MENU EXECUTING METHOD AND APPARATUS IN PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20110202878A1
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: PARK, Young-Joo, HONG, Sun-Gi
• Granted Patent: US 9,195,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Provided is a menu execution method and apparatus in a portable terminal. The menu execution method includes displaying, on a touch screen, an item list which comprises a plurality of divided regions in each of which a corresponding item is formed, recognizing a user gesture at one of a first position and a second position, the second position being different from the first position, and executing a menu corresponding to the recognized position, in which a first menu for providing a first service related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the first position of the divided region on the touch screen, and a second menu for providing a second service related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the second position of the divided region on the touch screen, the first and second services being different.

Claims

1. A menu execution method operable in a portable terminal, the menu execution method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen, an item list which comprises a plurality of divided regions in each of which a corresponding item is formed;

recognizing a user gesture at one of a first position and a second position, the second position being different from the first position in the divided region; and

executing a preset menu corresponding to the position of the recognized user'"'"'s gesture,

wherein a first menu for providing a first service related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the first position of the divided region and a second menu for providing a second service which is related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the second position of the divided region on the touch screen, the second service being different from the first service.

2. The menu execution method of claim 1, wherein the item is formed between the first position and the second position.

3. The menu execution method of claim 1, wherein if a user gesture with respect to the item is recognized, a menu for executing at least one service, which is related to the item and is different from the first service and the second service, is displayed.

4. The menu execution method of claim 3, wherein if a user gesture with respect to the item is recognized, a window for displaying a plurality of menus, which are related to the item and are different from the first service and the second service, is formed.

5. The menu execution method of claim 1, wherein the item is displayed in the form of a text or an icon which can be pointed-to by a user input means.

6. The menu execution method of claim 1, wherein the user gesture is one pointing action selected from the group consisting of:

a long press touch, a tap, and a flick.

7. The menu execution method of claim 1, wherein the menu is a default menu preset during initial driving of the portable terminal and can be changed by a user by forming a window for displaying a plurality of menus being different from the first service and the second service.

8. The menu execution method of claim 1, wherein the user gesture is a gesture for calling and executing an action related to a plurality of menus through interaction with a user input interrupt in a display unit region of the portable terminal.

9. The menu execution method of claim 1, wherein the menu is one of a plurality of execution commands included in menu lists applicable to the item.

10. A menu execution apparatus in a portable terminal, the menu execution apparatus comprising:

a touch screen; and

a controller for;

displaying, on the touch screen, an item list which comprises a plurality of divided regions in each of which a corresponding item is formed;

recognizing a user gesture at one of a first position and a second position in the divided region, the second position being different from the first position; and

executing a menu corresponding to the recognized position,

wherein a first menu for providing a first service related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the first position of the divided region on the touch screen, and a second menu for providing a second service related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the second position of the divided region on the touch screen, the first and second services being different.

11. The menu execution apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller comprises:

a gesture sensing unit for;

sensing the user gesture in the divided region where the item is displayed, and

identifying a region where a user gesture signal is input; and

a menu setting unit for;

displaying a menu for executing at least one service, that is related to the item and is different from the first service and the second service, if the user gesture signal sensed by the gesture sensing unit is a user gesture for the item, and

forming a window for displaying a plurality of menus which are different from the first service and the second service.

12. The menu execution apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user gesture represents an action selected from the group consisting of:

a long press touch, a tap, and a flick.

13. The menu execution apparatus of claim 10, wherein the menu is one of a plurality of execution commands included in menu lists applicable to the item.

14. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program, which when loaded into a controller causes the controller to execute the steps of:

displaying, on a touch screen, an item list which comprises a plurality of divided region in each of which a corresponding item is formed;

recognizing a user gesture at one of a first position and a second position, the second position being different from the first position in the divided region; and

executing a menu corresponding to the position of the recognized user'"'"'s gesture,

wherein a first menu for providing a first service related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the first position of the divided region and a second menu for providing a second service which is related to the item formed in the divided region is preset in the second position of the divided region on the touch screen, the second service being different from the first service.