APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20110013785A1
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Min-Soo
• Application Number:
  US12/837,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20110013785A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/107
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level

Abstract

A method for controlling a portable terminal includes confirming whether volume of sound input to microphones is a predetermined level or greater, confirming whether sound having volume of the predetermined level or greater has been input for a predetermined time period or more, confirming whether a pair of microphones to which sound having symmetrical volume has been input is present, among microphones to which sound having volume of the predetermined level or greater has been input for the predetermined time or more, and if so, confirming that scroll input by a user has been performed in an arrangement direction of the pair of microphones.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a portable terminal having a plurality of microphones, comprising:

confirming whether volume of sound input to the at least one of microphones is a predetermined level or greater;

if so, confirming whether the volume of sound input has been input for a predetermined time period or more;

if so, confirming whether a pair of microphones to which sound having a symmetrical volume pattern has been input is present; and

if so, confirming that a scroll input by a user has been performed in a specific direction based on the level of the sound input detected by the pair of microphones.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling the portable terminal according to the confirmed scroll input.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking the microphones to which sound of volume of the predetermined level or greater has been input and displaying locations of the checked microphones.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising confirming whether sound input through a microphone selected by a user among the microphones of which locations are displayed has been maintained for a predetermined time period or more.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if sound having volume of the predetermined level or greater has been input for less than the predetermined time period, checking a location of a microphone to which sound having volume of the predetermined level or greater has been input for less than the predetermined time period; and

if so, confirming that tapping input by a user has been performed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tapping input has been performed at the confirmed location of the microphone.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising controlling the portable terminal according to the tapping input.

8. An apparatus for controlling a portable terminal, comprising:

one or more microphones for receiving sound input; and

a controller confirming whether volume of the sound input to microphones is a predetermined level or greater, confirming whether the sound input equal or greater than the predetermined level last more than a predetermined time period or more, if so, confirming whether a pair of microphones to which sound having symmetrical volume has been input is present, and if so, confirming that a scroll input by a user has been performed in a specific direction between the pair of microphones.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller controls the portable terminal according to the confirmed scroll input.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller checks microphones to which sound of volume of the predetermined level or greater has been input and controls a display to display locations of the checked microphones.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller confirms whether sound input through a microphone selected by a user among the microphones of locations are displayed has been maintained for a predetermined time period or more.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein if the sound input is less than the predetermined time period, the controller confirms that a tapping input by a user has been performed.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller confirms that the tapping input has been performed at a location of a microphone where the sound level is less than the predetermined time period.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller controls the portable terminal according to the tapping input.