FUNCTION EXECUTING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20110066976A1
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: HWANG, Yoon Mi
• Granted Patent: US 9,477,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A function executing method and apparatus for a mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal may execute a function. The function is associated with a target item according to information written in a selection item. The function executing method may include detecting an event related to a selection item and a target item among a plurality of menu items. The method then parses, upon detecting the event text information of the selection item. The method then executes a function associated with the target item according to the parsed text information.

Claims

1. A method for a mobile terminal, comprising:

detecting an event, the event being related to a selection item and a target item, the selection item and the target item being provided from a plurality of menu items displayed on the mobile terminal;

upon detecting the event parsing text information from the selection item; and

executing a function, the function being associated with the target item, the function being related to the parsed text information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the event by detecting a user gesture, the user gesture combining the selection item and the target item.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising parsing text information from the selection item by (i) identifying a type of the target item when detecting the user gesture;

and (ii) extracting a text segment matching the type from the parsed text information.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising executing the function associated with the target item by determining whether the extracted text segment matches the text information;

and

executing a first function associated with the target item by the use of the extracted text segment; and

executing a second function, the second function being associated with the target item using the text information.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising detecting the event by providing a virtual image of the selection item in response to the user gesture.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the selection item receives and stores information.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising preserving the text information of the selection item after executing the function and further comprising discarding the text information of the selection item;

or further comprising after executing the function creating a new second selection item comprising text information.

8. A method for a mobile terminal, comprising:

providing a selection item;

detecting a combination function event, the combination function event being related to the selection item and a target item;

analyzing the target item, the target item being combined with the selection item;

parsing text information from the selection item and providing the parsed text information to the target item; and

executing a function associated with the target item, the function being executed relative to the parsed text information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising selecting the selection item and recording an input information from the user, the input information being input using an input window, the input window being provided by the selection of the selection item.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising detecting the combination function event by detecting a user gesture.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising parsing text information by extracting at least one text segment, the at least one text segment matching the target item from the parsed text information.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising executing the function by determining whether the text segment matches the target item being extracted from the text information and executing the function using the extracted text segment and the text information;

and executing a second function associated with the target item using the text information.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting the combination function event by providing a virtual image of the selection item in response to the user gesture.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the selection item receives and stores information.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising preserving the text information of the selection item after executing the function, or further comprising discarding the text information of the selection item and creating a second selection item comprising the text information.

16. A mobile terminal comprising:

a display unit comprising a selection item and a target item; and

a control unit, the control unit controlling an operation upon detecting an event, the event combining the selection item with the target item, the operation executing a function, the function being associated with the target item, the function being related to text information of the selection item, wherein the text information matches a parameter of the target item to execute the function.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 16, wherein the control unit executes a first function or a second function, wherein the control unit executes a first function when a text segment matches the target item, and the text segment is present in the text information, wherein the control unit executes the second function when the text segment does not match the target item.