METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A MENU IN MOBILE TERMINAL AND MOBILE TERMINAL THEREOF

• US 20110096006A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Meeyeon, Hong, Jungseok, Jang, Harim, Jung, Hyunsuk, Hwang, Inyoung, Lee, Byoungnam, Jeong, Kyesook
• Granted Patent: US 8,766,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• 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 mobile terminal includes at least a display unit, a sensing unit, and a controller. The display unit includes a touch screen and displays at least two three-dimensional (3D) menu icons and each of the at least two 3D menu icons includes at least one menu. The display unit further displays a first menu on a first display surface of each of the at least two 3D menu icons, the first menu on each of the at least two 3D menu icons being different. The sensing unit detects an input for controlling at least one of the at least two 3D menu icons. The controller controls the display unit to display a second menu on a second display surface of each of the at least two 3D menu icons in response to the detected input. Each of the at least two 3D menu icons displayed on the display unit includes at least two display surfaces, each of the at least two display surfaces displaying a different menu.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a menu in a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying at least two three-dimensional (3D) menu icons on a display unit, wherein each of the at least two 3D menu icons comprises at least one menu;

displaying a first menu on a first display surface of each of the at least two 3D menu icons, the first menu on each of the at least two 3D menu icons being different;

detecting an input received via a touch screen; and

displaying a second menu on a second display surface of each of the at least two 3D menu icons in response to the detected input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two 3D menu icons comprises at least two menus that form a set of related menus.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

each of the at least two 3D menu icons represents a main menu item of a main menu; and

the first and second menus represent submenus that are subordinate to the corresponding main menu item.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the two 3D menu icons is identified by a specific icon or category.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two 3D menu icons comprises at least two display surfaces, each of the at least two display surfaces displaying a different menu.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two 3D menu icons are plate type icons and the method further comprises:

flipping of the at least two displayed 3D menu icons in response to the input before displaying the second menus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

a direction of the flipping is determined based upon a position of the touch screen on which the input is received; and

different menus are displayed for the same 3D menu icon depending on the direction of the flipping.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two 3D menu icons is a hexahedral 3D icon and the method further comprises:

rotating at least two 3D menu icons in response to the input,

wherein a direction of the rotation is determined based upon a position of the touch screen on which the input is received.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first menu and the second menu displayed on the first and second display surfaces of at least one of the at least two 3D menu icon are related to a similar function of the mobile terminal or belong to the same category.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first menus comprises widgets related to specific applications that are executed in the mobile terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second menu is at least a bookmark menu, a secret mode menu or a user set-up menu, the bookmark menu being a favorite menu bookmarked by a user and the secret mode menu being a blank menu.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the at least two 3D menu icons displays at least the first and second display surfaces concurrently and only one of the first and second menus corresponding to the at least first and second display surfaces is executable in response to user input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein one of the first and second menus is the blank menu and all display surfaces of the at least two 3D menus display blank menus when the second menu is the blank menu.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two 3D menu icons are plate type icons and the method further comprises:

receiving an input for returning to the first menus after displaying the second menus; and

displaying the first menus in response to the input for returning to the first menus.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input for displaying third menus of the at least two 3D menu icons after displaying the second menus; and

displaying the third menus in response to the input for displaying the third menus.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is generated by at least:

tapping on the touch screen that is detected by a touch sensor;

rubbing on the touch screen that is detected by the touch sensor;

or

moving the mobile terminal that is detected by an inclination sensor.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is also receivable via a touch sensor formed at a rear surface of the mobile terminal.

18. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display unit comprising a touch screen and configured to display at least two three-dimensional (3D) menu icons, wherein each of the at least two 3D menu icons comprises at least one menu and the display unit is further configured to display a first menu on a first display surface of each of the at least two 3D menu icons, the first menu on each of the at least two 3D menu icons being different;

a sensing unit configured to detect an input for controlling at least one of the at least two 3D menu icons; and

a controller configured to control the display unit to display a second menu on a second display surface of each of the at least two 3D menu icons in response to the detected input,

wherein each of the at least two 3D menu icons comprises at least two display surfaces, each of the at least two display surfaces displaying a different menu.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein:

each of the at least two 3D menu icons comprises a set of related menus, the at least two 3D menu icons representing a main menu and each of the at least two 3D menu icons representing a main menu item;

the first and second menus represent submenus; and

each of the two at least 3D menu icons is identified by a specific icon or category.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the at least two 3D menu icons are plate type icons and the controller is further configured to flip the at least two 3D menu icons on the display unit in response to the input before displaying the second menus, wherein a direction of the flipping is determined according to a position of the touch screen on which the input is received and different menus are displayed for the same 3D menu icon depending on the direction of the flipping.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the second menus are at least a bookmark menu, a secret mode menu or a user set-up menu, the bookmark menu being a favorite menu bookmarked by a user and the secret mode menu being a blank menu.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 21, wherein:

each of the at least two 3D menu icons is a hexahedral 3D icon that displays at least the first and second display surfaces concurrently;

only one of the first and second menus corresponding to the at least first and second display surfaces is executable in response to user input; and

all display surfaces of the at least two 3D menus display blank menus when the second menu is the blank menu.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the at least two 3D menu icons are plate type icons and the controller is further configured to:

recognize an input for returning to the first menus after displaying the second menus; and

display the first menus on the display unit in response to the input for returning to the first menus.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to:

recognize an input for displaying third menus of the at least two 3D menu icons after displaying the second menus; and

display the third menus in response to the input for displaying the third menus.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the sensing unit comprises at least a first touch sensor, a second touch sensor formed at a rear surface of the mobile terminal or an inclination sensor, and the input comprises at least:

tapping on the touch screen that is detected by the first touch sensor;

rubbing on the touch screen that is detected by the first touch sensor;

moving the mobile terminal that is detected by the inclination sensor;

or

an input detected by the second touch sensor.