METHOD FOR ACTIVATING USER FUNCTIONS BY TYPES OF INPUT SIGNALS AND PORTABLE TERMINAL ADAPTED TO THE METHOD

• US 20100283735A1
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Hee Woon, KIM, Jin Yong, SHIN, Dong Jun
• Granted Patent: US 9,344,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/72 for transmitting results of analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means

Abstract

A method for activating user functions by types of input signals and a portable terminal adapted to the method are disclosed. The input means of the portable terminal generate various types of input signals. The portable terminal activates and controls particular user functions according to corresponding input signals. In a multi-tasking situation where a plurality of user functions are simultaneously used, the portable terminal can activate and control the user functions according to the particular types of input signals.

Claims

1. A method, operating in a processing system, for activating user functions based on types of input signals, comprising:

generating at least one or more types of input signals in different types of input means; and

activating and controlling a corresponding user function based on the types of generated input signals in a multi-tasking situation where a plurality of user functions are substantially simultaneously in operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least one or more input signals comprises at least one of:

generating a touch event on a touch panel;

generating a key input signal from a key input unit;

generating voice recognition data through voice recognition; and

generating an operation signal based on a motion state of a portable terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein activating and controlling a corresponding user function comprises:

activating a first user function as at least one type of input signal other than the voice recognition data is generated, and displaying a first screen;

generating voice recognition data based on the voice recognition, if a voice signal is collected in a state where the first screen is displayed;

performing at least one of activating and controlling a second user function based on voice recognition data; and

outputting at least one of;

a second screen, an icon, a voice signal, and a vibration, according to the at least one of activation and control of the second user function, together with the first screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein activating and controlling a corresponding user function comprises:

activating a plurality of particular user functions set to the respective input signals, according to types of input signals generated when different types of a plurality of input signals are generated; and

simultaneously maintaining the plurality of activated particular user functions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein activating and controlling a corresponding user function comprises:

activating and controlling a first user function, activated and controlled by a first type of input signal input when at least one type of input signal is generated; and

activating at least one second user function, set by different types of input signals generated when an input signal whose type differs from the first user function, in a state while the first user function is being maintained.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein activating and controlling a corresponding user function comprises:

displaying a first screen on a display unit, according to the activation of the first user function; and

outputting at least one of;

a second screen, an icon, a voice signal, and a vibration, according to the activation of the second user function, if the second user function is activated in a state while the first user function is being maintained.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein outputting at least one of a second screen, an icon, a voice signal, and a vibration further comprises:

converting, if the second user function is a function to check whether a message is received, visual information contained in the received message into a voice signal, and

outputting the voice signal.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein activating and controlling a corresponding user function comprises:

displaying a first screen on a display unit, according to the activation of the first user function;

reducing, if the second user function is activated while the first user function is being maintained, the size of the first screen, and outputting the reduced screen on a certain area of the display unit; and

outputting on the display unit a second screen according to the activation of the second user function in an area other than an area other than that area occupied by the reduced screen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein activating and controlling a corresponding user function represents activating and controlling particular user functions by types of input signals that are input without selecting or switching a plurality of activated user functions.

10. A portable terminal that supports the activation of user functions by types of input signals, comprising:

an input signal generating module including at least one type of input means that generates an input signal;

a storage unit for storing application programs that support at least one user function; and

a controller, including a processor, for;

activating at least one user function in response to a corresponding type of input signal generated by the input signal generating module,

performing at least one of;

setting and controlling according to the particular type of input signal an activated user function,

wherein the controller controls activation and processing of a corresponding user function by the types of generated input signals in a multi-tasking situation where a plurality of user functions are substantially simultaneously used.

11. The portable terminal of claim 10, wherein the input signal generating module comprises at least one of:

a touch panel for generating a touch event;

a key input unit for generating a key input signal;

a voice recognition module for voice-recognizing collected voice signals and generating voice recognition data; and

a motion sensor for sensing a motion state of the portable terminal and generating an operation signal based on the sensed motion state.

12. The portable terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying a screen according to the user function activation,

wherein the controller;

activates a first user function in response to at least one type of input signal other than the voice recognition data;

generates in response to a voice signal collected in a state where the first user function is activated voice recognition data based on the voice signal;

controls processing of a second user function based on the voice recognition data; and

outputs, on the display unit, at least one of;

a second screen, an icon, a voice signal, and a vibration, according to the activation and control of the second user function together with the first screen according to the activation of the first user function.

13. The portable terminal of claim 10, wherein the storage unit comprises at least one of:

at least one user function activated or controlled by input signals generated from one type of input means; and

at least one user function activated or controlled by input signals generated from at least two or more types of input means.

14. The portable terminal of claim 13, wherein the at least one user functions are simultaneously activated and controlled.

15. The portable terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying a first screen on an entire display area according to an activation of a first user function,

wherein the display unit displays at least one of an icon and a second screen together with the first screen according to the activation of a second user function.

16. The portable terminal of claim 13, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying;

a first screen on the entire display area according to the activation of a first user function;

a reduced screen in a certain area corresponding to the first screen when a second user function is activated while the first user function is being maintained; and

a second screen on an area other than the area occupied by the reduced screen, according to the activation of a second user function.

17. The portable terminal of claim 15, further comprising:

an audio processing unit for converting, if the second user function corresponds to a function checking whether a message is received, visual information contained the received message into a voice signal, and outputting the voice signal.

18. The portable terminal of claim 16, further comprising:

an audio processing unit for converting, if the second user function corresponds to a function checking whether a message is received, visual information contained the received message into a voice signal, and outputting voice signal.

19. A portable terminal comprising:

a display unit,

at least one input unit, and

a processor in communication with a memory, the memory including code, which when accessed by the processor causes the processor to;

receive a first input from one of the at least one input units; and

in response to the received first input;

display, on the display unit, a first screen image corresponding to the received first input; and

activate a function corresponding to the first screen; and

receive a second input from a second one of the at least one input units; and

in response to the received second input;

reduce the first screen image on the display unit;

display, on the display unit, a second screen image in an area not occupied by the first screen image; and

activate a function corresponding to the received second input.

20. The Terminal of claim 19, wherein the reduction of the first screen image comprises at least one of:

changing a resolution and removing a portion of the first screen image.