LIST SEARCH METHOD AND MOBILE TERMINAL SUPPORTING THE SAME

• US 20100298034A1
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: JONG, In Won, SHIN, Hyun Kyung, VIKTOR, Paihonensami
• Granted Patent: US 8,412,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A list search method and a mobile terminal that implements the list search method are provided. In the list search method, a plurality of search areas for outputting a plurality of index groups respectively are output in a display area where at least one list is output. The index groups include independent indexes or indexes linked with each other. Such operation occurs without screen switching and thereby enables a mobile terminal to implement a list search quickly and easily.

Claims

1. A list search method, operable in a processor within a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a list area on a display screen of a display unit, the list area including at least a part of at least one list;

receiving an input signal for searching a specific list of the at least one list; and

in response to the received input signal, displaying a plurality of search areas, each of which including an index group having at least one index for searching the specific list, on the display screen with the at least part of at least one list displayed thereon.

2. The list search method of claim 1, wherein displaying the plurality of search areas further comprises:

displaying a first search area including a first index group; and

displaying at least one additional search area including a specific index group whenever at least one predetermined input signal is generated.

3. The list search method of claim 2, wherein receiving the input signal further comprises:

receiving at least one of a predetermined touch event from a touch screen, a predetermined key input signal from a key input unit and a predetermined motion signal from a motion sensor, for displaying the first search area; and

generating at least one of a touch drag event, a direction key input signal and a direction-indicating motion signal for displaying the at least one additional search area, which are generated by movement in a direction other than in a direction for searching a first index group included in the first search area, or generating a touch down event for at least a predetermined period of time in the first search area.

4. The list search method of claim 2, wherein outputting the plurality of search areas further comprises:

generating the input signal in the first search area; and

in response to the generated input signal, displaying the additional search area adjacent to the first search area.

5. The list search method of claim 2, further comprising:

specifying a first index in the first area; and

configuring a specific index group, based on lists related to the specified first index,

wherein the specific index group includes at least one index extracted from lists including the first index in the at least one list.

6. The list search method of claim 2, wherein displaying the list area further comprises:

when a first index is specified in the first search area, extracting lists including the specified index; and

displaying at least a part of the extracted lists on the display unit.

7. The list search method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a first popup window for displaying the first index specified in the first search area.

8. The list search method of claim 7, wherein, when a touch event for specifying an index included in the first index group moves, the first popup window moves along with a movement of the touch event.

9. The list search method of claim 7, further comprising displaying a second popup window for displaying an index specified in the additional search area.

10. The list search method of claim 9, wherein the second popup window displays the first index and the index specified in the additional search area together and, the first index and the index specified in the additional search area are different in at least one of size, color, and uppercase/lowercase form.

11. The list search method of claim 10, wherein, when a touch event for specifying an index in the additional search area moves, the second popup window moves along with a movement of the touch event.

12. The list search method of claim 2, wherein displaying the list area further comprises any one of:

when an index is specified in the additional search area, extracting lists including the specific index from among the extracted lists and displaying at least a part of the lists including the specific index on a display unit; and

when an index is specified in the additional search area, extracting lists including both an index specified in the first search area and the index specified in the additional search area and displaying at least a part of the extracted lists on the display unit.

13. The list search method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a mixed search area where indexes specified in the first search area and the additional search area respectively are displayed within one area at one side of a display unit with the list area displayed thereon; and

when a predetermined input signal is generated, displaying search areas divided according to respective indexes included in the mixed search area.

14. The list search method of claim 1, wherein displaying a list area comprises at least one of:

displaying a calendar according to a schedule function;

displaying a phonebook list including an English index or a Korean index; and

displaying a list of stored files,

wherein a first index group included in a first search area of the plurality of search areas includes at least one English letter, at least one Korean consonant, and at least one numeral, and

wherein a second index group included in an additional search area output from among the plurality of search areas in response to a predetermined input signal after the first search area is displayed includes the same indexes as those of the first index group or indexes extracted from lists including an index specified in the first index group under a predetermined condition.

15. A mobile terminal configured for supporting a list search, comprising:

a storage unit for storing at least one list;

a display unit for displaying on a display screen a list area including at least a part of the at least one list;

a touch screen for generating a touch event signal in response to an input for searching a specific list of the at least one list; and

a control unit for receiving the touch event signal for searching the specific list of the at least one list, which in response to the received touch event signal, controls the mobile terminal to display a plurality of search areas, each of which including an index group having at least one index for searching the specific list, on the display screen upon which the at least one list is displayed.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the control unit controls the mobile terminal to display a first search area having a first index group on the display screen in response to a first touch event, display at least one additional search area having a specific index group whenever at least one touch event is generated and display the at least one additional search area adjacent to the first search area and a previously displayed additional search area.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein, when a first index is specified in the first search area, the control unit controls the mobile terminal to configure the specific index group, based on lists related to the specified index, wherein the specific index group includes at least one index extracted from lists including the first index in the at least one list.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein, when a first index is specified in the first search area, the control unit controls the mobile terminal to extract lists including the specified index, and display at least a part of the extracted lists;

and

when a second index is specified in an additional search area, the control unit controls the mobile terminal to extract lists including the second index from among lists extracted based on a first index, and display at least a part of the extracted lists, or newly extract lists including both first and second indexes in the at least one list, and display the newly extracted lists.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the display unit displays at least one of:

a first popup window displaying the first index specified in the first search area and moving along with a movement of a touch event that moves into the first search area;

a second popup window displaying an index specified in the additional search area, and moving along with a movement of a touch event that moves into the additional search area; and

a second popup window displaying an index specified in the additional search area and the first index together, and moving along with a movement of a touch event that moves into the additional search area, the first index and the index specified in the additional search area being different in at least one of size, color, and uppercase/lowercase form.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein, when a separate touch event is not generated for a certain period of time, the control unit controls the mobile terminal to display indexes specified in the plurality of search areas respectively within one area, and when a predetermined touch event is generated, display search areas that are searchable according to the respective indexes included within one area.