The screen area dividing method of claim 8, wherein performing function interworking between a first and a second functional view area, comprises at least one of:

copying an information item displayed in the first functional view area to the second functional view area;

utilizing an information item displayed in the first functional view area, carrying out a search in the second functional view area;

finding at least one file listed in the first functional view area and attaching the found file in the second functional view area;

utilizing an information item displayed in the first functional view area to one of make a call and view a map in the second functional view area;

moving and saving an information item displayed in the first functional view area to the second functional view area;

using an information item displayed in the first functional view area, connecting to a server from the second functional view area; and

moving a list item displayed in the first functional view area to a selected folder in the second functional view area.

10. The screen area dividing method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a dual menu item that combines two items together, wherein the dual menu item is capable of activating a plurality of user functions.

11. A mobile terminal capable of supporting divided screen areas, comprising:

a storage unit for storage of a plurality of application programs realizing user functions;

an input unit for generation of input signals for one of sequentially and simultaneously activating user functions;

a control unit for activation of user functions according to input signals, and output of functional view areas associated with the user functions on the divided screen areas; and

a display unit for display of the functional view areas.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the input unit performs at least one of:

generation of an input signal for—

selection of a dual menu item that is created for divided screen area formation,

output of functional view areas associated with menus, and

request of divided screen area formation after activation of user functions in sequence;

after a first user function is activated, generation of an input signal to activate a subordinate function of the first user function; and

generation of an input signal for activation of a user function and a subordinate function of the activated user function.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the display unit provides at least one of:

display of functional view areas associated with the independent user functions on the corresponding divided screen areas according to activation of independent user functions;

display of functional view areas associated with instances of the user function on the corresponding divided screen areas according to repeated activation of a user function;

display of a functional view area associated with a first user function and a functional view area associated with a second user function related to the first user function on the corresponding divided screen area;

display of a functional view area associated with a user function and a functional view area associated with a subordinate user function of the displayed user function on the corresponding divided screen area; and

display of a functional view area associated with an activated first user function and a functional view area associated with an event generation function corresponding to one of an internal and external system event on the corresponding divided screen area.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the display unit outputs a search view area containing at least one icon for display of a functional view area after divided screen area formation, and outputs a menu view area containing at least one menu for display of a functional view area after divided screen area formation.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the control unit controls, in response to an input signal for output of the menu view area, the display unit to resize each of the functional view areas being output on the divided screen areas and to display the menu view area among the resized functional view areas, and controls, when a dual menu item is selected from the menu view area, the display unit to replace the functional view areas being output on the divided screen areas with functional view areas associated with the selected dual menu item.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the control unit controls an operation through the display unit for output of a first functional view area and a second functional view area to:

copy an information item displayed in the first functional view area to the second functional view area;

carry out, utilizing an information item displayed in the first functional view area, a search in the second functional view area;

find at least one file listed in the first functional view area and attach the found file in the second functional view area;

utilize an information item displayed in the first functional view area to one of make a call and view a map in the second functional view area;

move an information item displayed in the first functional view area to the second functional view area and store the moved information item;

connect to, using an information item displayed in the first functional view area, a server from the second functional view area; and

move a list item displayed in the first functional view area to a selected folder in the second functional view area.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the display unit outputs an icon for generation of an input signal to request divided screen area formation.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the display unit outputs an icon for generation of an input signal to return from divided screen area formation to a full screen format.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the display unit adjusts the size of the functional view areas displayed in the divided screen areas in accordance with an input signal.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the display unit outputs a dual menu item that combines two items together that is capable of activation of a plurality of user functions.