MOBILE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ECO-FRIENDLY USER INTERFACE

• US 20110195723A1
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Won, LEE, Sang Hyun, YOON, Kyoung Sik, KIM, Hyun Kyoung
• Granted Patent: US 8,644,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Methods and mobile devices for providing various eco-friendly User Interfaces (UIs) are provided. In one method for providing the eco-friendly UI, the mobile device measures a recharging amount or time, displays the recharging amount or time, and determines whether the recharging amount or time is more than a predefined critical amount or time. If the recharging amount or time is more than the critical amount or time, the mobile device is transitioned into an executable state of a specific application. This may give a user motivation to use a solar charge system and thereby reduce battery consumption of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user interface of a mobile device having a solar panel, the method comprising:

measuring a recharging amount or time;

displaying the recharging amount or time;

determining whether the recharging amount or time is more than a predefined critical amount or time; and

if the recharging amount or time is more than the critical amount or time, transitioning the mobile device into an executable state of a specific application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring of the recharging amount or time includes:

when a power-off command is inputted, checking a first battery level of the mobile device;

turning off power of the mobile device;

when a power-on command is inputted, turning on the power of the mobile device and checking a second battery level of the mobile device; and

measuring the recharging amount or time by comparing the first battery level with the second battery level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the recharging amount or time includes representing the recharging amount as a fossil fuel or tree image which is expressed together with the amount of a fossil fuel or trees that can be conserved by performing a solar charge.

4. A method for providing a user interface of a mobile device, the method comprising:

calculating a number of a user'"'"'s steps;

creating a virtual item according to the number of the user'"'"'s steps;

finding a current location of the mobile device; and

displaying a virtual world map and displaying the virtual item at the current location in the virtual world map.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the displaying of the virtual world map and the virtual item includes:

displaying the virtual world map and a current location selection icon; and

if the current location selection icon is selected, displaying the virtual item at the current location in the virtual world map.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the displaying of the virtual item includes, if a certain location is selected in the virtual world map, displaying the virtual item at the selected location in the virtual world map.

7. A method for providing a user interface of a mobile device, the method comprising:

finding a current location of the mobile device;

sending a request for environmental information about the current location to a server;

receiving the requested environmental information from the server; and

displaying the received environmental information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the environmental information includes at least one of weather information, news information and environmental pollution information.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying of the received environmental information includes:

classifying the received environmental information according to at least one regional level;

representing the at least one regional level; and

if one of the at least one regional level is selected, displaying the environmental information classified by the selected regional level.

10. A mobile device comprising:

an input unit;

a display unit;

a solar panel for receiving solar energy and for converting the solar energy into electrical energy for charging a battery; and

a control unit for measuring a recharging amount or time of the battery charged by the solar panel, for enabling the display unit to display the recharging amount or time, and if the recharging amount or time is more than a predefined critical amount or time, for transitioning the mobile device into an executable state of a specific application.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the control unit checks a first battery level of the mobile device when a power-off command is inputted through the input unit, turns off power of the mobile device, turns on the power of the mobile device and checks a second battery level of the mobile device when a power-on command is inputted through the input unit, and measures the recharging amount or time by comparing the first battery level with the second battery level.

12. A mobile device comprising:

an input unit configured to create a command for an entry into an eco mode;

a display unit; and

a control unit for receiving the command for an entry into the eco mode from the input unit and for enabling the display unit to increase a black portion of a currently displayed screen or to reduce the brightness of the screen view, while keeping the shape of the screen.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the control unit enables the display unit to omit parts of icons from the screen when receiving the command for an entry into the eco mode from the input unit.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the control unit enables the display unit to change the shape of each icon from a full image to an outlined image when receiving the command for an entry into the eco mode from the input unit.

15. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the control unit enables the display unit to display a specific icon used for an entry into the eco mode and, when the specific icon is selected through the input unit, to determine that the command for an entry into the eco mode is inputted, or when a particular command to enter into a specific screen defined as the eco mode is inputted through the input unit, to determine that the command for an entry into the eco mode is inputted.

16. A mobile device comprising:

an input unit;

a display unit; and

a control unit for executing several applications in a multi-tasking manner, and for enabling the display unit to display a list of the executed applications and to display battery consumption of each application in the list.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the control unit enables the display unit to display an icon for quitting each or all of the executed applications and to display an icon for an entry into a battery check menu.

18. The mobile device of claim 16, wherein the control unit enables the display unit to display different colors or animation images with different speeds for the respective applications according to the battery consumption.

19. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the control unit, when the icon for an entry into the battery check menu is selected through the input unit, enables the display unit to display a list of executable applications and the battery consumption of each application.

20. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the control unit, in a battery check menu screen, enables the display unit to display application quit icons for the currently executed applications among the executable applications.